Losing his cool in a home state news conference, Bush angrily refused to answer questions about rumors that he had used cocaine in his youth. He changed course later for the Dallas Morning News and agreed to answer the question posed to prospective federal employees: Have you used illegal drugs in the past seven years? No, Bush answered, thinking that would satisfy the media’s insatiable curiosity.

It started a feeding frenzy.

Bush set a higher standard: 15 years. Did he use drugs when his father was president? No. Vice president? No. That was interpreted as 25 years. Could he answer the question posed to White House employees: Have you used drugs since your 18th birthday. No answer. Bush said he must draw the line somewhere. There it sits.

This issue didn’t suddenly pop up. Bush has expertly sidestepped questions for months, admitting only to having had a wild streak as a young man. As governor of Texas, he has been hard-nosed with those convicted of drug violations and actually won his first gubernatorial election after Democrat Ann Richards was unable to put to rest rumors that she had once been addicted to drugs.

Here’s the dilemma for Bush’s GOP foes: Any harm they do to his reputation will eventually aid the Democrats should he be nominated.

Bush has chosen to stonewall the rumors. As he remains in the national limelight, the truth will eventually come out. Scandal is the No. 1 byproduct of a presidential campaign.