Could drug use come back to hurt Obama if he is nominated?

[DemKR]

I have always wondered why Barack chose to bring this up in the middle of a heated presidential campaign. I think it calls into question his experience. He has never had to face a campaign from a serious Republican before and that makes me nervous when he gives them this ammo.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Hiding it is the worst possible thing he could do. Getting it out there, and

being open and honest, defuses it. People aren't expecting to elect a saint.

[FreeState]

3. I agree - its best out there, however it will still hurt him with some voters

I have a brother that thinks once you smoke Pot your hooked for life - so I know first hand there are people that will have problems with it - but so what? If its not one issue it will be another - the GOP will make up an issue if they have to.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Didn't hurt * , sooo....

:shrug:

[FreeState]

6. Religious Republicans will forgive their own but a Dem Im not to sure...

They forgive all sorts of things if its one of their own, but look they still harp on Monica and its been 10 years:)

[Fading Captain]

10. We aren;t going to win many of those anyway

Non-issue, I think

[FreeState]

14. True but it could be minimized and Im afraid both Clinton and Obama

have been making it into a bigger issue than it should be.

[napi21]

12. The problem is Shrub had the media on his side! Remember, they even

FIRED a long term and well respected newsman for exposing Shrub's BS military service. I understand the heat was all about the document, but the newsman was still fired and no one ever questioned the validity of the accusations!!!

The media has not ever been so kind to a Dem candidate OR President!

[eleny]

4. it didn't hurt the shrub

And anyway, he let it go as a kid. Unlike Giulianni - who married it.

[silverweb]

5. No.

(1) He didn't "bring this up in the middle of a heated presidential campaign." He included it in his autobiography years ago, before he ever decided to run for public office.

(2) He was a kid at the time, and he talks about feeling lost and confused about who he was, and cites his drug experimentation as a negative.

(3) He has talked to groups of youngsters about the lessons learned during that time in his life, turning a negative experience into a positive lesson for today's kids.

Now, what was that about "ammo" again?

On Edit: It's worth noting that virtually all successful drug rehab counselors are former users or addicts themselves. Yet rehab counselors are held in high esteem in our society, not badgered about their former mistakes or denigrated because they "broke the law" at that time. Think about it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Thanks for your concern.

But no.

[DemKR]

13. So is Bill Shaheen wrong when he says?

Earlier in the day New Hampshire Clinton chair Bill Shaheen told the Washington Post that Republicans would have a field day asking Obama about his admitted previous drug use.

"It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?'" Shaheen told the Post. "There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome."

Would you deny that Republicans won't grasp this issue to try to attack Obama? This is the example I think of the naivity of the campaign staff and volunteers and continues to represent a lack of experience. Hillary Clinton always stays a step ahead of the Republicans and knows what their next move is. We don't need another Swift boat style campaign.

[Windy]

24. This is a desparate attempt by your candidate to smear obama

and by proxy, your smear tactic also.

Look, he was a kid and tried drugs. He admitted it. He admitted that it was a mistake.

Now, I as well has many others here on DU, even Clinton supporters have experimented with drugs in their youth.

This is a NON ISSUE.

Keep this kind of crap up and you are going to seal the fate of your candidate.

Do us all a favor! Keep it up! We need new blood in Washington. Hillary can go back to the Senate!

[Forkboy]

8. He brought it up before the heat of a presidential campaign.

But I sure he appreciates your concern.

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. I think it is something that should be discussed.

He admitted to criminal law violations and to using cocaine. That is some serious stuff to admit to. It is certainly fodder for campaign.

He just needs to be upfront and address questions about it.

[LSdemocrat]

11. No matter who the nominee is the Republicans will keep making stuff up until something sticks

The key question is: will our nominee respond swiftly and forcefully enough to blunt the attacks?

[Blue-Jay]

15. LOL.

[TwilightZone]

16. I think it was a smart move bringing it up before the campaign progressed too far.

If it's out in the open, it can't be sprung on him in a campaign ad, debate, etc.

[AlCzervik]

17. verses what 3 marriages, a bunch of mistresses and a mobbed up bff?

and thats jusr Guiliani.

[bicentennial_baby]

19. bingo

:thumbsup:

[silverweb]

18. HE BROUGHT IT UP BEFORE 1995!

Not "in the middle of" a campaign!

This is not some new "secret" that's just been revealed.

Read post #5 and put this in the right context.

[Warpy]

20. Oh, please. I think most people experimented when they were kids

even if it was limited to cigarettes and alcohol when they were well underage. That's one of those rites of passage that parents love to deny will ever happen to their own kids, which is why they love the drug war. They figure it will never happen if it's illegal.

Yeah, right.

[L. Coyote]

21. Ask Bush!

[Buzz Clik]

22. If enough is made of his past drug use, will it hurt him?

Isn't that the point of posting and reposting and reposting the same information?

[Prefer]

23. Prejudiced people associate minorities and drugs

and they also vote.

Bush was able to chuckle it off as "boys will be boys" fraternity behavior and he used the alcoholism to portray himself as "Christian". He also had the media in his back pocket. By the indications of overt racism we see already in the media, one would think the likes of FOX would produce the most hideous hit pieces against Barak, they already do.

Anything you can distort and turn into fear is useful, and it will be used.

[madrchsod]

25. no one gives a shit

i know of a lot of "important republicans" in my town that put shit up their noses.