During a town hall meeting with his Florida constituents, Republican Congressman Allen West was asked a question about his role in a controversial incident, in which West interrogated an Iraqi detainee by firing a gun near his head. West took issue with being asked about the incident, and responded to his critics that 'If you guys want to go back and talk about what happened nine years ago for me, let's talk about the president doing blow.'
I agree. President Obama's past drug use should be fair game for discussion. But West and I think so for different reasons.
Rep. West, like many conservatives, likely believes that Obama's past use of marijuana and cocaine is one reason the president is unfit for office. Asking more questions about his use of blow, they think, could show how the president is reckless and incapable of leading America.
I, however, want President Obama's drug use mentioned more because it could force a discussion about drug legalization.
As I wrote last week, we should ask more questions like: 'Why won't President Obama support our right to 'choom' a doobie like he did?'
Other questions include:
- Imagine if the same drug laws Obama favors had been enforced on him while he 'choomed' doobies and rode the powdery white horse. Does he think that would be fair?
- Given his past drug use, does the president really think that drug use is a big deal? Big enough to continue cracking down, despite declaring as an Illinois State Senator that the drug war is a failure?
- What changed over time? Why did the president rightfully declare the drug war to be a failure throughout his political career, only to recant as soon as he reached the presidency?
- If the president 'evolved' on gay marriage ' an issue he was once in support of, again, before holding office ' then why can't he make a similar 'evolution' on the drug prohibition?
Alas, those questions probably won't get asked. But, at the very least, talking about the pure white snow he snorted could be a good start.
Watch Congressman West's comments below, via The Shark Tank:
(H/T RCP)
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Allen West is the embodiment of everything that is sick, disgusting, and terrible about politics today. However, the blithering idiot is an EXCELLENT tool for Democratic fundraising. So I guess he's not entirely bad.
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Agreed.
West's angle was explored in 08. Didn't work and it's a crummy dodge to use to run away from one's own record of military service that West touts all the time anyway' why should he be shy about it now?
Kirell's angle is much more productive. Pushing the President to use his own life's narrative to empathize (something he does all the time) with those incarcerated under America's terrible drug policies may force the issue at least into the spotlight of the national conversation.
I still doubt that we are any less than 3-5 presidential cycles before any serious reform can take place on this issue.
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As my Granny would often say, 'You can only work to the understanding that you have'
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George W Bush was doing cocaine in his late 30s, yet that was never relevant during any of his campaigns. And please don't make the argument that this is about hypocritical stances on drug penalty enforcement. GWB signed some of the most restrictive drug laws during his time as governor of Texas.
This is only an issue now because it perpetuates a stereotype. It's typical dog-whistle politics. It's amazing how after 3.5 years of observing Obama in office, we still have to endure this BS about character issues to determine how he'll govern.
Here's a clue: he'll govern how he's governed for the past 3.5 years, as a center-left moderate with his hands tied behind his back, forced to negotiate with a bunch of mouth-breathing teatards, while democrats cower in the corner, afraid to be labeled a liberal.
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War criminal West once again displays his moron credentials.
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'Ooh I love to dance a little sidestep, now they see me now they don't- I've come and gone''
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