NH Union Leader: The Politics of Dope- Obama comes clean

[Colobo]

AT MANCHESTER'S Central High School on Monday, Sen. Barack Obama admitted to students in a study hall that as a teenager he was a "goof-off," a drinker and a drug user. He was right to be so candid.

"You know, I made some bad decisions that I've actually written about," Obama said. "You know, got into drinking. I experimented with drugs. There was a whole stretch of time that I didn't really apply myself a lot. It wasn't until I got out of high school and went to college that I started realizing, 'Man, I wasted a lot of time.'"

Mitt Romney, whose past is so clean his autobiography has been known to actually disinfect the books next to it, criticized Obama's statements.

"It's just not a good idea for people running for President of the United States who potentially could be the role model for a lot of people to talk about their personal failings while they were kids because it opens the doorway to other kids thinking, 'well, I can do that too and become President of the United States,' " Romney said. "I think that was a huge error by Barack Obama . . . it is just the wrong way for people who want to be the leader of the free world."

Mitt Romney is a great role model for children who have yet to succumb to the temptations of addictive behavior. But for self-doubting teens who have already stumbled, identifying with someone so gleamingly unblemished is difficult.

With his admission, Obama is able to show teens who already have made bad decisions that there is life after drinking and drug use -- as long as they stop.

Inner city Manchester is home to far too many kids who already have started down the path of self-destruction. With his candor, Obama may have given them hope and a reason to clean up. His example is just what some of those kids need. We are grateful he chose to level with them and not feed them lies through which they would easily have seen. It is important that these teens hear from someone who was once like them that it is not too late to turn their lives around.

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=The+politics+of+dope%3A+Obama+comes+clean&articleId=9b1fa078-c2e8-4b94-9043-38fee0206924

[illinoisprogressive]

1. Obama doesn't pander. But, what I don't get is this has been known forever.

so why is the news making such a big deal of it now? slow news day??

[ClarkUSA]

2. A reporter who was there said the press there were really surprised because of his total candor.

It's something unheard of in this day and age of poll-driven positioning and parsed phrases that a candidate for
any elected office much less president comes right out and SAYS VOLUNTARILY that he smoked dope, snorted
blow and drank too much as a kid, so political journalists sat up and took notice. It also speaks to his character,
which makes for a greater storyline. Good for Obama.

[MethuenProgressive]

35. Old news. He wrote about in his book. And the "press was surprised"?

"The press" needs to better informed. Old news.

[Skip Intro]

5. video about to surface?

that was a rumor here and elsewhere when the obama/novak show was on the air -


maybe he's trying to get infront of something he knows is coming?


just speculation...

[jaysunb]

9. That could be...

but he's already talked about this in both his books, so it's not new. Maybe Clinton has info about more recent things. It won't matter though...this is a done deal.

[Bluebear]

10. "Obama doesn't pander" . . . LMAO!!!!

"Gays are trying to kill our children." - Obama spokesman Donnie McClurkin

[ClarkUSA]

11. Spokesman? LMAO!!!!

So in your political universe, any entertainer who performs on behalf of a candidate is their "spokesman" now?

I guess Bonnie Raitt is an Edwards' spokeswoman while Frank Costello is a Clinton spokesman and Bruce Springsteen was a Kerry spokesman.

:rofl:

[Bluebear]

13. He didn't perform, he MCed and gave a half hour sermon. But we know your stance on gay rights.

Every post on the subject gets a "duh" out of you, a snide little laughing figure, and the accusation that the gays are all voting for Hillary.

[ClarkUSA]

14. More BS from you -- so where's the video? And stop trying to swift boat me with your delusions.

You know zip about me. But looking through the archives, it's clear to me that you're more than a little obsessed with attacking Obama
with this patent falsehood.

Get a life, dude.

[dsc]

15. Every single. solitary, paper which covered the event

said the man MCed and the man gave a sermon. Are they all liars? Are the dozens of gays who were there, protesting, and have said that is what happened all liars too? Just becuase there is no video, doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[ClarkUSA]

17. Links to a single solitary paper that has "spokesman" in it?

*crickets*

[dsc]

20. This is the post you called bs

He didn't perform, he MCed and gave a half hour sermon. But we know your stance on gay rights.
Edited on Fri Nov-23-07 02:39 AM by Bluebear
Every post on the subject gets a "duh" out of you, a snide little laughing figure, and the accusation that the gays are all voting for Hillary.

find the word spokeman in it

Unlike you I won't be snarky but an apology is in order.

[ClarkUSA]

21. Look at the fabricated byline underneath the photo accompanying the post.

Unlike you, I can scan efficiently and an apology is in order.

[dsc]

22. There is no photo, none, not a scintilla of a photo in the POST YOU CALLED BS

WHICH IS POST 13. You owe me an apology. On edit I AM SHOUTING SINCE AFTER I QUOTED THE POST, IN ITS ENTIRTY, YOU STILL LIED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE POST.

[ClarkUSA]

23. YOU OWE ME AN APOLOGY. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK---->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3749530&mesg_id=3749664

LEARN HOW TO SCAN SUBTHREADS.

lol

[dsc]

24. That isn't the post you called bs

you may have MEANT to call that post bs but you didn't. Instead you called the post I cited bs. You then called me a liar not once, but twice AFTER I quoted the post in question. It isn't my fault you responded to the wrong post. It isn't my fault you then called me a liar after I pointed that out.

[ClarkUSA]

25. Typical weasel move. I knew you'd whine. Is it my fault that you can't read subthreads?

You are so intellectually dishonest that you can't admit that I was right about Bluebear. Instead, you whine about WHERE the post
was NOT WHAT IT SAID. Typical example of vapid political peanut gallery style over solid Obama substance.

Go away, you gnat.

[dsc]

27. Let me get this straight, so to speak

First, you post a post calling a truthful post bs. I, in the first instance, merely ask if all of the people who have said the post was true are liars. You respond by calling me a liar. Then I go back and quote the post you responded to and ask for an apology. You then call me a liar and claim to have responded to a different post. I then point out a third time just which post you actually responded to, and now it is my fault you responded to the wrong post. Gee, must be nice being you. Nothing apparently is ever your fault.

[ClarkUSA]

28. Do not slime me with your delusions. The only person who used the word "liar" was YOU.

Which is against DU rules, by the way.

Your ability to endlessly obfuscate is only exceeded by your talent for boring me to tears.

[Bluebear]

31. I can imagine the time you are having with "ignored"

I finally had to ignore their posts, but good luck to you lol!

[dsc]

32. thanks

I let him have the last word. I am watching the great film Urbania.

[ClarkUSA]

26. dupe

[CTLawGuy]

18. we get it

you hate Obama...

[Bluebear]

30. Of course I don't hate Obama. But his spokespeople say I kill children. nt

[CTLawGuy]

34. could have fooled me...

and he has no such spokespeople. Donnie McClurkin is not his spokesperson, he's an idiot who did one gospel show and who apparently doesn't hate gays enough to not support a guy who is pro-gay-rights.

[Bluebear]

40. Who says McClurkin supports Obama?

He did not endorse him, he wad hired by Obama to emcee his "Embrace the Change!" concert. He gave a half hour sermon against gays.

Maybe he fooled you, he did not fool a LOT of gays and lesbians.

[Alexander]

41. And who says Obama's going to do what McClurkin wants?

Before your inevitable knee-jerk answer, keep in mind McClurkin spoke at the DNC in 1992, supporting none other than...Bill Clinton.

[Bluebear]

42. Here's my "inevitable knee-jerk answer", & by the way could you be more condescending?

Was McClurkin an "ex-gay" at the 1992 DNC? Had he already made the public statements that gay people are trying to kill our children?

[CTLawGuy]

43. that was

BEFOOOOOOOOORE he was evil scum...

[Lucinda]

39. He was very smart to bring it up again. Better that HE controls the message...

I am sure that a lot of people never heard it the first time around.

[zanne]

3. THE UNION LEADER IS SAYING SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT OBAMA?

Gather your families and pets and head immediately for your nearest wilderness area. Caves are excellent protection, but man-made shelters will also do in an emergency. Make sure to bring enough food and water for a long deluge. If mankind is to survive, we must gird our loins and persevere.

[ClarkUSA]

4. Even more so, The Union Leader slammed NH Republican frontrunner Romney.

Conclusion: Obama is more likeable than The Android.

[regnaD kciN]

8. That was my thought, too...

...the Union-Leader saying something good about a) a Democrat and b) an African-American? :wow:

[CTLawGuy]

19. no joke

as someone who is familiar with New Hampshire and its media, color me surprised.

[HughMoran]

38. surprised? color me shocked beyond belief

Wake me up when reality returns to the hate rag...

[gmudem]

6. Good for Obama

However I hate how adults always talk about teen drinking as if it's some kind of horrible thing and yadda yadda yadda. I'm a college student and I drink alcohol just like millions of other students do and guess what, it's really not a big deal. It's not as if drinking automatically turns into a student and a lazy bum, that is the case for some but it is just plain stupid to say that is what happens to everybody. If adults want to lecture every college and high school student who drinks, they are going to have a lot of work on their hands.

/rant

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Speaking as one...

Who is coming up on his 10th year of sobriety, can I just say that I find this need for politicians to indulge in something far worse than alcohol or drugs, self-righteous neo-prohibitionist moralizing, well fucking boring and not just a little hypocritical.

Drinking does not make you a drunk. Being a drunk makes you a drunk. Smoking a joint does not make you a drug addict. Being a drug addict...well, you get the picture.

Some of the most adept, he-man, two-fisted drinkers I have ever seen were politicians. Even the women. Just because insurance companies and employers have decided that it is cheaper for them to educate the workforce in the chapter and verse of Carrie Nation, doesn't make her doctrine any truer than it was before. Getting lectured by politicians that I or anyone else should not touch Demon Alcohol just makes me thirsty. Very thirsty. Thirsty in ways I just don't want to quench.

Let's, as a people, turn out attentions to the real problems facing us. Not these Opportunities in Demagoguery.

Oh, and the person who wrote that editorial? I have $5.00 that says he or she has a bottle in the bottom drawer of their desk. Or two.

Of course, no one in the newspaper trade EVER takes a drink. :eyes:

[Old and In the Way]

12. I'll bet my last cent that Mitt would have had no problem pitching that out

to the public if Obama and he match up in the GE and he had kept it quiet. His point then would be, "the candidate for President can't hide these issues from the public*. Why didn't you come clean about this before, Obama?"


* unless you're an AOWL drunken cokehead till age 40 and you have an army of minders to sanitize your personal history.


I, too, am shocked that the Manchester Union Leader has this up as an editorial. William Loeb must be spinning in his grave.

[DrFunkenstein]

16. Republicans - And Some Dems - Like to Treat Us Like Children

I liked Kerry because he respected us as adults. I think this is absolutely f'n brilliant (in the English sense of the word) of Obama to admit he is a human being. Who would have held it against Bill Clinton if he said he had inhaled? That calculated baloney is no longer what's needed in America. Hell, I really think Americans would have loved Bill so much more if he came clean about Monica Lewinsky when he had the chance.

It is time for politicians to stop treating us like stray children that need to be coddled. That's how we got into Iraq in the first place. Treating us like kids isn't going to help the environment either, or any of the other problems facing us, for that matter. We need someone who is willing to say, "It ok that we have blemishes, because acknowledging them creates compassion and allows us to learn and to fix the things that are fixable."

Ok, maybe that wouldn't have to be a direct quote.

I can only imagine what Romney 3000 would do for the war on drugs. And I can only dream what someone like Obama would do.

[KittyWampus]

29. Mitt Romney prefers candidates who've done coke to LIE about it & have their cronies scrub

any records that might indicate their misdeeds.

You know, like Harriet Miers went down to Texas and scrubbed Bush' TANG and police records.

[Skip Intro]

33. Man. The right headline would have been "The Audacity of Dope"

duh!!!

[hayu_lol]

36. I am not an Obama backer...

but I find it refreshing that he can be open about this. There were several generations who were, at the least, experimenting with drugs, and there always have been generations who went for booze in a big way.

Add to that, Obama put it in the reference to help kids--the group he was speaking to. Maybe Paris should have been in the audience.

[HughMoran]

37. This from the most right-wing hate-filled rag in America?

Wow. That's all I can say is, wow. I'd never allow that rag to filthy up my house.