[kavaTeexy]

My question is this: do we really need another former cokehead in the Oval Office?

I doubt that he'll do any worse.

[tousuarshatly]

Is there any substance to his candidacy? What does he stand for? I dont know, I'm asking. To this point, all I know about him is that he is young, black, and charismatic. Everyone seems to be impressed with him, but I need a reason to vote for him other than he's got more charisma than the rest of the pack.

[Ehlgamxf]

Who cares if he did some coke back in the day? There are much better reasons to oppose him.

[Heaneisismich]

I make a thread about coke and then, minutes later, Zylka resurfaces. Coincidence?

[Hmwmzian]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Who cares if he did some coke back in the day? There are much better reasons to oppose him. In your case it would be because he is black...

[Mediconlinee]

Originally posted by MOBIUS


In your case it would be because he is black... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1730861/posts

Oh no, I love Oreos.

[Seesspoxy]

[Abebpabeniemo]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
I wish it was a joke.

[unishisse]

Originally posted by Brundlefly
Is there any substance to his candidacy? What does he stand for? I dont know, I'm asking. To this point, all I know about him is that he is young, black, and charismatic. Everyone seems to be impressed with him, but I need a reason to vote for him other than he's got more charisma than the rest of the pack. What the heck are you asking about issues for?? This is America, goddammit, where we pick our leaders based solely upon superficial rumor and innuendo!!

[idobestbuyonlinepp]

Having the balls to admit that you snorted coke in high school in your own memoir

[VistaULTIMATEdownloadaPro]

Also, being able to write a pretty good memoir (and be editor of the Harvard Law Review and a U of Chicago Constitutional Law Prof)

Not bad for a former cokehead.

[emorbimefed]

Originally posted by Ramo
Also, being able to write a pretty good memoir (and be editor of the Harvard Law Review and a U of Chicago Constitutional Law Prof)

Not bad for a former cokehead. Only an elitist, leftist, liberal America-hater would think that writing a memoir, editing a Harvard Law Review, and being a professor at UChicago would be "doing not bad".

A real American would be running small oil exploration companies into the ground. Because that's what you have to do to find oil, dig very deep holes. That's doing good for yourself after being a cokehead.

[Karpattaisp]

did anyone else read this as Osama?

[Unonounaple]

Having the balls to admit that you snorted coke in high school in your own memoir

I'd have a lot more respect for him if he hadn't admitted it. What are we supposed to tell kids when a Presidential candidate not only isn't ashamed to admit that he used cocaine, but tries to turn his openness about it into a badge of honor? Or, to paraphrase Chris Rock, how do you tell your kid not to get high when the Democratic presidential candidate is happy to tell everyone he snorted coke?

[vodaPlaps]

Teach them responsibility instead. Tell them to have some if they wish but to assume the consequences. The War on Drugs has shown it, censorship and blackout don't work.

[Paiblyelaxy]

I'd have a lot more respect for him if he hadn't admitted it. Drake, I think highly of you. I am quite certain that you would not be among those bashing him for hypocrisy or some such had someone else outed his cocaine usage.

Alas, Fox News and the rightist media outlets would not be so... high-minded.

[dodadaxia]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
Teach them responsibility instead. Tell them to have some if they wish but to assume the consequences. ... censorship and blackout don't work. What are we supposed to tell kids when a C-student and general failed businessman becomes a President that isn't ashamed to lie, censor NYT editorials with no classified information, and avoids responsibility for or even to admit mistakes, and tries to turn his slavishly faithful belief in his cause as some heavenly appointed "Decider" into a badge of honor?

How do you tell your kid to study in school, to be honest, and to not shirk responsibility?

Indeed, I believe Chris Rock's original quote skewers this sitting president.

[doksSirmAdods]

I think Obama brought it out knowing, if he didn't, he'd be outted by Republican smearmongers. Bringing out your own dirty laundry is the best way to handle things.

Now, of course, the Repugs will try to spin this to the max. For example, notice how Drake characterizes someone who used cocaine decades ago as a "cokehead" or Drake's above-post saying that Obama was trying to turn his cocaine use into a "badge of honor."

Republicans just can't deal with reality, so they've created their own fantasy world and have moved in. (For further examples, watch Fox "News." )

[Unoloknovagog]

I'm agnsotic when it comes to Obama. I don't like his politics but respect his calls for bipartisanship. Unlike others whose politics I dislike and make active attempts to create intraparty dissention.

That being said, the difference I think Drake referes to is not so much the redemption of his character which in of itself is commendable but the attempt to promote the same. A more circumspect person would simply acknowledge it (be ashamed of it) and not use it as a means of self promotion.

In any event the acts are framed as being out earliy enough to prevent any political surprise for his presidential campaign but come off as laudatory, when they really shouldn't be. Same held true for Bush but IIRC Bush didn't publish a memoir self advertising his struggle with demons of alcool and coke. Therein lies a difference.

At the end of the day this doesn't phase me one way or the other about Obama.

[betraaaus]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
I'm agnsotic when it comes to Obama. You don't know whether or not Obama is God?