Obama's Youthful Drug Use May Recieve Closer Scrutiny (Pot, Cocaine)

The New York Sun & Washington Post ^ | January 3, 2007 | Lois Romano

[meg88]

WASHINGTON — Long before the national press spotlight began to shine on every twist and turn of his life's journey, Senator Obama had this to say about himself: "Junkie. Pothead.

'That's where I'd been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man. ... I got high [to] push questions of who I was out of my mind."

The Democratic senator from Illinois and likely presidential candidate offered the confession in a memoir written 11 years ago, not long after he graduated from law school and well before he contemplated life on the national stage.

At the time, 20,000 copies were printed and the book seemed destined for the remainders stacks.

Mr. Obama's confessions were not an issue during his Senate campaign two years ago. But now his open narrative of early, bad choices, including drug use starting in high school and ending in college, as well as his tortured search for racial identity, are sure to receive new scrutiny.

As a potential candidate, Mr. Obama has presented himself as a fresh voice offering a politics of hope.

Many say he offers something new in American politics: an African American with a less-than-traditional name who has so far demonstrated broad appeal. What remains to be seen is whether the candor he offered in his early memoir will be greeted with a new-style acceptance by voters.

Through his book, Mr. Obama has become the first potential presidential contender to confess to trying cocaine.

[jdm]

'I got the rolly on my arm and I'm pouring Chandon And I roll the best weed cause I got it going on'

[ameribbean expat]

after law school but before he entered public life? so what is it legal for an attorney (in whatever state he's licensed) to use illegal drugs?

this guy is a loser. even worse, he's stupid.

[xzins]

Excellent info.

Thanks.

[Ptarmigan]

I think Obama is going to be like Howard Dean, has a strong support at first then loses support in the end.

[johnny7]

Pothead! Doper! Crackhead! ... Marxist-socialist.

[Defiant]

The Clinton war machine has fired the first warning shot across the bow of the USS Obama'

I doubt it. Clinton would love to have Obama as her VP, or at least he is still in the running for it. She can't destroy him and have him as a running mate.

This was printed in his book. It's not exactly a secret. Some enterprising journalist actually read his book, that's all.

Now, if you hear some news about something that he had previously kept private becoming public in a mysterious way, then you will know that Hillary has decided Obama is too much of a threat to her ascendancy. Lucky for Obama, he was not on the radar when she had control of the intelligence and law enforcement agencies. No FBI files.

[razorback-bert]

Mr. Obama's confessions were not an issue during his Senate campaign two years ago.

Not an issue, because no one knew of it.

[katieanna]

Not a problem Obama. Just be smooth like Clinton. Say you didn't inhale, then blast the right wing zealots for making it public.

[thepresidentsbestfriend]

May I suggest a book by Kitty Kelly on Osamas drug use? How bout 3 days in a row on the Today show for the book opening? That`s what happened to GW.

[Bones75]

I don't support the guy at al, but dragging this out is dirty and un-necessary... it;s leftist-type behaviour and I;d rather not engage in it. Who cares what he did in high school..what is he going to do NOW?

[SpringheelJack]

Not an issue, because no one knew of it.

Then that makes us look pretty incompetent, doesn't it, since Obama published that information in a book ten years ago.

[MEGoody]

I'm sure Obama's 'youthful drug use' will be discussed should he decide to run. But since he is a Democrat, the kool-aid drinkers will chalk it up as valuable life experience, and scream "How dare you judge!". (Of course, these are the ones who went ballistic over GW's drunk driving incident more than 30 years ago.)

[Sir Gawain]

Many say he offers something new in American politics: an African American with a less-than-traditional name who has so far demonstrated broad appeal.

Is that all it takes? Cool!

[SpringheelJack]

I'm sure Obama's 'youthful drug use' will be discussed should he decide to run. But since he is a Democrat, the kool-aid drinkers will chalk it up as valuable life experience, and scream "How dare you judge!". (Of course, these are the ones who went ballistic over GW's drunk driving incident more than 30 years ago.)

It would be smarter not to attack him for taking drugs, but to instead press him to show how his public record demonstrates he learned from the experience. How, we might ask, if you knew from firsthand experience that drugs were destructive, could you then vote not to strengthen the penalties on drug dealers? (as apparently he did not, per another Freeper's posting)

If he is shot down, it's his public record or lack thereof which will eventually kill him, not his youthful screwups.

[razorback-bert]

I didn't know there was biography and I don't live in Illinois, however RNC researchers,Keyes and the drive-by media should have.

[wouldntbprudent]

Nah ---he's a Rat. Only Republicans get politically damaged by this stuff.

[wouldntbprudent]

I have always wondered why a person with one white parent and one black parent automatically considers themself "black."

I mean, doesn't that sound like the racist notion from years ago that "one drop" of black ancestry made one black?

If a person's mother is Irish and his father is German, why would he say he is German? Or Irish?

Why do people who have a white and black parent seem always to reject their white biology/heritage? Are they not half white and half black? And if so, how is one "half" more important than the other "half"?

[wouldntbprudent]

That's what MRS BILL CLINTON thinks, too.

You both are prolly right.

[RinaseaofDs]

'Bitch set me up.'

[vetvetdoug]

Obama could have been photographed raping a 7 year old while shooting heroin IV and he would have gotten a pass from the Democrats and the media. This is a non-news item and won't have any bearing on his "lofty" position as the darling of the press and the Democrats.