cannabisnews.com: Senate Panel Approves Walters as 'Drug Czar'





Senate Panel Approves Walters as 'Drug Czar'
Posted by FoM on November 08, 2001 at 15:33:20 PT
By Thomas Ferraro
Source: Reuters
Despite objections from former first lady Betty Ford and drug treatment authorities, a divided U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved the nomination of John Walters as the new chief of the administration's drug control policies.Rejecting concerns by Ford and others that Walters has shown contempt for drug treatment, the panel, on a 14-5 vote, sent the nomination to the full Senate for anticipated confirmation.
Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont, among the five Democrats who voted against Walters, promised to monitor Walters' reign as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to make sure he keeps a promise to provide a balanced approach that mixes law enforcement with education and treatment.``I have been concerned that Mr. Walters was the wrong person for this job,'' Leahy said. ``I continue to believe that.''Yet four Democrats joined the panel's nine Republicans in approving the nomination. They noted Walters has the confidence of President Bush as well as the experience, having served nearly a decade ago in drug control office during the administration of Bush's father, President George Bush.They also pointed out that during his tenure, illegal narcotic use in the United States declined.``Mr. Walters is eminently qualified,'' said Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the panel's ranking Republican. ``He is the right person for this job.''``He has been there and has a record,'' added Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican. ``He will be a great leader.''The full Democratic-led Senate was expected to quickly confirm Walters, giving the president the final member of his Cabinet 10 months after taking office.Much of the criticism of Walters has been based on his past writings and statements. They range from questioning the effectiveness of drug treatment to challenging the need for federal support of drug-abuse prevention to dismissing as an ''urban myth'' the belief that the criminal justice system has a racial bias.In addition, Leahy noted, ``Mr. Walters has criticized the concept that addiction is a disease, referring to that concept as an 'ideology' even though it is held widely, if not universally, by government and private experts.''``These and other statements by Mr. Walters have caused great concern by many of those who care about drug addiction,'' he said.Leahy said John Schwarzlose, president of the Betty Ford Center, a drug and alcohol treatment facility founded by the former first lady, wrote the committee on Oct. 9.Schwarzlose wrote, in part, ``Mrs. Ford and I are convinced that Mr. Walters may not have the confidence in the treatment and prevention strategies that we believe are necessary for the creation and implementation of a balanced and thoughtful approach to U.S. drug policy.''Schwarzlose cited a 1996 paper Walters wrote for the Heritage Foundation in which he denounced including addiction treatment in U.S. drug policy.In the paper he called it ``'the latest manifestation of the liberals' commitment to a therapeutic state in which government serves as the agent of personal rehabilitation,''' Schwarzlose wrote.Sen. John Edwards, a North Carolina Democrat, said he had concerns about Walters, too, but voted for him for several reasons.``First, he will be serving a president who has made clear that he is committed to treatment, and he (Walters) has said he will serve that president faithfully,'' Edwards said.Edwards also said he believes the nation needs a drug policy chief and cannot afford any further delays.In addition, Edwards said, he had discussed the nomination with drug prevention experts in his home state and although they told him Walters ``would not be their first choice ... they could live with him.''``My feeling is that if they can live with him, I can live with him, too,'' Edwards said. Source: ReutersAuthor: Thomas FerraroPublished: November 8, 2001Copyright: 2001 ReutersRelated Articles:Delay of Drug Czar Confirmation Act of Treason http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11293.shtmlA Throwback Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11239.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Robbie on November 08, 2001 at 17:29:35 PT
what could I expect?
I am no longer a Dem...this is old. Democrats can't see the forest for the trees and I'm getting tired of it. I'm not saying this about all of them, but it seems that those in power are no longer dedicated to social issues (see Undernews for Nov. 5)Walters should not be there, yet it seems as if he'll sail right on through everything. Hail, hail Fredonia!
http://www.prorev.com/indexa.htm
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