From: Jamie Shafer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1999 17:45:09 ET XXXXX NEW BOOK TO CLAIM BUSH COKE USE; CAMPAIGN CALLS STORY 'JUNK' A new book set to be released claims that there has been cocaine use by GOP presidential hopeful George W. Bush. Publishing sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT, the book, set for release by THOMAS DUNNE, a division of ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, includes "major revelations of Bush's drug use." A Bush campaign official called the coming book "junk" late Monday evening. A press release that will announce the book reads: "In FORTUNATE SON: THE RISE OF GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICAN POLITICS, journalist J.H. Hatfield uncovers the reasons why Bush denied using drugs after 1974, but has so far refused to address his possible drug use before that year." It continues: "From a former Yale classmate of Bush's and an unofficial political advisor to Bush, Hatfield discovered that Bush was indeed arrested for cocaine possession in 1972 and had his record expunged by a Houston judge after he worked as a youth counselor for several months at Project P.U.L.L., where his father was a heavy contributor and honorary chairman. "When Hatfield asked Scott McClellan, a Bush campaign spokesman, to comment on this allegation, he muttered an almost inaudible, 'Oh, shit,' and after hesitating a moment, finally said, 'No comment.'" The book's "revelations" were moving through elite media circles in Washington late Monday evening. "This is junk!" a Bush campaign official told the DRUDGE REPORT from Austin. "1972?" Developing... --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Get EXPERT CONTENT at ONElist! Join PROS&PUNDITS. For details go to: <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/prospun1 ">Click Here</a> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
