Being honest and truthful, Obama says yes I inhaled--that's the point!

[PresidentObama]

Isn't this what we need? A Presidential candidate who will be honest even when it's admitting a mistake? I know this isn't new, but I thought it was interesting.

AUDUBON, Iowa (CNN) — Earlier this week in New Hampshire Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke candidly about his past experimentation with drugs and alcohol in high school, and on Saturday—after a question on medicinal marijuana—Obama was prodded a bit further and asked whether or not he had ever inhaled.

"I did," the senator from Illinois said to light applause. "It's not something I'm proud of. It was a mistake as a young man."

The question was a reference to a line made famous by former President Bill Clinton who, while admitting to trying marijuana, said he did not inhale.

"I never understood that line," Obama continued. "The point was to inhale. That was the point."

Remember we have a President who can't admit mistakes. Kudos to Obama for telling the truth, even when it's negative. Has anyone asked Hillary and Edwards the same simple question? Any body have links?

[zalinda]

1. Okay, again........let's put this to rest.

Clinton couldn't inhale because he wasn't a smoker and just couldn't do it. This is according to a person who was there at the "party". He ate brownies that were laced with the stuff. So, his statement was true. He did try marijuana, but he didn't inhale.

zalinda

[Imagevision]

4. Clinton didn't inhale? and what ? you were there? no inhaling, and the purpose of smoking is...?

[zalinda]

13. No, I wasn't, but they interviewed some people who were

most were smoking, but Bill Clinton couldn't inhale he just kept coughing and choking. Someone brought out pot brownies and that's what he had. It's quite simple, some people really can't inhale.

I don't know how old you are, but the pot back then was really rough on your throat, and it took sometimes an entire joint to get you high. It was $15 an ounce back then, which most of the time included stems and seeds. A real throat killer if you weren't a smoker.

zalinda

[Kucinich4America]

18. I don't buy that argument.

I never smoked a cigarette in my life, but I learned how to smoke pot within 5 minutes. It's really not that complicated. And, yes I've inhaled some burning seeds before. It's not fun, but that's what happened when you use a toilet paper tube and tinfoil for a pipe.

For the record, I could care less if Bill or Barack (or Hillary or John or Dennis or Joe or Bill R.) ever got high. There's a coke addled dry drunk in the White House right now, and look what he's done. I'd rather have someone who STILL gets high over that!! But I never bought the "I didn't inhale" story. Good for Obama to be honest about it. It's rare to find someone in the last 2 generations who hasn't tried pot.

[ElizabethDC]

16. IIRC, Bill himself has said that he *tried* to inhale but was unable to. n/t

[Lochloosa]

19. There is another reason for not inhaling. Clinton suffers from

Asthma and terrible sinus problems.

Combine that with not smoking and I am surprised he was in the same room.

[argyl]

20. If he admitted to eating brownies then he probably got higher than by smoking.

I smoked,inhaled,the whole bit and the highest I got using cannabis was by eating it.One or two tokes of really potent hashish,like the stuff the Afghanis have been growing for thousands of years, and you were so buzzed you didn't want another one.

Eat about 1/2 a gram and you may not get off the floor for hours.

[rodeodance]

2. making a point. I think it is easier these days to say you inhaled. Much

different atmosphere back when Bill was running

[PresidentObama]

6. True. Valid point.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Did you hear Romney's response?

He said something like it "being a mistake" for Obama to answer like that. I guess Mitt would rather lie than admit the truth; that probably about 95 pct. of us in a certain age group at least tried smoking pot. Fine example for the kids Romney. Let's lie to the kids about what we did in our past, even if it was something wrong.

[PresidentObama]

5. I've never done pot, but I don't think it's a big deal.

I honestly don't care if it was legal. But Jesus Christ, Mittens. Do you want Obama to lie? I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you? I would rather him be honest, and admit a mistake. Looks like Romney is looking to continue Bush's method of being perfect and not saying you're wrong--ever!!

[gratuitous]

7. I thought Dubya ended this line of questioning forever

He just refused to answer, and all the court stenographers simply nodded, copied it down, and presto! the issue went away. Oh wait, that was a question about cocaine, not marijuana. And as we all know, mara-ja-wanna is bad, mmmkay? Any question of cocaine use is off limits.

[Recursion]

15. To me, Big Dog and Shrub perfectly illustrate the difference...

...between pot users and coke users.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. No doubt in my mind they inhaled

They are about the same age as I am and when I was in my 20s I honestly didn't know ANYONE who had never gotten high. My sister went to the same college as Hillary and she said pot smoking was a required class. LOL

[MuseRider]

9. I was just sitting here

tying to remember if I ever even knew anyone my age who did not. I am sure they are out there but I don't know them. Most of them still do :shrug:. This should not be a big deal.

:hi: Gonna be back in KC tomorrow night for a concert, again I will wave as I drive past your neighborhood.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I have a relatively new friend I met in our anti-war group here

He is a year older than us and he has never smoked pot. I told him he is honestly the first person I have met in our age group who hasn't gotten high. He said he is sure that is true because he was always the only one in his social circle who didn't smoke pot. He also has 6 siblings and they all smoked at one time. He said he just never liked smoke in his lungs so he said no to pot.

[MuseRider]

11. Well there you go

there are apparently some our age who have not! I have yet to meet one but then I doubt someone like that would be in my immediate circle of friends ;). Of course I rarely ask...that could be part of the reason.

[asdjrocky]

12. Good post.

Imagine, we might have a couple of honest politicians in the mix this time. Nice to see.



Go Edwards!

[noiretextatique]

14. i'd like him better if he didn't think it was a mistake

that's just like not inhaling.

[MrSlayer]

17. I agree. Acting as if it was some shameful, destructive event is ridiculous.

Honesty about doing it is nice I guess but some real honesty about the use of marijuana would be better.