Does Obama need to answer the "cocaine" charges?

[kentuck]

When Bob Johnson, black entrepreneur and Hillary supporter,said yesterday that Bill and Hillary were supporting black issues when Obama was doing "something in the neighborhood" and he wasn't talking about organizing, the media had their talking point of today. Did Johnson bring this up on his own or was it sleazy politics by the Hillary campaign?

Regardless, Obama is being pressured to answer the questions about cocaine use. If he responds and says he never used it or sold it, then the headlines say that Obama Denies Cocaine Use. So he loses either way. But, better to answer the charges now than when the Republicans bring it up.

[SteppingRazor]

1. He's already admitted using it when he was younger. That's why it's being used against him now. n/t

[MoonRiver]

6. Today on MSNBC I heard talk about him selling it.

Where did that come from?

[SteppingRazor]

9. That's pure mudslinging. First I heard it was from Hillary's New Hampshire campaign chair. n/t

[kentuck]

12. Pat Buchanan?

He used to work in the Nixon White House, you know?

[MoonRiver]

24. It was a black guy, Eugene somebody, with the Washington Post.

[kentuck]

25. Eugene Robinson.

He was only responding to Pat Buchanan's remarks. Robinson said he did not think Obama should voluntarily talk about it...

[Pirate Smile]

15. Billy Sheheen - Clinton's New Hampshire Co-Chair

[still_one]

2. As soon as george bush does /nt

[dmallind]

3. Hasn't he "answered" them already

You know, by detailing the experience himself in an autobiography? It's kind of wacky to have to anwer charges based on your own evidence isn't it?

Now yes the Reps will use it and yes it will get thrown against him so Johnson is correct. But it's not like he was "caught" - since he publicized it first.

[Justpat]

4. George Bush didn't have to answer similiar charges.

Why should Obama? The MSM wouldn't want to seem like they gave the Boy King a pass now, would
they?

[eFriendly]

5. Sleazy politics, from a sleazy campaign, by a sleazy candidate. n/m

[blondeatlast]

7. "I made a mistake. Let's talk about something that matters now." nt

[livetohike]

8. Obama wrote about his past drug use so I don't know

what there would be to question him about.

I would like to hear all of the candidates questioned on their drug use. I don't think the media will go there though.

It doesn't matter to me. I came of age in the 60's and don't know too many people in my age bracket who haven't at least tried pot,etc. I would be suspect of people in that age bracket who said they never tried it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. What is the accusation? Using? Selling?

I don't think an admission of "using" would be a big deal. And you're right, the earlier the better for any negative revelations. We don't need "news" leading up to the general election.

(note to self: never run for president)

[kentuck]

11. Stabbing hope in the heart..

is the saddest part.

[cooolandrew]

13. Obama's best answer is, "I did not ihale orhave sexual realtions with that woman" =)

[kentuck]

17. Or the same answer that Bush gave?

I made mistakes when I was younger but I am not going to talk about them.

[stillcool]

14. he already did...

beat the dead horse if you wish...your prerogative.

[cali]

16. Do you really not know if it was sleazy politics?

She was right beside him. And I haven't seen anyone pressuring Obama to answer questions about his cocaine use. Furthermore, he's hardly going to deny something he wrote about in his book. And he talked about it with high school students in NH.

[kentuck]

20. Most people do not view cocaine the same way they view marijuana..

They view cocaine as a hard drug.

[bunkerbuster1]

18. I don't get this.

As others have pointed out, he's already discussed this.

Unless he had some double-secret life as a drug kingpin that somehow escaped everyone's attention, this sounds like nothing of interest to any likely voter. (To Gooper faithful, of course, you can't admit to drug use unless you've since acknowledged Jesus as your constant companion, favorite philosopher, and guy-you'd-want-to-have-a-beer-with.)

[kentuck]

22. Obviously, he hasn't discussed it sufficiently...

to satisfy some people. He could say that he has discussed it in his book and elsewhere and does not think it should be part of a campaign that is trying to lift this nation and heal the divisions...

[NashVegas]

19. Depends On How You Feel About Bush's Refusal, I Suppose

If there's an indisputable account somewhere, I would say 'yes.'

[Rene]

21. What's this "used against him' bull. He committed a crime...he engaged the drug-using community.

Did he turn any of those illegal dealers in?
Obama, as a candidate, makes me cringe....NO substance...all rhethoric. He's not led an ant up a hill...let alone an entire country. bush was supposed to be the Washington outsider who was 'going to change D.C.".....look at the mess we got. We need Hillary Clinton at the helm....no doubt in my mind.

[dmallind]

26. We've all committed crimes

Does that mean we can never be any use and have no substance?

Anybody who says they have never broken a law is lying, deluded or has extremely advanced and debilitating OCD.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

48. So what?

He used a little coke, get over it. I could give two shits about what kinds of drugs people did or are doing unless it affects their performance in office.

[BlackVelvet04]

23. I haven't read his book but my dad has and

he said Barak talks about it in his book. He used cocaine....big deal.

[Neecy]

27. he admitted to using it in his book

It's the Clinton campaign that's been demanding to know if he 'sold' it - which is really meant to conjure up the image of an African-American drug dealer. There's no evidence whatsoever that he ever sold any drug and this tactic is beneath ANY Democrat.

[maddiejoan]

55. How did we get from a NH campaign co-chair

speculating that the GOP might ask if Obama sold drugs --to "It's the Clinton campaign that's been demanding to know if he 'sold' it"?

THis is the sort of craptacular distortions going on in DU for months.

I'm sick of it.

[rug]

28. No, but he can stop hanging around with Marion Barry.

[MyNameGoesHere]

29. Ummm didn't DU jump on the bandwagon about shrubs cocaine use?

If it was fair then why is it not now?

[kentuck]

30. To be fair...

Dubya never admitted using it in a book. He just refused to comment on it. Obama has addressed it - whether sufficiently or not - in his book.

[Atman]

34. So again, what's there to "answer to?"

Read the book.

:shrug:

.

[kentuck]

38. Most people have not read his book...

and may not look at the issue the same way as you or I?

[dmallind]

43. But many more of them have heard the coverage of his book

Frankly I confess I have not read it myself - but I know about this tidbit in it. It garnered quite a lot of attention. Sure not EVERYBODY heard of it - but how then is he supposed to reach those since the same tools would be needed to communicate with them as the tools with which this has already been dissemintaed (i.e TV, radio, papers, internet, books, etc)

[Cameron27]

35. Just because Obama addressed it,

doesn't mean people can't talk about it, or god forbid, have an opinion about it. He can't dictate people's reactions.

[jonnyblitz]

33. people were calling him "Chimpy McCokespoon" on here.

I guess it's only a factor when we don't like the person. It was just a humanizing youthful indiscretion when it's our guy.

[dmallind]

42. It's a fair question and needs a fair answer

The difference is Obama has answered it, and did so even before it was asked.

I'm not saying it's an IMPORTANT question - frankly I could care less as long as any candidate is not going to be making political decisions while high - but it's a fair one.

Really it would be fair to ask all candidates "what laws have you knowingly broken and when?". Not high at all on my list, but a fair question nonetheless for those who seek a position with authority to veto or sign bills that would become laws.

[Atman]

31. There is nothing to answer to

He wrote it in a book. He was attempting to get ahead of a story he knew would come out without resorting to a ridiculous "I tried cocaine, but I did not snort" type of argument.

Maybe he should answer the "charges" on a stage, at a podium, right next to George W. Bush answering the charges of HIS cocaine use.

.

[LeftCoast]

32. So what is Bob Johnson's relationship to the Clinton campaign?

:shrug:

[Cameron27]

37. He's a supporter.

[NNN0LHI]

36. He will have to sooner or later, Sir

I sure wish he had not written about it in his book.

Don

[Cameron27]

39. Well he tried to get in front of the issue

but politically, it's a double edged sword.

[kentuck]

40. Republicans are probably saying...

Damn, I wish they would have saved that issue for us! Best to get it out of the way right now.

[Pawel K]

41. Why do people keep bringing up this dishonest charge about him selling cocaine?

You guys should be ashamed of yourselves.

[kentuck]

45. Did he tell you personally?

Or do you know it for a fact?

[Pawel K]

51. Huh?

I don't understand what you are asking me. This charge is bullshit, yet people like the OP continue to repeat it. Is it bullshit? Yes it is, I know that for a fact.

[madmunchie]

44. Did Bush address his?

[truebrit71]

46. Just as soon as Smirky McCokespoon in the WH does...

The MSM presstitutes sure gave him a pass on the subject didn't they?

[bigtree]

47. It really depends on who his republican opponent is, if he becomes the nominee

right now, there's no one he needs to respond to about it on the Democratic side, especially a surrogate for Clinton.

[BooScout]

49. He's already admitted.....

To using alcohol, pot & coke as a teenager to 'push questions of who he was out of his mind' so I don't think he needs to go over his usage again and again. What I wish is that one, just one politician would admit freely that they did drugs to get high........and not say they didn't inhale, or had some deep dark secret for using whatever drug is in question. Just say........yea, I was stupid, I did drugs to get high and then I grew up. What is so fucking hard about that? We don't need to hear some bullshit psychobabble about not inhaling, finding yourself or 'pushing who you are out of your mind' as a dumb assed excuse.

[I work for workers]

50. Yes, because he still supports the jailing of millions of non violent drug users,

despite being an fan of hard drugs himself. Obama's drug war hypocrisy rivals Hillary's war on terror hypocrisy.

[Romulox]

52. Bingo. He'll probably pull a Bill Clinton and ramp up the WOD to cover his own tracks. nt

[Marrah_G]

53. He already answered and explained it- It should be put rest

This is the sort of stupid bullshit that may end up costing us November.

Both sides need to shut the fuck up and not fall for this crap every god damned time.

[blogslut]

54. nice post, Karl

:eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

56. Making disparaging comments to a long time DUer?

For asking a legitimate question?

kentuck has been here longer than me.

He has been checked and re-checked years and years ago. And he checked out good.

Don

[blogslut]

57. Tough

It was a smarmy, sleazy post and I don't care how long he's been here.