While talking with some high school students in Manchester, NH, Barack Obama admitted he made some “bad decisions” as a student and used drugs and alcohol.
Obama referred to his earlier writings on the subject, in which he called himself a “junkie” and “pothead.” In the book, Dreams from My Father, Obama says he mostly smoked pot, but also used cocaine when he could afford it.
Curiously absent from Obama’s conversation was any hint from him that there was a lesson students should take from his past behavior. Apparently, there was also no advice from this presidential candidate that students should avoid drinking or using drugs, or perhaps seek help if they are.
I am the last to preach — and I don’t. But if a presidential candidate, within the context of a conversation with students about drugs and alcohol, cannot suggest that students either stay clean or get help, I begin to wonder about Obama’s moral leadership.
From what we know of him, he appears to be a marvelous example of a young black man who escaped from the worst effects of our drug culture. Is it enough that he simply let himself be a silent role model? I honestly don’t think so.
Kids twist information into the meaning they want it to have. With drugs and booze so prevalent in our schools, I have no doubt that whether spoken or left unsaid, the message many got is that it is “cool” to use: “Look, Obama used drugs and now he’s running for president. No biggie! Where’s my bong, dude?”
Read about Obama’s visit to Manchester Central High School.
15 responses so far ↓
jonolan // November 20, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Duh! He’s both Black and a Democrat. That’s a double helping of “Legalize It.”
Rake Morgan // November 20, 2007 at 4:27 pm
That’s quite a leap — and racist - from what I said here, i.e. Obama missed an opportunity to caution kids about alcohol and drug use.
jonolan // November 20, 2007 at 7:40 pm
It’s not really racist. Blacks have every reason to denounce “the war on drugs.” The way it was implemented was essentially racist, though probably not deliberately so. The majority of educated Blacks are more prone to take a “liberal” stance on drug use because of this.
Accepting that an opinion is prevalent amongst a culture and stating it is not racist.
Rake Morgan // November 20, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Your words in your first post were quite clear in their meaning: because Obama is black and a Democrat he supports legalizing drug use. If you don’t call that racism, perhaps racial sterotyping or profiling might suit you better.
In any event, you made an assertion about Obama, then said that the opinion that drugs should be legalized is “prevalent” among educated blacks. Do we know that is true or is that your opinion? Is the view among educated blacks much different from educated whites?
If you produce evidence that supports your claim, I will publish it here, no hard feelings. I am always willing to change my position if the facts are there to support it. (See my post about the Iowa caucuses.)
Thanks for your comments.
jonolan // November 21, 2007 at 8:08 am
I’ll get back with you on the evidence. It’ll take a while to both gather the raw data in a presentable form and to compile a list of links to anecdotal sources so that you can draw your own opinion on the prevailing sentiments.
Warning in advance - it’s going to be “bulky.”
Boy // November 21, 2007 at 12:25 pm
“There was a whole stretch of time where I didn’t really apply myself. It wasn’t until I got out of high school and went to college that I started to realize, man, I wasted a lot of time.”
Obviously Obama isn’t going to say drugs destroy your life or anything, because he’d be lying. He did drugs and now he’s a presidential candidate.
I think Obama’s message was in fact deeper and more far-reaching than “Drugs are bad, don’t do them.” He effectively said “Failure to apply yourself for any reason is bad.” Whether that means drugs or just not taking it seriously, I think it’s a better point to have made.
jonolan // December 9, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I’ve been too tied up with life’s problems to do the concatenation required to properly support my position. Unless you feel like googling for raw data yourself, I’d suggest just discounting my statements - for the purpose of this debate - as opinion.
Thanks for maintaining an open mind
Rake Morgan // December 9, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Opinions are fine. I have a few of them myself that show up on this blog. Thanks for your posts.
Please visit and comment again.
– Rake
Obama’s drug use a potential GOP attack point. « A Rake’s Progress // December 12, 2007 at 9:31 pm
[...] I commented in a recent posting, Obama’s non-response to questions about drugs at a Manchester, NH, high school visit makes [...]
Aaron // January 21, 2008 at 9:24 pm
In your post, you write: “But if a presidential candidate, within the context of a conversation with students about drugs and alcohol, cannot suggest that students either stay clean or get help, I begin to wonder about Obama’s moral leadership.”
Forgive me for asking, but why do you consider the use of alcohol or drugs to be a moral issue?
This is the reason that more people who have substance abuse problems are unwilling to admit it and get help. Views that there is something “morally wrong” with a substance user are harmful to society.
No, you did not explicitly state that it is “morally” wrong… but the implication in your words is very strong.
Furthermore, most past-users of marijuana would have a hard time preaching against its use. Yes, you can probably find some who are against it, but these are a minority.
Most people who have smoked pot would be hard-pressed to say anything other than that it is virtually harmless.
Dislike it as you may, I think it makes Obama seem more sincere.
I do, however, agree with the idea that teens should not be smoking pot. It is too much of a distraction at an age where they need clear heads; and should be learning, figuring out who they are, and thinking of the future.
For the record… I think Senator Clinton’s take on drug “crimes” is more sensible than most of the candidates… but a far cry from the more liberal views of Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich– either of whom would probably go a long way toward changing how this country views and deals with drugs.
Sadly, neither of these men have a chance.
Rake Morgan // January 22, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Thanks for the post, Aaron, and sorry for the misunderstanding.
I did not mean “moral” in the sense of “do drugs or booze and you are bad.” I was referring to moral leadership in the sense of Obama doing what is most good for society — and that is to help kids either get help for their substance abuse problems or to encourage them in a non-preachy way to stay clean.
I see substance abuse as a progressive disease — some of us are born into it, some of us develop the disease over time. Whatever the case, if we can help someone stay or get clean, I feel a moral obligation to do what I can. I think Obama missed a chance to do that. That’s what I meant.
Thanks for giving me the chance to clarify my post.
– Rake
Mirrat Moloo // February 6, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Wwwhhooaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UUUUUUmmmmmmm….!!
Mirrat Moloo // February 6, 2008 at 1:35 pm
GOOD LUCK JONOLAN!!!
Miley // June 16, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Michelle Obama DID DRUGS!!!
Rake Morgan // June 16, 2008 at 8:00 pm
So did I when I was a kid, and about several hundred million other offspring of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90, etc.
What might be relevant are the kinds of drugs she used, how late in life she used them, and what she has done or is doing to discourage young people from picking up now when drugs are more potent and dangerous.
My beef with Obama on this was that he had an opportunity in a forthright, non-condescending way let those Manchester HS kids know there could be problems down the road.
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