Pubdate: Monday,August 23,1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Author: Josef Hebert- Associated Press Politics: HE SHOULD 'JUST ANSWER THE DARN QUESTION AND GET RID OF IT,' ORRIN HATCH SAYS. (Washington)- As questions about past illegal drug use continue to dog Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, some GOP rivals said Sunday that he should answer them directly and get the issue behind him. But at the same time, his competitors and supporters said past indiscretions, including possible use of illegal drugs, should not disqualify the Texas governor or anyone else from becoming president. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Bush should "just answer the darn question and get rid of it." "If there wasn't anything here, then George Bush should have just said there wasn't," Hatch said on NBC's Meet the Press." "If there was, I think he at this point should answer it, get it behind him, because the polls show most of the American people are forgiving," Hatch added. There has been no evidence or credible allegation that Bush ever has used an illegal drug, although he has admitted to formerly drinking heavily and to "mistakes" as a youth. Questioned repeatedly on the drug issue, Bush has said that he had not used illegal drugs within the past 25 years, but would not elaborate. "He has a right to privacy," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., another GOP presidential contender, on CNN's "Late Edition." Conservative GOP presidential contender Gary Bauer said the candidates will "have to answer questions that go to lawbreaking." "I think anything that involves a felony, I don't see how you can get away with" not answering such questions directly, Bauer said on "Fox News Sunday." Meanwhile, a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll found that 72 percent of those surveyed said "experimental" drug use while young should be forgiven, but 69 percent said they would want to know about a candidate's past cocaine use. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Separately, Republican Lincoln Chafee, who is seeking a U.S. Senate seat from Rhode Island, announced Sunday that he had used cocaine during college. He said he made the disclosure in part because of the media pursuit of Bush. - --- MAP posted-by: manemez j lovitto