Obama writes about smoking marijuana and trying cocaine during his teenage years. Inviting journalists to contrast his earlier admission with Bill Clinton's "didn't inhale" remarks made during the 1992 presidential campaign, Obama recently stated: "I inhaled—that was the point." Obama added: "It was reflective of the struggles and confusion of a teenage boy; teenage boys are frequently confused."My significant other concluded, upon hearing this, that Obama has no prayer. And isn't that the automatic reaction most would reach? I mean, geeze, coke!
I guess the reason I felt differently was the persistent exaltation of redemption in American public life. Even when it's pathetic -- Mark Foley -- some sort of renunciation/apology/rehabilitation cycle is usually acceptable to restart a stalled career. And Obama is nothing if not about the possibilities of redemption and second chances. Probably the reason Clinton took so much flack for marginal pot use was that you got the feeling he'd smoke a bowl today, if Stephenopolous was carrying.
Still, this should be an interesting thing to explore when the media types go after Barack.
2 comments:
I don't know if I was surprised that he tried it so much as a little shocked by the bluntness of his admission. It's probably good for him that he came out about it before he was the clear presidential contender he is today. With any luck, the press corps will be bored with the story by the time somebody tries to make it a campaign issue.
Oh no! Nobody who has ever tried cocaine could be a viable presidential candidate, let alone a two-term president!
Oh, wait.
And Paul's right. People will forget about this in a about four months.
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