Chu: Some lawmakers would need moral waiver

[unhappycamper]

Chu: Some lawmakers would need moral waiver
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 10, 2007 19:00:56 EDT

The Defense Department’s personnel chief says that a “significant fraction” of members of Congress have probably smoked marijuana and, if they were somehow age-eligible, would need a waiver to join the U.S. military today.

David S.C. Chu made the observation in describing the process by which so-called “personal conduct waivers” are granted to potential recruits who admit marijuana use. One of the questions recruiters ask, he told defense reporters during a Pentagon briefing on armed forces recruiting, is whether a recruit has ever used marijuana. He said that in the Marine Corps, admission of one use requires a waiver.

“That’s a pretty tough standard,” said Chu, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. “Not to be cheeky about this, but if we applied that standard to our legislative overseers, a significant fraction would need a waiver to join the United States military,” Chu said.

CNN reporter Barbara Starr wanted to know the basis for his contention. “Based upon public statements about past marijuana usage,” Chu said. Starr followed up, asking, “Are you saying that members of Congress who oversee your department —”

“I’m saying that in our society, experimental drug usage is a significant issue with young people,” Chu said. “We require a review if you acknowledge that you’ve done so. That’s all I’m saying. That affects a large fraction of our population.”

“Sir, that’s not exactly what you said,” Starr continued. “You said a significant fraction of your legislative overseers —”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/military_chu_congressmarijuana_071010w/

[NYVet]

1. Sounds like David had finally had enough...

And he decided to fire back at the Congress critters who have been disparaging the DOD recently.