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Obama dismisses impact of past drug use
12/15/07|Miami Herald| by Margaret Talev

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Saturday that he doesn't think his campaign will be hurt by the effort last week by an advisor for rival Hillary Clinton to bring attention to his admitted teen drug use. He suggested that the Clinton campaign's increasingly negative tenor was a measure of a tightening race.

''I do think that the average American believes that what somebody does when they were a teenager 30 years ago is probably not relevant to how they're going to be performing as commander in chief of the United States,'' Obama said.

In an autobiography published in 1995, Dreams of My Father, Obama disclosed his use of marijuana and cocaine as a teenager. He has acknowledged it publicly during his candidacy.

Obama spoke with reporters during a stop in Waterloo on a bus tour of northern Iowa. It was his first news conference since the incident.

He described briefly and matter-of-factly Clinton's personal apology to him last Thursday after comments made to the Washington Post by her former New Hampshire co-chair, Billy Shaheen, who has since resigned.

Shaheen had said that if Obama were to become the nominee, his past drug use would be seized on by Republicans and could jeopardize Democrats' chances of winning the general election.

Clinton said Shaheen's remarks were made without her knowledge or authorization.

Obama would not say whether Clinton's face-to-face apology, at a private meeting she'd asked for, seemed genuine. ''I'm not going to characterize it beyond what I just said,'' he said.

Obama said he'd made clear to his staff that he would fire anyone who tried to dig up personal dirt on Clinton or any rival -- although he said opposition research on policy and finances was fair game.

And he suggested no one would expose anything controversial about his past that has not yet been aired.

'The assumption is that lurking in other candidates' pasts who haven't been around for 20 years, there might be something,'' he said. ``I hardly think that I've been underexposed during the course of this race.

'I understand that there's a history of politics being all about slash and burn and talking folks down -- what I recall the Clintons themselves calling `the politics of personal destruction' -- which they decried,'' he said.

``My suspicion is that's just not where the country's at right now.

''When I was 20 points down they all thought I was a wonderful guy,'' Obama said of Clinton and her supporters. ``So obviously things have changed here in Iowa and elsewhere in the country.''

 

Buzzby

If the Republicans could elect GWB twice with his history of drug and alcohol abuse much later than his teenage years, I don't see how they could make much of a fuss about Mr. Obama without getting that thrown up in their faces.

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Viper420

Oh just wait and see. GW never admitted drug use (although its general knowledge), whereas, Obama has admitted to marijuana and cocaine use and now theres talk of possible dealing involved. There is possibly a ton of mud that can be tossed on Barak Hussien Obama. Here is my prediction if Barak gets the nomination. The dems will lose and the loss will be similar to that of George McGovern in 72.

Madamayo

Honestly, I think that Hilary will ultimately win over Obama. Not because of her policy, but mostly due to the type of media attention Obama is getting. The fact that Oprah is pledging allegiance to Obama just shows that he is going for the "I'm a regular guy, not a care in the worl" type of persona. When asked questions about his ideas for what to do about the economy, gas prices, and health care, he speaks in small detail, and seems to dodge where the funds will be drawn from.

I'm sort of at a neutral point on Hilary Vs. EDIT:Obama, and I know I won't really know who I personally prefer until a few weeks before election day, so for now, it's a matter of sit and wait.

And by the way, I am not voting republican. I refuse.

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Viper420

What if Ron Paul gets the nod?

 

Buzzby

It's a tough call. Both of them have serious drawbacks, in terms of electability. The party has got to be thinking (or should be), "Who won't vote for a Black man? Who won't vote for a woman?"

Are you saying that she's her own worst enemy?

Madamayo

Sorry, was really stoned, meant to say OBAMA. lol




Well, not to be racist, but it seems to me a white woman will probably stand a bigger chance, since there are more people (that I have noticed anyways) that are against African Americans running for office, than a woman.


But I also live in Maine, and they tend to be interested in their own sisters sometimes


As for Ron Paul, he isn't getting the nod. As smart as he is, hes running for the WRONG party, VERY stupid move.

Swabeky

he has a lot of crazy ideas. since the end of the 60'-70's this country has not gone through a serious depression because we got off a hard currency. If you look at charts that cover our entire american experiment, variability in terms of recession or growth has become very small since we got off hard currency.

Sociological Sense

Honestly..., who the hell really knows who's gonna win.., because in actuality the rich choose who will be the next president and or the Govt itself.., voting?lol.., ofcourse I do.., but just because I do doesn't mean what I want or believe will be noticed..., Barack seems to be dodging questions.., well honestly I think he does that because there really isn't a black and white answer for any of those questions and he chooses not to because what would be the point in trying to fake and answer when the problem and problems need many many many sollutions..., I dont believe in war.., never have never will.., whats wrong with the world when human beings just like to kill each other for the sole purpose of money.., fuck it..,

Kushable

absolutly nothing in that link I wasnt aware of. and im 15