If Kerry Had Cocaine Abuse In His Past, Would The Media Ignore It?

[DrFunkenstein]

Even when the Democratic candidates talked about their marijuana use, or Bush talked about the abuse of steroids, somehow the topic of Bush's cocaine habits remains off-limits. Why? Because the President's private life is private? Tell that to Clinton!

------------------

First he refused to confirm or deny it. Later he would say only that "when I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible." Next he said that the issue wasn't relevant. Then he said that he wouldn't address "rumors." Then he said that he could pass a standard security check dating back seven years. Finally, he said that he could've passed the security check in his father's White House -- fifteen years.

http://www.progress.org/archive/drc12.htm

------------------

On Monday, Kerry was asked by reporters to explain why he thought that questions surrounding George Bush regarding whether or not he had used cocaine were more substantively relevant than Gore's use of marijuana. Kerry, noting that Al Gore had already admitted his use of marijuana, said:

"(H)e (Gore) said 'I used it.' So that's not an issue... And I don't think Al Gore intends, you know, to make prior use an issue of other people, except to the degree that it affects public policy."

Pressed later on the question of the Bush cocaine rumors, Kerry laid out his thinking on why Bush's drug use, if substantiated, is indeed an important issue for voters to consider:

"The issue about George Bush is not the fact that he may have used it, said Kerry. "The issue about George Bush is, how can you, if you have (used cocaine), have a position that is so at odds in terms of being a governor where you send a lot of other people who may have done the same thing you do to jail. That's the issue. It's not a question of whether he used it or when he used it, it's a question of what his policy is today and whether that's hypocritical and dangerous."

The Week Online spoke with Kerry Spokesman David Wade, who reiterated the Senator's position.

"The Vice President has long admitted that he has used marijuana," said Wade. "Governor Bush, on the other hand, will say only that when he was young and irresponsible, he was young and irresponsible. But when Bush has had the opportunity to score political points in Texas by promulgating tough, extremely punitive new laws against drug users, he has been happy to do so."

http://www.stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/123/gorequestions.shtml

[Moloch]

1. I think something that happened 30 years ago

and didn't have anything really to do with his character (ie the AWOL thing) There are plenty of things that * has done recently to criticize him.

[DrFunkenstein]

2. 30 Years Ago Is Not The Issue

"Governor Bush, on the other hand, will say only that when he was young and irresponsible, he was young and irresponsible. But when Bush has had the opportunity to score political points in Texas by promulgating tough, extremely punitive new laws against drug users, he has been happy to do so."

Would you say that Bush's drug laws are a thing of the past?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Prolonged drug use

can effect one's mental capacities. For that reason alone, I think any prolonged drug abuse in Bush's past is relevant.

[Bombtrack]

4. Kerry basically admitted in a Joe Klein article that he abused substances

into his 30's. He said he was "four sheets to the wind".

[DrFunkenstein]

5. Kerry Said He Only Smoked During VVAW Days

He speaks about this in "Tour of Duty." He did not smoke in Vietnam, nor did he smoke later on. He said he likes feeling in control, and pot made him lose that sense.

This is very much in keeping with Kerry's defense of his daredevil antics. He said he likes to push the envelope as a stunt pilot and such, taking things to very edge of control but never exceeding it.