Stigma Weakens for Pols Who Smoked Pot

[shawn703]

When it comes to marijuana, youthful indiscretion has come of age.

Lots of politicians, including three of the Democratic presidential candidates, show no fear of fessing up to lighting up in their wild-oats days. Indeed, some who deny dabbling in illegal drugs give the impression that instead of feeling self-righteous, they're a little nervous about coming across as dishonest or just square.

Times have changed since one of President Reagan's Supreme Court nominees was jettisoned because of pot smoking in his past, and even over the decade since candidate Bill Clinton (news - web sites) felt obliged to equivocate about whether he inhaled.

<snip>

In addition to former President Clinton (news - web sites), former Vice President Al Gore (news - web sites), Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (news - web sites), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and several past senators and Cabinet secretaries have admitted to at least trying marijuana. New York Gov. George Pataki says he inhaled, as did New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

<snip>

more...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&e=5&u=/ap/20031128/ap_on_el_pr/politics_of_pot

[shawn703]

1. No mention of *?

Didn't he snort? Why didn't they mention him in this article?

[quispquake]

2. Because he's never admitted it...

The other pols admitted to smoking pot...Bush never did, because then he may be asked about whether he did anything harder...

[shawn703]

4. Oh well...

Would have hoped they could have said something like - "Even President Bush would not deny charges of using cocaine in his youth."

Too bad we don't have a liberal, elitist media. =)

[monobrau]

10. He's not the pot type

He may have tried it, but people like him usually can't smoke pot.
They just get paronoid because they suddenly think everyone can see through the bullshit. That's why they gravitate towards alcohol and coke.

[The Zanti Regent]

7. Please don't do LSD

You'll turn into Dana Rohrbacher, a well-known acid head here in California...

[Terwilliger]

3. kick

[jayfish]

5. This Story Is Incredibly Misleading.

Marijuana use has never been a make or break issue among democrats. Ginsgerg wasn't ousted, he quit due to pressure coming from his own, Republican, party. I don't remember the dems being up in arms over Ginsbrgs user status. I even remember being upset myself that he quit over the issue. Of course if you don't remember the Ginsberg incident you'd need to read all the way to end of this story to find out what really happened. Also notice that there are "news & website" inks for all of the other people mentioned in the article except Doug Ginsberg. They wouldn't want to help us research the truth about his case, would they? Rate this crap a 1.

Jay

[SOS]

6. That's nice for the politicians

But what about these 2,700,000 people?

Marijuana Arrests Under President Bill Clinton:

1993 380,399

1994 481,098

1995 588,963

1996 642,000

1997 695,200

[shanti]

9. i'm so glad you brought those figures up

that is exactly why i didn't care for clinton all that much. the WOD was alive and kicking with him, and probably would be the same with hillary, should she eventually run (and win).

[robbedvoter]

8. At least in the primaries...

More propaganda to induce us to pick losers to W. Pot doesn't matter, draft dodging doesn't matter, confederate flag doesn't matter, gay marriages will not be used against him, raising taxes will not matter, - come on in, the water's safe"
Unka Rove