Lynn Sweet

You know it's easy for us to sit back and judge others, I must admit that I'm quite guilty of this myself. But through life's lessons and also most recently I have learned that this is not what "GOD" has put us here for. But to look past our brothers past faults as he sent his son to forget and forgive us of ours. So my comment to any statement made in this capacity is and always will be is that to acknowledge what we have done publicly in our private lives before being questioned is Godly. What does it matter what this man did in the past, that's just it the past. We've all done things in our past or our school days [and some are still doing to this day] so let it rest. The Good Book says let those without sin cast the first stone and the room was cleared.

So what?

In response to Senator Obama admitting his past drug use, I say "SO WHAT". Who as a teenager has thought "I am going into politics, I wonder if this will come back to me".

You have and always will have my vote (and that of my 80 year old grandmother who is a staunch Republican)

In response to Senator Obama admitting his past drug use, I say "SO WHAT". Who as a teenager has thought "I am going into politics, I wonder if this will come back to me".

You have and always will have my vote (and that of my 80 year old grandmother who is a staunch Republican)

It does'nt matter if your a democrat the standards are lower...the press will see to that. Take a look at Polosi's
appointments as well as Jefferson who was reelected.

Wow - who would have ever thought that candid honesty with regard to someone's past actions would be perceived as such a liability?

I, for one, could care less what the man did in his past or does in his spare time - he obviously has more character than our current administration and the lot of loathsome misanthropes that Mr. Bush has assembled.

So the guy's a little less ignorant about the world than his opponent. If he were a frequent or current user it might be a negative but to be able to relate to an experience that so many have had is, frankly, a plus.

It's not what goes into a man that defines him, but what comes out. The fact that he came out with it shows he's a man of character. It's a quick reminder for us all that no one is perfect and needs to be, to be accepted. I think we're onto something good in Obama. Let's nurture it instead of killing it.

Using cocaine eliminates people from ever becoming a DEA or FBI Agent, so how could he become our President?

Regardless of Obama's candicy, isn't it a sad reflection on our society that ILLEGAL drugs are so rampant in our society that virtually every one has tried them?

These drugs are 100% illegal. We spend billions of dollars a year to keep them out of our society and punish those who use them.
Young people die every day in the act of buying and selling these drugs.

Yet the common answer to this issue is So What!

Do we honestly want someone honest in the white house. I mean, come on I want to be lied to time and time again.

Hmmm... an honest man in politics?

Quick! Look outside and see if the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are riding past!

P.S. only an idiot would have believed that Clinton didn't inhale.

Given Obama's other qualifications or lack thereof (if you happen to be an Obama-hater) and the fact we're talking about past tense...who cares?

However, you've got qualifiers to consider. Was this past usage _____?

A. drug experimenting

B. drug use

or C. drug abuse

I suppose with any or all three, it ultimately doesn't matter as long as it's not still going on. We can't have our President giving away government secrets for a twenty bag.

This actually leads me to another point. U.S. voters did just elect a well documented alcoholic and cokehead to the Presidency. Twice.

So, does Obama's admitted cocaine and pot experimentation/usage/abuse matter? Doesn't look like it.

You dems are funny. Of course you don't care, as long as you like the candidate. Let's not forget how much of an issue you made of Bush's college drinking etc... You sure didn't say "So what" then!!! Just a little hypocritical aren't we?!

We've got a president in the white house who drank, did drugs, knocked up a girl, and went AWO while dodging Viet Nam. So what's the big deal. At least he ownes up to it. Unlike a certain "lame-duck" president.

The Republican machine will chew up Hussein Obama and spit him out. If he has any brains he will count himself lucky to be a Senator and not run for President. On a different topic, I would just like to extend my condolences to democrats upon the death this past weekend of Sadaam Hussein. I realize what an icon Sadaam was in the deomcratic party and I would like to just offer my deepest sympathies and to encourage you to let your faith, and each other, help you to get through these trying times.

Give me a break! I'll take Barack and his past transgressions over what we've had to endure the last 6 years any day of the week.

I like Barach Obama, I like what he stands for, he's for the average person. Every president in history had something in their closet. He's fine in my book. I'd vote for him.

Mr.Obama admitted to past drug use which makes him honest and human; Our current president is neither. This is a case of a politician not hiding from his past behind cover-ups and lies. America is not used to honesty coming from politicians so this is a bit of a shock to our system.

Discussion of Obama's drug use, after Obama has openly disclosed it, can only be racism. America is showing its true, hateful colors once again. Unfortunately, I am not surprised; this, from a country who will not open its border to our Hispanic neighbors. This, from a country whose citizens would rather hoard their money to buy another DVD rather than help others by fully funding and then expanding social programs. With Obama, we have a human who will lead us out of the darkness, a man who is willing to sacrifice himself for us; but true to America, our inherent racism gets in the way of potential salvation.

I think we should all do a line....sheeeeeet!!!!

Of course it matters! What kind of row model would former drug user project to our youth who have enough problems already.

Maybe they should start weeding out all the people in government who abuse alcohol on a regular basis. And what about those who break other laws, such as driving their cars too fast (whether under the influence of not)? What makes drug use (abuse) worse than any other evil that a politician can commit? What action should be taken against a certain politician who sent 3,000 young men to die needlessly?

It's unfortunate, but when you get to the nitty gritty of a presidential election, the claws will come out - especially desperate Republicans. They WILL point to any blemish in Sen. Obama's past and milk it for what it's worth - and, unfortunately, many will listen. I hope I am wrong, but if past elections are any indication, than I think I am right on target.

I only wish that the conduct and thinking of George Bush could be explained by drug usage.

Just opened the door for Ms Clinton

Where do we draw the line in the sand? Just a little coke and pot to get me started, just a little alcohol to help me relax. Is that the person you want with his hand on the trigger of the mass nuclear weapons arsenal we have?I think NOT!!
how can anyon say he has charachter? Yes, by all means look at Bush objectivly---
WHAT DO YOU SEE AND HEAR???

He who has not sinned cast the first stone.

Let's be real here, the media are sharks looking for blood and they found a half-drop of blood and are prowling for a kill.

Most politicians are guilty of drug use whether it was in their past or happening now. Obviously they won't admit to this.

As long as Obama can guarantee that he has stopped and left the drug use in the past, let us stick to the real issues.

I commend Senator Obama on his honesty. We've had government officials lead double lives or continue inappropriate, at times illegal, relationships while holding office. Let the voters determine who is best suited to be our next president.

BabZ,
Wow! Just Wow!?!? Do you really feel that democrats look up to Sadaam Hussein??? Are you truly that ignorant??? I am an independent, I vote for who I believe is the best candidate based on all the issues. While economically, I tend to be a little on the conservative side, I tend to be liberal on a lot of issues. After all, the word liberal is from the latin word liber which means free, which last time I checked is what this country is about. This society has truly done something wrong in educating us. For there to be people as closed minded as you are in this country, I can see that we have just regressed. To stress the fact that our senator's middle name is Arabic in as racist a manner as you did disgusts me. I hope that you take some time in this upcoming election, along with everyone else, to truly get to know the candidates' stances on issues, and not what they may have done in the past. Everyone has done something in their life that they look back on as a mistake. Good for Obama to be honest about it! Mistakes are what we learn from, and we all need to make them time to time. Babz, please take the time to open your mind to the idea that there are other cultures out there, and just because people are different doesn't mean they're bad.

Zzzzzzz...

Something tells me we sadly re-elected a president recently whose track record in excess blows (no pun intended) Obama's away. Just think how this country will fare if we, oh, I don't know, ELECT SOMEONE COMPETENT WHO USED TO DO RECREATIONAL DRUGS???

It absolutely does not matter! It clearly didn't matter to the American public when George W. was elected (twice), right?!

Furthermore, at least this man is showing us his willingness to be honest - a word non-existent in today's political landscape.

Use of illegal drugs is a bar to having a top secret or even secret clearance for anyone in the military or civil service. So, why should a Senator or Presidential candidate get a pass? Obama knew then that using drugs was illegal and, according to reports, he already planned on a political career. So, I don't think he can honestly get away with blaming being his youthfulness to get away with this.

Politically, it only matters if you are a Democrat. Only the blind faithful in the Republican Party refuse to admit that President Bush was almost certainly a more than casual user of the same drugs (at least) Obama dabbled in. Since President Bush has done a variation on the "I never inhaled" response to the drug question, the Republican Party can still use Obama's admission as demonstrating that he does not share the values of mainstream America. Cynicism is alive and well in 2007.

So--- ? He used good judgement and did not continue. But--I hope he stays where he is due to the age of his children.

No racism here. He is white and black--when does he get credit for being white? Remember when he used to be Barry?

Hey everyone...I saw someone asking for Obama's stance on issues so I thought I'd post this link to his official senate site. You will find info there.
http://obama.senate.gov/

Also, some of you have been talking about potential relapse. Well, coming from someone in the medical field, you should know that there first has to be an addiction for someone to relapse. Obama only experimented and was not an abuser. Read the book, it's very good.

Trying drugs as a teenager isn't Obama's biggest worry. Its the future backstabing, character-bashing, political-bashing, that he will receive from Hillary Clinton's campaign advisors and workers (McAuliff's, Carville's, Begala's, etc.) that he needs to worry about.

My question is (Was he a drug user? meaning how long how much? or Did he just experiment, in what year, for how long?
The story is being made into a gigantic picture of long use, as if he just stopped when he entered politic. We need a reliable reporter to report the truth behind the statement.

"After all, the word liberal is from the latin word liber which means free, which last time I checked is what this country is about."

I thought I'd chime in on this one before I give my opinion about this issue. Yes, that is where the word comes from. However, I find it ironic that it is liberals who are strongly in favor of social programs, which are hardly indicative of a "free" society. What freedom do I have to not support lazy, ignorant, irresponsible people? What freedom do I have to not support people (women) who have not figured out how to use any of the dozen or so forms of birth control available to them? What freedom do I have to not support people who are too lazy to get an education so that they can get a job that will enable them to be able to afford health insurance? My freedom and rights have been curbed for the sake of the ignorant, irresponsible, and lazy people of the world. Liberals are the strongest supporters of programs that enable these people to take money out of my paycheck every month. Do not confuse the origins of the word with the kind of people who support the liberal party in this country.

Now, with regards to the cocaine issue, I see it as par for the course in this country. I am against electing officials who have admitted to felonious behavior. I choose to live a responsible lifestyle and want the person who represents me to be reflective of my beliefs. At the same time, however, I believe that people can change their lives and lead good decent lives, regardless of what they have done in the past. If Senator Obama has admitted to his crime and has worked to reconcile himself with the community he should be given a second chance.

Personally, I will wait to make a decision on who I vote for next year until I have enough facts about who is running. If the Democrats nominate Senator Obama for president, I would probably vote for him. I believe that he has a good chance of being elected if nominated. If, however, the Dems nominate Senator Clinton as their choice, I will vote for any candidate other than her. I do not believe that she has any chance of being elected because she is far too left on some issues and too much of a weather vane on other issues. If the Republicans come out with a strong candidate (Senator, McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Jim Gilmore, Dr. Rice), I do not believe that the Democrats have a very good chance of winning.

Either way, I believe that next year's election will be a very hot election. It will interesting to see how the everybody-but-white-people party responds to a strong Republican candidate this time.

"If you need me for the war effort, I'll be in Alabama drinking beer and snorting coke"

G.W Bush 1967

"If you need me for the war effort, I'll be in Alabama drinking beer and snorting coke"

G.W Bush 1967

The entire question of drugs should be approached from a public health standpoint rather than a criminal one (i.e. the way alcohol abuse is treated, admittedly far more dangerous than marijuana). In addition, for those claiming godly lifestyles, the measure of morality is the Bible (or whatever holy text is prescribed by your belief system), not the law. You'll recall that the abolition movement was illegal, as were Dr. King's desegregation marches.

I don't think that past use should disqualify Sen. Obama from holding the office in the same way as it didn't disqualify the current president. Further, many of history's greatest figures grappled with difficult alcohol/substance/excess issues (Gen. Ullyses Grant among others) yet the courage to confront and defeat those demons or at least not let them prevent you from discharging your duties is what demonstrates their strength.

Several comments posted above cite that the use/abuse of recreational drugs is enough to keep applicants out of the FBI, secret service, etc.. That is an idiotic rule that probably eliminates many highly qualified applicants. Until dope is legal, law enforcement agencies should replace that rule with random drug testing. The problem isn't the breaking of narcotics laws through drug use as a student or young adult in decades past. Current and recent use should be the issue.

You people think the Republicans are going to use this against Obama?! IT WILL BE THE DEMS and HILARY that tear Obama to shreads over this. He'll never get out of the primaries if she has anything to do about it!

I will say one thing, this admission of his is sure getting him a whole lot of free publicity. It has been said that publicity, good or bad, is always a plus.
Read some of the comments posted and you will see both sides. Some posts are either from those now using or did use. Some are dead set against it. Those who condone the use of illegal drugs out number the ones against it.

THAT ladies and gentlemen is sad!

it is so funny watching the scumbag liberals back pedal, and try like hell to make others believe that bush did drugs. Thay have absolutely no proof, just twisted liberal lies as usual Yet they will come up with every excuse in the book to bolstor the admitted illegal drug use of their candidate. Soe of these liberal knucklheads even said his drug use was a plus. Liberalism is a mental disorder.

JUSTN and TOM...SHUT UP!! You two are sooo sad..."the everybody but white people party" and "Liberalism is a mental disorder"??? UNBELIEVABLE... and the very reason why our country is in the state it's in because of the people like you in office making decisions for the very people who were raped and killed off this land to begin with who now want to return but CANNOT...and the people who were stolen from other parts of the world and forced to build this country for FREE and still can't get a decent paying job!! You've more than likely been rather priveledged all your life and have no clue what it's like to live without decent education systems, decent housing and safe surroundings!! I'm glad somebody finally will be able to relate to the people who have been overlooked and underpriveledged for so