The Drug Card

Who says we can’t discuss Barack Obama’s past drug use just because he already divulged it in a book? Is that the rule? His drug history doesn’t include a description of not inhaling or a tortured reference to current FBI applicant criteria, so we aren’t allowed to bring it up, make quips about it, implicitly refer to it? Again, it seems necessary to point out that Senator Obama is not god. He has made mistakes. He is a little unusual in that he admits to them…freely…in a book. The poor guy probably thought that there was still an investigative reporter out there who might uncover his past drug use, so he just set it right there in black and white for all of us to read. I’m sure he realizes now that the reporters would never have investigated anything and that they just report what they’re told when they’re not protecting him from those who would actually dare to discuss the facts he set forth in his own book.

On Sunday, Robert Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, was speaking at a Hillary Clinton rally and said, “To me, as an African-American, I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues since Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood — and I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in the book — when they have been involved.”

This innocuous reference was called a “personal, divisive attack on Barack Obama” by South Carolina State Representative I.S. Leevy Johnson. It set off enough cries of indignation from Senator Obama’s supporters that Mr. Johnson felt compelled to clarify his remarks, saying – less than candidly – that he was referring to Senator Obama’s work in the community.

Once again, though, the real point has been lost amidst a media-driven frenzy. No real issues are being discussed as representatives from both campaigns use media time to discuss this non-event. It shouldn’t make the news if someone decides to refer to Senator Obama’s past drug use.  Frankly, I would think that only a drug addict would care if people kept referring to a past dalliance with drugs.

 

Comments

[Rodney Vaccaro]

Great piece, Julie. Personally, I don't trust anyone who grew up within the last 60 years and didn't take drugs. It indicates a lack of curiosity and a disrespect for peer pressure...neither of which would be a benefit to a President. I mean, when we meet with those other leaders from like Europe and someone takes out a doobie...are we going to be known as the uncool country? I should think not! Everyone remembers Reagan's, "Mr Gorbachev, tear down that wall!" But they forget it was followed by, "And don't bogart that joint!" Seriously, do people really believe Franklin Roosevelt would have been the imaginative, resplendent leader he was if he didn't spend his entire term jacked up on martinis and cuban cigars 24/7?!

One piece of advice I would give Hill, if I may, at this juncture...If she is going to compare herself to any other US Prez, I wish she would stay away from LBJ...for those of us who lived through that period...dog-ear pulling and possible Kennedy assassination complicity aside...it brings me little comfort to hear her compare herself with the guy who inherited a senseless war and immediately upon taking office decided to escalate and expand it.

R