Just Say No

By James Carville

What I want to say to the press is "Don't ask." And what I want to say to George W. is "Don't tell." I don't have any confidence that the press will take my advice. Like drunks, they vow every four years to stop covering scandal. They go up to Harvard to dry out, and then they come back craving more. But I think the Governor just might listen to me, not only because my wife Mary is a friend of his and a supporter but because I've seen my share of scandals.

So why should he keep quiet? Because once you start answering, you're never going to be able to stop. Cocaine? How many times did you do it? Where? Who was your source? (That person might still be at large!) It's like an elevator that has no down button. It just gets higher and higher.

They'll try to trick you into answering questions. First they'll say, "It's not about drugs; it's about"--fill in the blank. It's about "judgment" or "honesty" or "security clearances." Forget it. It's always about the drugs. The other thing is not to be seduced by the claim that if you just answer this one question, it will all be over. The next time you get a drug question the only appropriate answer is, What part of no don't you understand?

What you did 25 years ago doesn't matter; what you did during the past 25 days should matter. And I'll pose a question to you, Governor. Recently you said you'd sign the Republican tax bill as is. And you also said you'd repeal the Clinton tax increases and expand the earned-income tax credit to reach more people. No disrespect meant to the office of the Governor of Texas, but to put it bluntly, How are you gonna pay for it, Hoss? If you did a little "blow" 25 years ago, that's your business. But if you blow our prosperity in the next 25 months, that's our business.