FREEP THAT POLL: Do you care if public officials use marijuana? What about cocaine? (reader poll)

The Oregonian ^ | 11/08/2013 | Kelly House

[Rio]

Reaction to the news about Jeff Cogen's alleged pot and cocaine use runs the gamut from outrage to a lack of concern best summarized as, as long as he got his work done.
/snip/
Recent polls show most Americans think pot should be legal, and many states including Oregon are taking steps in that direction.

But what does that mean for public officials? Should public officials be allowed to smoke pot while holding office? Is cocaine a different matter?

Take our reader poll to weigh in.

[Navy Patriot]

All government employees should be a ruling elite completely above the law, not just the DemoRats, judges, prosecutors and cops.

[canuck_conservative]

Big Media never investigated Obama’s pot & cocaine use, and I mean never - not one story in the NY Times, on CNN, ABC, CBS, etc. - so why should it be a big deal for other politicians?

Is there a double standard when it comes to drug use, one for black politicians and one for white?

[Ditter]

They changed the wording of the title of the article to something else on the poll. I almost voted yes I care but the poll asked would you vote for someone who used. But it is the west coast so I guess the voters voted like they wanted.

[Berlin_Freeper]

CNN - Tommy Chong Fighting Prostate Cancer With "Rick Simpson's Cannabis Oil"

[EXCH54FE]

Yes. 58.57% (591 votes)

No. 34.09% (344 votes)

I don’t know. 7.33% (74 votes)

Total Votes: 1,009

[dynachrome]

Let 'em shoot heroin. Won't have the energy to screw things up. 2 polls at article

FREEP THIS POLL ***PING!*** FRmail me if you want to be added or removed from the Fearless Poll-Freeping Freepers Ping list. (multiple votes using multiple internetz devices are allowed!) And be sure to ping me to any polls that need Freepin', if I miss them. (looks like a medium volume list) (gordongekko909, founder of the pinglist, stays on the list until his ghost signs up for the list)

[Gator113]

Yes. 57.2% (624 votes)

No. 35.84% (391 votes)

I don’t know. 7% (76 votes)

Total Votes: 1,091

[TigersEye]

I’m more interested in job performance and commitment to the agenda they campaigned on.

[Ken H]

Would you vote for a public official who uses cocaine?

No. 71.4% (649 votes)

Yes. 16.5% (150 votes)

I don't know. 12.1% (110 votes)

Total 909 votes

[fr_freak]

I have NEVER met an adult who regularly used Pot, who was not lazy, dull, often unemployed, or just plain stupid.

Yes you have, but you didn't know they were pot smokers. You know why? Because only the "lazy, dull, often unemployed, or just plain stupid" use pot in a way that is obvious to others. The responsible ones, just like responsible drinkers, show no signs that they partake. And I say this because I have known a fair amount of (otherwise) law-abiding, productive, patriotic professionals who like to get high now and then. Stop making up reasons to support the WOD police state.

[Pollster1]

I wish Obama and the rest of the far left would use cocaine and pot all day, every day. That would leave them completely irrational, i.e., no change, and probably reduce the energy and concentration they could bring to bear on destroying America.

[trisham]

I would not vote for them.

[trisham]

Oy. Forgot to copy the results after I voted. Sorry.

[Bon of Babble]

Says something about the pols character that he needs to use drugs. What kind of decisions would he be making while high on pot or coke? Would you want your surgeon to smoke a little weed before he operated on you? Or coke?

Yes. 55.69% (764 votes)

No. 37.97% (521 votes)

I don’t know. 6.34% (87 votes)

Total Votes: 1,372

[Grams A]

55 per cent would vote for a politician who smokes marijuana but drops to 22 percent who would vote for a politician who uses coke. Just bizarre.

The fact that anyone would vote for a politician who smokes marijuana or uses coke says a whole lot not only about our politicians but about the people who elect them.

[sr4402]

Needs more Freeping. Invite more folks!

[PGR88]

Stop making up reasons to support the WOD police state.

The question was: "Do you care if public officials use marijuana" and my response is that the regular pot users I know (and I know more than a few) none would have the smarts or ambition to get my vote. As for the WOD - I do not care for it. People should be able to do as they please. Eliminate the progressive/welfare/nanny- state, and people will adjust their behavior accordingly.

[KGeorge]

Wow. 55.7% would (vote for a person who used pot), 38.15% wouldn’t, & 6.15% wouldn’t care.

No offense meant to anyone who favors legalization, but having smoked pot frequently in my younger years, I’d just rather have someone more serious & with presence of mind in positions requiring responsibility.
Even as an 18 yr old dingbat (no comments, please lol), there was no way I’d have gone to school or work stoned- not even a leftover buzz. “You” (figuratively speaking) owe people more respect than than that, imo. And yourself.

[B4Ranch]

yes. If you will steal for me, then you will steal from me too. fire him/her.

[fr_freak]

The question was: "Do you care if public officials use marijuana" and my response is that the regular pot users I know (and I know more than a few) none would have the smarts or ambition to get my vote.

OK, I see your point. Anyone dumb enough to be smoking pot while running for office (especially if they're getting caught) or while IN office is probably not to be trusted in public office. But again, I think you'd be surprised at how many competent people I've known in tech or other fields who like to roll a joint now and then. None of them are running for office, though.