As Iowa Nears, Clinton Allies Quietly Raise Obama's Cocaine Use

On Monday morning, Hillary Clinton's campaign included a cryptic, somewhat ominous, note in an email to journalists and supporters:

Something to Chew On: Respected columnist David Yepsen notes that "it's important for Democrats to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Clinton's negatives are well-known, Obama's less so. Any shortcomings, inconsistencies or misstatements in Obama's past will be exploited by Republicans in the fall campaign if he's the nominee. It's best for Democrats to vet them now."

The Clinton campaign email did not spell out Obama's "shortcomings, inconsistencies or misstatements," but other Democratic activists have quietly received messages from Clinton allies pointing in the likely direction. Those messages provided a link to an Iowa Independent story by Douglas Burns headlined "The Politics Of Obama's Past Cocaine Use."

Burns' article on Obama posed a question that Clinton has been unwilling to raise herself and that has received little attention during the Democratic primary battles: If Barack Obama becomes the nominee, will the GOP be able to turn his acknowledged cocaine use into a debilitating issue.

Burns cited two June polls.

One, a survey by Scripps Howard, found that 58 percent of respondents believed American voters are not ready to accept a president "who tried cocaine as an adult." The other, by the New York Times, found that 74 percent said most people they know would not vote for a presidential candidate who has ever used cocaine.

"What will be fascinating to watch is whether Americans' views on cocaine will play out in the election booths as a defining factor or anything close to that. If it does, that could spell trouble for Obama," Burns wrote.

"Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man," Obama wrote in his book Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. "The highs hadn't been about that, me trying to prove what a down brother I was. Not by then, anyway. I got high for just the opposite effect, something that could push questions of who I was out of my mind, something that could flatten out the landscape of my heart, blur the edges of my memory."

The issue has not been publicly raised by Obama's opponents, and only occasionally by reporters. On CBS' 60 Minutes, Obama said:

It's not something that I'm proud of, but that's part of the journey that I've taken. I like to think that by letting people know the mistakes I've made that maybe young people behind me are looking and saying 'You know what? This is a guy who made mistakes and he was able to right his life and get on track.' And that's I think an important message.

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Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director, said the campaign has not tried to make use of Obama's past cocaine use and that it would not attempt to do so in the future. "Candidates personal lives should not be a part of this campaign," Wolfson said.

The raising of questions about Obama's electability poses a larger dilemma for strategists in both parties during the primary season.

On one side, there is a strong case to be made that wounds opened during primary fights only make the job easier for the opposition in the general election. Republicans, in theory, are supposed to honor Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment: Speak No Ill of a Fellow Republican -- although few, in fact, do abide by this precept.

Yet there is the counter argument: that a crucial function of the primaries is to weed out candidates who will be losers in the general election; that the intraparty fights are the first tests of how well the competitors are likely to do next November.

In 1988, for example, the Democratic primaries failed to fully exhume Michael Dukakis' handling of the Willie Horton controversy, and the Horton case became a cause celebre in the general election.

This dilemma is only likely to intensify as the Obama campaign is beginning to demonstrate that it is prepared to throw a punch or two that some might view as below the belt.

Hillary Clinton's "electability" has always been a subtext in the contest, although her opponents have been very cautious in the ways they have raised the issue. With the Iowa caucuses less than a month away, Obama aides are doing so more aggressively, if indirectly, by pointing reporters to a column by Bloomberg executive editor Albert R. Hunt that describes a recent focus group of Democratic voters in Philadelphia.

"[The participants'] concerns about Clinton, 60, a New York senator, are that she is devious, calculating and, fairly or not, a divisive figure in American politics," Hunt wrote - music to the ears of the Obama camp.

Members of the focus group, according to Hunt, said that Obama "would be inspirational, motivating, charismatic and compassionate. After praising Clinton's experience and intelligence, they say she would be demanding, difficult, maybe even a little scary."

Comments

[xrayman]

If cocaine use was going to be a problem, Bush would never have gotten elected. Obama's cocaine use will not make a difference.

It's unfair to turn this around on Clinton, however. This campaign of attack through innuendo by HuffPo is really beginning to smell.

When Robert Novak first began to spread lies about the Clinton campaign it was understandable considering who the source is (Novak).

Things like: "The Clinton campaign email did not spell out Obama's "shortcomings . . . " and "Democratic activists have quietly received messages from Clinton allies. . . "

If Clinton didn't say it, it doesn't need to be filled in by anybody else.

If there are Democratic activists receiving email from Clinton allies, tell us who the activists are, who the Clinton allies are, and what was said. This campaign of inuendo and slander needs to stop.

[gernger]

When George Bush first started to run for presdient, he was asked about his drug and alcohol use. He told the media that he wouldn't talk about anything that happened 25 or more years ago. He did admit that Laura killed some one with her. Then he said that this was his last comment on that. The "liberal" media did as Bush asked and never delved into any of it. On the other hand look at the way the Clintons were treated by the same "liberal" media.

[BenjThall]

And What about our current presidents drug use? His wife's drunk driving that killed someone? Give me a break, this story has no merit except to show how divisive and calculating Clinton is. I don't know what policy's she stands for or against. She'll be labeled as even a worse flip flopper than Kerry. It's time for Change, time for Experience of which I'm not sure she has.

[ebbtide]

I just dislike her more and more. I will never vote for her. Bringing up this is just plain filthy and dirty politics and this makes her "tough"
'
It makes her look like a hell bent for leather power seeker, who has a whole lot of money, that apparently is doing her no good at all.
]
What will she tell those corporations who gave her all that money. So she resorts to smearing.

God forbid, we get this bastard as our nominee. She is not "tough" she is a ruthless, idiot.

[williamg]

Rather than admit she made a mistake voting for the Iraq War, Hillary has resorted to sleaze.

[DallasNE]

This will be a huge mistake for Clinton. People (especially Democrats) don't care what Obama did when he was a teen-ager. They won't take kindly to these character attacks. Clinton would be far better off sticking to telling us how she would move America forward.

I have been leaning toward Clinton but this could move me into the Obama camp, post haste.

[docwp]

name me a politician who hasnt fiddled with the nose candy!

[hopein]

I wonder what Hill was doing when Bill was not inhaling?

[lindax]

Personal responsibility is very important to judge a person's character. Bill Clinton squandered his presidency because of Monica, a long time reflection of irresponsible behaviour. Drug use, especially cocaine use, smoking or alcoholic etc are part of personal traits that reflect a person's character. I am sure a majority of the ultra-left used drugs, but a majority of ordinary Americans did not use drugs even during the 60s. How are you going to teach the children, well, what's the big deal, The President used it? They are lots of people in jail now because of cocaine use!There is no way I will vote for a known drug-user, republican or democrate!

[TishiJo]

Who Do You Trust?
Obama wrote about why he tried drugs in high school long ago. Americans elected Bill Clinton who admitted using marijuana in college, "but didnt inhale." The difference is Obama told the truth, Clinton tried a snow job. Who do you trust? Senator Obama progressed from a troubled teen, abandoned by his African Father at age 2, and raised by his white grandparents after losing his Mother to cancer, to an amazing leader who found his identity by using his gifted intelligence for the benefit of others! He is an extraordinary role model for troubled youth. Senator Obama asks us to think in terms of possibility, and again, he has lived this example. Obama 08!

[Julia333]

I wish Hillary had spent her reading time reading the Iraq war bill instead of Obama's childhood book (and kindergarden essays).

And the author forgot to mention that our current president did cocaine, and drug use isn't much of an issue in candidates anymore.

[mimsnpips]

So typical of modern politics. Drop a hint, a little whisper at the right moment. That way nobody can be held directly responsible for the aftermath. Very typical Clinton-esque behavior too.

[gingerkid]

That focus group in Philly is more telling of the city, and not the nation as a whole.

[mamacat]

The New York Times brought up Bush's twenty years of cocaine use, back in 1999 and 2000. I wish that that had been brought more out into the open than what it was. Maybe we wouldn't have been saddled with the fake cowboy from Texas.

[Dandy12]

Obama's honesty by most is deeply appreciated, and many of us who lived through the 70's and 80's understand. I would rather have an honest Obama than a goody two shoes like Mitt!!