Herald Tribune International
Washington(AP)-Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders said Tuesday that the legalization of illicit drugs "would markedly reduce our crime rate." Dr. Elders said other countries had decriminalized drug use and had reduced their crime rates without increasing the use of narcotics. She also said she had not discussed the issue with President Clinton and that she was not speaking for the Clinton administration.
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POLITICAL NOTE FROM HERALD TRIBUNE INTERNATIONAL
(9TH DECEMBER 1993)
POLITICAL NOTE
More Hot Water for Dr. Elders
Washington-Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, no stranger to controversy, was enmeshed in a new one after suggesting that legalizing drugs could help make America's streets safer. The White House quickly made it clear that President Clinton does not see eye to eye on the issue with Dr. Elders.
Republicans and conservatives who opposed her confirmation expressed outrage; some said the outspoken physician should resign or be dismissed. "If the surgeon general has to have a study to see if drugs are hazardous to your health, we need a new surgeon-general," said Senator Don Nickles, Republican of Oklaoma. Her views "are so far outside the mainstream they are simply radical," said Senator Daniel R.Coats, Republican of Indiana. "Simply put, Dr.Elders does not speak for the great majority of Americans."
In this instance, at least, she did not speak for Mr. Clinton, who weathered earlier storms over blunt statements by Dr. Elders when he was governor of Arkansas and she was the state's health commissioner.
"The president is against legalizing drugs, and he's not interested in studying the issue, said Dee Dee Myers, the White House press secretary. On Wednesday, Ms. Myers said of Dr. Elders: "She's always been very outspoken. The president stands very firmly behind her. We think she's doing a very good job. In this instance, she was not speaking for the Administration." (AP)
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