Bush: Faith Helped Me Overcome "Addiction"

President Says Reliance On Faith Helped Him Beat "Addiction" To Alcohol

(AP)  President Bush is talking more openly lately about his old drinking habit, and on Tuesday he offered perhaps his most pointed assessment yet by saying plainly that the term "addiction" had applied to him.

"Addiction is hard to overcome. As you might remember, I drank too much at one time in my life," Bush said during a visit to the Jericho Program, a project of Episcopal Community Services of Maryland that helps former prisoners deal with problems such as drug addiction so they can find jobs and reintegrate productively into society.

Bush spoke to reporters after meeting privately with two men who have graduated from Jericho's program and dealt with drug problems. During that session, which the White House allowed one reporter to attend, Bush spoke frankly about himself.

"I understand addiction, and I understand how a changed heart can help you deal with addiction," he told the two men. "There's some kind of commonality."

He asked Adolphus Mosely and Tom Boyd how they stopped using drugs - and then answered his own question.

"First is to recognize that there is a higher power," Bush said. "It helped me in my life. It helped me quit drinking."

"That's right, there is a higher power," Mosely said.

"Step One, right?" Bush said, referring to the Alcoholics Anonymous twelve-steps program. Actually, it is the second step.

When the president spoke publicly, flanked by both men, it was plain that it was a powerful subject for him personally. Bush grew unusually somber and fixed an unbroken gaze on the cameras as he related the similarities between himself and the men in this sketchy East Baltimore neighborhood who are struggling to put their lives back together.

"These are men who were, in some ways, lost, and lonely, and found love and redemption at Jericho," Bush said. "Proud to be with you."

He hailed them for now being "reunited with their daughters." "Girls love their dad, especially a redeemed dad," said Bush, father of 26-year-old twins Jenna and Barbara.

The 61-year-old president decided to quit drinking the day after a particularly boozy 40th-birthday celebration - July 6, 1986. He has often credited both his Christian faith and vigorous exercise with giving him the discipline he needed to execute that decision and to keep to it since, with nonalcoholic beers the only indulgence he says he allows.

But when he was first running for president in 2000 and during his earlier years in office, Bush stuck to almost quaint code words when on the topic. He has never said publicly whether he was an alcoholic.

As was typical, Bush said during a November 2000 news conference in which he admitted pleading guilty in 1976 to drunken driving that he merely "occasionally drank too much" as a younger man. He told an interviewer that same year that alcohol "was beginning to compete for my affections" before he quit.

In September 2003, Bush was talking at a Houston community center on the same topic he was on Tuesday - the value of federal support for religious charities that address societal ills. "I know firsthand what it takes to quit drinking, and it takes something other than a textbook or a manual," he said.

His checkered relationship with booze does come up frequently in his conversations, often as a joke or an aside. Bush is known to have said that the subject is never too far from his mind.

Last year, for instance, while traveling the country promoting ethanol created from biowaste as an alternative energy source, he'd often find himself in laboratories with beakers full of the alcohol-based substance. At a North Carolina plant, Bush held a container up to his nose for a mock sniff and then shook his head at the bemused reaction from his press corps. "I quit drinking in 1986," he said, laughing.

Recently, his talk has grown more revealing. Whether it's because he has no more elections to worry about, or has grown more convinced of the positive impact he could have, or some other reason, they are likely to be welcome words for those facing similar problems, coming from the most powerful man in the world.

In December, Bush cited his experience with alcohol as he encouraged young recovering addicts visiting the White House to stick with their fight. "Your president made the same kind of choice and I had to quit drinking, and addiction competes for your affection ... you fall in love with alcohol," Bush said during the meeting, according to a behind-the-scenes account from ABC News.

His statements at Jericho seemed to go a little further. White House aides would not discuss the evolution.

Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said research shows that frank talks about addiction from prominent people help enormously. Any kind of substance abuse is still so stigmatized that 85 percent of addicted people don't seek treatment, she said. "Very few people have the courage to say, 'I am an addict, or 'I was an addict."'

John Schwarzlose, head of the Rancho Mirage, Calif.-based Betty Ford Center, a substance abuse treatment hospital, said Bush's new openness might well be inspirational to some. But he said that was far overshadowed by his disappointment that Bush had missed opportunities as a leader and policymaker to aggressively tackle the root issues.

Schwarzlose said he found the same fault with Bill Clinton, who also said he was familiar with the pain of addiction because of drug problems of his half brother, Roger.

"I love that he (Bush) said that today," Schwarzlose said. "But where's the action? ... It's really too late."

Bush's stop was designed to emphasize a point in his State of the Union address on Monday night, that he wants Congress to allow the federal government to give grants to religious charities to perform social services without requiring them to make fundamental changes in hiring and other practices.

[billpl-2009]

never underestimate the power of ignorance

[marcodele]

No mention of his coke use?

[cyberus-2009]

Replacing one blind addiction with another

[barbaraf4]

Bush is a moron. He insults everyone who is working their recovery with this sort of off-the-cuff comment.

You can tell by looking at him that he is a drunk. His faith is in the bottle, not a higher power.

[davek455]

who cares about Bush....just go away already and end this error

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II has admitted that he was a drunkard as recently as 1986 when he "binggined" after becoming Governor of Texas. It makes one wonder if the Texans knew what sort of a person they were getting as governor?

At any rate, the Great Emperor Bush II has said that he is "reformed" and that faith is what turned his life around. Of course, the Great Emperor did not elaborate on what that faith was in that reformed him.
Many believe it was his faith in power, money, and greed that turned his life around and not in any Biblical figures or stories.

It would be hard to believe that a man who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ could do the things the Great Emperor has done since his "reformation" and call himself a Christian!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!

[hdinsight]

Drinking alcohol kills an additional 300,000 neurons A DAY. Ingesting cocaine also accelerates brain cell deterioration. Draw your own conclusions.

[abp100100]

OMG...how does this man look himself in the mirror in the morning...he is the biggest fake on the face of the earth...and as for being saved...what/who is going to save us poor citizens that have to put up with this a**hole for another year?

[barbaraf4]

"The Great Emperor Bush II has admitted that he was a drunkard as recently as 1986 when he "binggined" after becoming Governor of Texas. It makes one wonder if the Texans knew what sort of a person they were getting as governor?" Posted by walt1944

Of course we knew what we were getting. But those Texas oilmen had Carl Rove to ramrod the election, and the rest is history. Even the lie that he campaigned on for his second election as governor "I will serve my whole term. I am not interested in running for President."

We all knew he was still drinking after he became president. Don''t you remember the pretzel caper?

He has never stopped drinking.

[achtung-]

His "faith" helped him overcome being a boozer. What''s going to help him overcome his stupidity?

[l8c6]

At 40 with the help of God he decided to quit drinking to then proceed to break the record for number of inmates executed. It begs the question, does Jesus have the same response to the execution of evil doers in the way Allah does when infidels get their heads sawed off?

[clestes-2009]

This sums up shrub''s problem!! He thinks he can overcome addiction. I am married to a sober alcoholic and I can tell you that one NEVER overcomes addiction!! You learn to live with it, but it is NEVER "cured". The only way to deal with it is to NOT DRINK.

shrub''s arrogance is astounding!! He thinks that he has defeated his alcoholism???

No wonder he is so f*cked up!! He is deluding himself all the way. What a pathetic person he is. I won''t call him a man, because he has ZERO idea of what being a man is!!

[l8c6]

Infidels and evil doers are typically poe foke but Bush is quick to point out, just because someone is poe it doesn''t mean they are killers. Yes, he actually said that.

[sgtrds]

What a crock of SH*IT!!!!!!

This bas***** is STILL a drunk and drug addict!

[truthspeake2]

Just goes to show you that one can steal and accomplish anything in America...I guess crime does pay! And pay well...

[demslie]

Well the hate blog offered here by CBS is the most evil application on a News Post. Nothing here but Democrats who spit hate and evil without any constructive thoughts. Just outlaw Christianity, Demand alternative *** as standard for our children and then welcome ISLAM who will happily kill all of us. And these people want to run the country.

[nyckate]

Bush is BSing - sometimes the way he looks and the way he speaks is a sign of his hangovers.

He didn''t go for real therapy or rehab -- and he''s proof positive you can''t get sober alone.

[pepperp1]

maybe for personal chemical use%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026but certainly not for foreign oil or foreign capital

[excoachken]

Wrong again, Cowardly Cowboy, the first step is to admit you are an ALCOHOLIC, not someone who "drank a little too much as a youth." It is insulting that he, a guy who nearly daily displays the personality of a "dry drunk," feels that he can council people who are really, honestly facing their demons, instead of "conning" their way through life as he does.

[fnewton1]

This is a classic stance of radical right-wing politcians, no matter what their religions are. Mixing religion with politics. Do not forget the claims about axis of evil and the existence of weapons of mass destruction. (Evil is not universal among all beliefs.)

[sgtrds]

This "thing" (I won''t call him a man) is a disgrace to humanity.

[imnho]

To bad his faith did not cure his lunancy or his arrogance.

I hope he does not start another war before he leaves office.

[sevenveils]

Bush substituted one addiction for another. The world would be better off if he''d fallen off the planet like he was supposed to. Blame Satin for that.

[sdcjd1]

Now he''s addicted to power.

[catbilllou]

GW said, later, that faith also helped him beat subtraction

[sgtrds]

GW said, later, that faith also helped him beat subtraction

Posted by CatBilllou at 07:09 PM : Jan 29, 2008

Didn''t get him through basic economics class though.......

[hypnotoad72]

Blame Satin for that.

Posted by sevenveils
----------------------

Satin is innocent. Go blame polyester, *** it! :P

[feelfree1]

I wonder if the coke helped give him quicker reflexes as a pilot, during the periods when he bothered to show up.

[carterarce]

Well, he worked his first step just by doing the interview :-)

[hypnotoad72]

Okay, how is -d -a -r -n a naughty word?!

What happens if somebody wants to talk about knitting up torn clothing? We''d all be in desperate trouble; thinking **** meant something dirty...

[liberalme]

I understand addiction, and I understand how a changed heart can help you deal with addiction," he told the two men.

What heart???? This guy has so many (I''m the man)addictions he can''t quit any of them!

[hypnotoad72]

We can all use a bit of faith. And hope. And willingness to contribute.

Just because I don''t agree with anyone 100% does not mean I won''t listen or take things into that consideration. Or change my mind, knowing information I lacked in the past. Learning is crucial to such success.

[joyous88]

ya! a faith in greed

[cyberdjs4]

Where was that "faith" when he decided to invade Iraq?

"Faith", like "God", are just words in the mouths of those who don''t believe in themselves.

[sgtrds]

Satin is innocent. Go blame polyester, *** it! :P

Posted by hypnotoad72 at 07:22 PM : Jan 29, 2008

LOL! Good one!

[carterarce]

''"Faith", like "God", are just words in the mouths of those who don''''t believe in themselves."

What about faith in oneself?

[observantx]

There is a phenomenon in addition called substitution. Plainly stated it''s replacing one addiction for another.

If you carefully review our fearless leader''s track record, it''s plain to see he has replaced alcohol and coke for a vastly more powerful drug: power.

pour a little oil on top of that and "presto", you have our occupation of Iraq.

[monkeyman1140]

BUSH STILL DRINKS, PEOPLE. YOU ARE NEVER CURED OF ALCOHOLISM.

He was photographed having a beer with some diplomats overseas....he fell off the wagon long ago, which explains his bizarre behavior.

[sgtrds]

Where was that "faith" when he decided to invade Iraq?

Posted by cyberDJs4 at 07:33 PM : Jan 29, 2008

He said that "god" (the little voice he hears) told him to invade Iraq. That''s what happens when psychotics are off their meds like Bush is. They hear voices telling them to kill others.

[micma-2009]

There is no apparent cure for his stupidity.

[sgtrds]

There is no apparent cure for his stupidity.

Posted by micma at 07:44 PM : Jan 29, 2008

No, but there is treatment. Involuntary commitment to a mental institution. George W. Bush IS mentally ill.

[rowdytexan2]

Oh hell, he''s never honest. He quit drinking when Momma threatened to cut of the money supporting his failures.

[brianp55]

This guy is an empty suit and it doesn''t matter if he''s a zombified alcoholic or not. He''s only a representative of large corporations. Do you really believe that he has the brainpower to engage in strategic thought? For him, it couldn''t possibly make any difference if was sober or intoxicated....the cerebral output would be the same.

[Krazcarl]

Didn''t know he was sober thats news so he''s a rich guy on pills. Happens all the time

[libsluvsuvs]

Posted by carterarce at 07:37 PM : Jan 29, 2008
+ report abuse


**************
faith comes in different forms..a lot of people who dont believe in god often enough does not have faith even on themselves..THEY BLAME THE WHOLE WORLD FOR THIER PROBLEMS AND AWAITS FOR ASSISTANCE..

[libsluvsuvs]

bravery, honesty and integrity scares the weak, dishonest and the inept.

[ioweign]

What a crock of SH*IT!!!!!!

This bas***** is STILL a drunk and drug addict!

Posted by SgtRDS at 06:15 PM : Jan 29, 2008

Randy - how did that checkup go ??

[jerr11]

Very touching, got to get out my kleenex, pore George.

LOL

THAT MAKES IT 936 BIG ONES!!

LIES, I MEAN.

[jonesforch]

About time Mr. Bush admitting is the hardest part of of getting through any addiction.

[prinzowhales]

How''d it do for snorting coke?...or taking it in the backside from his military prostitute, Jeff Gannon, by night...and getting soft ball questions from this ''ace reporter'' of Talon News Service at White House press meetings?

This creature says that God told him to invade Afghanistan and strike at Iraq....this pretty much guaranteed him the booger-eating head-banger vote... Hucksterbee''s ''base''.