ITG

Press Secretary Gibbs Attempts to Defend Obama's Opposition to Taxing and Regulating Pot
03/31/09 | The Huffington Post | Paul Armentano

If you thought President Barack Obama's mocking response to the question of whether "taxing and regulating cannabis would raise revenue and reduce prohibition-associated violence" couldn't be any worse, just listen to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stumble below.


Kudos to the reporters who held the White House's feet to the fire on this one. First, Gibbs is asked: "When the President said he doesn't think that legalizing marijuana would give the economy a boost was he giving a political answer or an economic answer? Does he have numbers to back (his position) up?"

The pained expression on Gibbs' face says it all as he mumbles that, in fact, he is aware of no economic analyses -- as in zip, nada -- that support the President's dismissive position. Naturally, we have numerous credible economic reports proving just the opposite. Perhaps Mr. Gibbs would like to review them here, here, here, and here.

Minutes later, the White House Press Secretary appears even more desperate for a place to hide when a second reporter asked Gibbs to articulate the reasons why the President refuses to consider the issue. Gibbs' response is priceless.

"Uh, he, he does not think that, uh, uh, that that is uh, uh, [pause] he opposes it, he doesn't think that that's the, the right plan for America."

And there you have it. Wow. Such a vapid response wouldn't cut it if Gibbs was a third-grader standing in front of his classroom, no less the Press Secretary to the White House!

Keep in mind, both Obama and his press secretary knew in advance that they were going to publicly respond the question of taxing and regulating cannabis. They had at least 24 hours to prepare an articulate, rational, and substantive response. And yet the best response they could come up with was snickers and "uh."

Are the final days of marijuana prohibition upon us? It sure looks that way from here.

__________________

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.