Barack Obama would not qualify for High Security Clearance due to prior admitted drug use

See post | 11/29/2008 | Autumnraine

[autumnraine]

I have never posted a blogger thread, so forgive me if I am doing this wrong.

Ok, I was doing some investigation on a person who claimed that if they had to go through so much investigation to be given security clearance, there is no way Obama would have made it and Bush wouldn't have allowed him to get the briefings. I explained that by being elected President alone, that he gained security clearance of the highest level, which frightens me on a whole different level. But in my searchings, found some documents.

Ok, Barack admitted to using Cocaine and marijuana*. Barack uses as an excuse and a way to promote himself as "honest" by admitting this claiming that polls or focus groups shouldn't change who we are, but was he unaware of the pesky detail of national security clearance requirements?

Here is what the Federal Government has to say on this issue in the ADJUDICATIVE GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION:

"(c) allegation or admission of criminal conduct, regardless of whether the person was formally charged, formally prosecuted or convicted;

Also; 25. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include:

(a) Any drug abuse (see above definition);

(b) testing positive for illegal drug use;

Now, they allow for conditions that could mitigate security concerns including (a) so much time has elapsed since the criminal behavior happened, or it happened under such unusual circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or does not cast doubt on the individual's reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment; and b) there is evidence of successful rehabilitation; including but not limited to the passage of time without recurrence of criminal activity, remorse or restitution, job training or higher education, good employment record, or constructive community involvement.

However, in the military guidelines, (which Barack would be a member of if becoming President) it does allow leeway for illegal drug use in the past: Although any use of illegal drugs without mitigating factors can result in a clearance denial; for most young people entering the US military, pre-service, low-level, recreational use of drugs will not present a significant problem. This is because the circumstances surrounding their use of drugs will mitigate the security concern (see the mitigating factors under Adjudicative Guidelines, Guideline H: Drug Involvement). The mere act of entering the US military usually demonstrates their intention not to use drugs in the future. They are removing themselves from the environment where drugs were used, distancing themselves from their former drug-using associates, placing themselves in an environment where they are subject to random drug testing, and hopefully they abstained from drug use at least during the period they were in the DEP.

Note that the SF86 is a beginning form for basic training, but a more in depth SF86*** is required if being investigated for Top Level Security Clearance.

So please find the case of JOHN R. ERCK in that the military denied him security clearance due to admittance of marijuana and cocaine use prior to the request for clearance. He petitioned to have the ruling overturned and was denied due to the following; (Criterion H)

Improper or illegal involvement with drugs, raises questions regarding an individual's willingness or ability to protect classified information. Drug abuse or dependence may impair social or occupational functioning, increasing the risk of an unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

Drugs are defined as mood and behavior altering:

(a) drugs, materials, and other chemical compounds identified and listed in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, as amended (e.g., marijuana or cannabis, depressants, narcotics, stimulants, and hallucinogens) and

(b) inhalants and other similar substances.

Drug abuse is the illegal use of a drug or use of a legal drug in a manner that deviates from approved medical direction.

Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include:

(1) Any drug abuse;

(2) Illegal drug possession, including cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or

distribution;

(3) Failure to successfully complete a drug treatment program prescribed by a credentialed medical professional. Current drug involvement, especially following the granting of a security clearance, or an expressed intent not to discontinue use, will normally result in an unfavorable determination.

However allowed that; Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:

(1) The drug involvement was not recent.

Now according to (and I agree with) the blogger who said "Of far greater concern to the adjudicator are past and present associations and affiliations. These are clear indicators of an applicant's loyalty (or lack thereof) to the United States or of possible criminal activity. Just based on what we know of Obama's associations with Bill Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, Rashid Khalidi and Tony Rezko, no adjudicator would seriously consider granting a clearance to Barack Obama. Throw in his early ties to the New Party and it's a deal-breaker. He probably wouldn't get a clearance for "classified", never mind "holy f**king shit! classified"."*****

So, here are some references to the issue of drug use.

Combined with the numerous dealings with characters he is reported to be involved with, I don't think in any way he would qualify for a security clearance on the level that President of the United States grants him.

In my opinion, this is an issue of national security and I am reminded of my mother in saying "If all your friends wanted to jump off a bridge..." when hearing how "The people have spoken". Well, as my mom would have said "If 52% of America wanted to jump off a bridge..."

[Dirty Pierre]

If you`ll recall,”Dubya” admitted to using Coke in college,& also that He had a DUI during the 70`s..Everyone has something or other in their past that they`re not proud of.One stupid mistake shouldnt ruin your entire life,before or after........

[autumnraine]

I don’t recall him admitting. I recall it being said and him never saying one way or another.

[angkor]

>>>>>He was a member of the senate intel committee, if not it’s chairman, when he blew an active intelligence source to the press.<<<<<<

“Losing access” isn’t the same as “losing clearance.”

Congressmen do not go through the formal clearance process e.g. SF85.

[353FMG]

Don’t you need to produce some type of background information, that includes information on circumstances of birth, in order to qualify for a secret clearance? Will we have a POTUS without a secret clearance in these uncertain times who has access to nukes?

America, you have a death wish and it will be granted.

[Secret Agent Man]

There is a little wiggle room as he was never convicted. It says “may be disqualifying”.

If there are no court convictions but a person comes clean about the one time he tried dope and puked and never did it again, and his record otherwise is clean, that is a different kind of guy than one who doesn’t have a record but smoked it for years, or dealt it, or still has one every once in awhile.

Of course, barry was a habitual user so even with the ‘wiggle room’ the chances would be very slim they’d let him have a security clearance. Such a person would have to REALLY be someone with skills and talents they just can’t easily find, to overlook that kind of background.

[Always Independent]

That begs to question as to whether the military or nsa or cia or fbi will trust him enough to tell him everything. Didn’t this become an issue with the truman admin?

[angkor]

It will be a concern if Bill The Bomber Ayers is hanging around the White House.

[ethical]

Good post. And true. But who will have the courage to enforce it? My son is a Deputy Sheriff. He works on a military base and it took them a year to investigate his background in order to get his security clearance. What he had to go through simply to become a Deputy was 100 times more than what BO has done and BO would have been rejected. Yet another case where regular citizens are held to a much higher standard.

[Drew68]

Everyone has something or other in their past that they`re not proud of.One stupid mistake shouldnt ruin your entire life,before or after........

The FBI has stopped disqualifying people for past marijuana use. Too many well-qualified applicants were being turned away.

[scrabblehack]

Back when I was in college (late 1980’s), a buddy (white male) interviewed for a DoD job and was turned down immediately upon confessing to having used recreational drugs. I did work for DoD for a while, and met a woman who told me she used them and still got a clearance. There may be some affirmative action in the investigations — obviously two cases don’t prove anything.

[tom h]

Fellow Freepers — I am a long-standing member of this board so don’t take me as a troll. But I must say categorically that you all wrong.

The DOD routinely clears people who used drugs, some very extensively. I know a fellow who was an LSD and acid user in the 1970s in college who gave it up, got a PhD in EE, and became a top scientist in classified circles.

The key here is that the drug use is in the past. Which is probably very true for Obama.

Sorry to burst your balloon(s). This post should really come to a quick and painless end.

Spoken by a man who has held clearances all his life — but was never a drug user.

[autumnraine]

I appreciate your input.

I was merely going by the information I discovered, but if you know they don’t care about it, then it isn’t an issue.

Thank you.

[LucyT]

Thank you, autumnraine.

Ping.

[justiceseeker93]

Obama wouldn't qualify for a security clearance on any level.

Ironically, he would have to fill out a questionnaire which asks, among a slew of other items, his place of birth. He would likely have answered "Honolulu, HI." Then the FBI would check this out and ... I think you know what they would probably find.

[autumnraine]

GOOD POINT!

You are right. Any false answer given on a SF86 is automatic rejection.

Dang. Please God, I have prayed this everyday, but I continue my prayer that you do not let this man get into office. I would even accept (gag) Joe Biden, but not Barack Obama. I’m frightened enough at the briefings he has already seen!

[Polarik]

Obama would be prohibited from gaining security clearance just for the close associations he's had with terrorists.

Then, there this felony fraud change coming down the pike that would also bar him.

[MozarkDawg]

tom h is pointing out to you that the reason this is a non-starter is that all these people, once elected, are endowed with the Public Trust, hence they are not subject to a security clearance, regardless that members of their staff are. They are given access to Top Secret, highly confidential material because the people in this country have allowed it to be so, no other reason than that. If this was something that really concerned people, there would be more of an issue made over character, past behavior, troubling associates/friends/longtime relationships. I've posted on other threads, BECAUSE they receive instant access to this stuff through their being endowed with the Public Trust, the first obligation of the voter is to determine whether or not they are trustworthy.

It is not tom h to whom you need to question whether or not this is an issue, nor even others here on Free Republic. I would suggest that you make this information known to the wider circle of your own friends, associates, who may not be aware that Reps, Senators, Pres and Veep are all able to look at whatever TS info they wish, sit on the Intell committees, deal with all manner of shady characters, no stopping them and tell them they may wish to investigate into the backgrounds of their favored candidates a mite further than they have previously.

[Lilpug15]

Yeah - this security clearance thing annoys me. I made sure that I was truthful and honest on my SF86 - it’s worse if they catch you lying and I had drug use and alcohol abuse in my past which I have grown apart from and cleaned myself up - but I still could not get a special secret clearance (have a secret) because not enough time had passed - it’s annoying that someone like me, not even in the national spotlight or representing the country to the rest of the world would get denied by this guy w/ all his drug use, voter fraud, associations, shady money deals and international campaign financing gets one! I’m LIVID!

[Drew68]

Ironically, he would have to fill out a questionnaire which asks, among a slew of other items, his place of birth. He would likely have answered "Honolulu, HI." Then the FBI would check this out and ... I think you know what they would probably find.

Oh, for cryin' out loud.

Rest assured, the FBI has at some point looked into Obama's birth.

[Secret Agent Man]

Read my post again, please. (And PS, my moniker ain’t just a good song.)