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NEW YORK (AP) -- Private conversations with George Bush secretly taped by an old friend before he was elected president foreshadow some of his political strategies and appear to reveal that he acknowledged using marijuana, The New York Times has reported.
The conversations were recorded by Doug Wead, a former aide to George W. Bush's father, beginning in 1998, when Bush was weighing a presidential bid, until just before the Republican National Convention in 2000, the Times reported Saturday.
The tapes show Bush crafting a strategy for navigating the tricky political waters between Christian conservative and secular voters, repeatedly worrying that evangelicals would be angered by a refusal to bash gays and that secular Americans would be turned off by meetings with evangelical leaders.
On one tape, Bush explains that he told one prominent evangelical that he would not "kick gays, because I'm a sinner. How can I differentiate sin?"
In early tapes, Bush dismisses the strength of John McCain for the nomination and expresses concern about rival Steve Forbes. He also praises John Ashcroft as a promising candidate for Supreme Court justice, attorney general or vice president.
Bush also criticizes then-Vice President Al Gore for admitting marijuana use and explains why he would not do the same.
"I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions," he said, according to the Times. "You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."
According to the article, Wead played 12 of the tapes to a Times reporter. He said he recorded them because he viewed Bush as a historic figure. He is the author of a new book on presidential childhoods.
The White House did not deny the authenticity of the tapes.
"The governor was having casual conversations with someone he believed was his friend," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said, referring to Bush.
"The cocaine thing, let me tell you my strategy on that," Bush said on the tape. "Rather than saying no I think it's time for someone to draw the line and look people in the eye and say, you know, 'I'm not going to participate in ugly rumors about me and blame my opponent,' and hold the line. Stand up for a system that will not allow this kind of crap to go on."
nakedemperor said:So I guess he never really lied about not doing drugs 'cause he never answered the questions. And does this really sound like someone who shares the convictions of evangelicals on the gay issue, or someone who is pandering to them? Does it matter? This article leaves out the quote:
For me, plausible deniability = dishonesty
Sir Evil said:lol, I new one of you libs were suddenly going to create Bush speak out of this story!
Sounds pretty much like a human being to me!
Shattered said:We're down to picking on whether or not the President ever did drugs?! That's a valid reason to think he's the wrong man for the job? Good grief! Like even half the people that are complaining can talk... Hell.. Even I did them, and I'm about as straight-laced as you can get now..
Kathianne said:Very few below the age of 55 have never done drugs.
nakedemperor said:I still get to call him President Cokehead :teeth:
Said1 said:But you didn't inhale right?
Sir Evil said:Damn, bunch of druggies around here!
Sir Evil said::scratch: how did you know that?
Sir Evil said:
Ok so I have a bad memory, it proves nothing!
Sir Evil said:Oh no it doesn't! I am a perfect angel, never touched no drugs that weren't prescribed!
