A forthcoming unauthorized biography about former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is generating news around the country. The two items getting the most ink so far are the claims that Palin had a fling with NBA star Glen Rice while she was a sports reporter in Alaska, and that Sarah Palin used cocaine while snowmobiling with friends.
Palin has previously admitted to using marijuana, making her part of an ever growing group of elected officials, from both the GOP and the Dems, who have used illicit drugs or have substance abuse issues in their immediate families.
President Obama broke new ground when he admitted to not only marijuana use, but to experimenting with cocaine when was a young man. John McCain and his family know about substance abuse, with his wife Cindy's well-known addiction to prescription pain pills. George Bush dodged questions about his cocaine and marijuana use and would only admit to "youthful indiscretions." Al Gore was a known marijuana smoker. President Clinton famously addressed the issue with the bizarre I-smoked-it-but-didn't-inhale line. Jeb Bush's daughter Noelle was busted with Xanax and crack. I could go on and on with those who've admitted to or have been outted for illicit drug use: Newt Gingrich, yes. Mayor Bloomberg, check.
None of this should be surprising. I would never expect our elected officials to go through life without trying drugs. We are a society swimming in drugs: Marijuana, Prozac, Ritalin, Cocaine, Cigarettes, Alcohol, Viagra. Virtually every American uses drugs both for pleasure and to soothe pain -- and more than half of American adults have used an illegal drug.
Past or current drug use should not be worthy of ridicule -- but hypocrisy should be. Rush Limbaugh once scoffed at the idea that African Americans are disproportionately arrested on drug charges, and suggested that the solution should be to arrest more white people. Yet when he was busted with thousands of Oxycontin pills, he changed his tune in a heartbeat.
And how about New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg? When asked if he had smoked marijuana, he said yes, and even added that he enjoyed it. Yet under Mayor Bloomberg, New York has the shameful distinction of being the marijuana arrest capital of the world. Last year, more than 50,000 New Yorkers were arrested and jailed on low-level marijuana possession charges -- that far exceeds the city's total marijuana arrests from 1981-1995!
The scapegoating and hypocrisy from our elected officials is as strong today as ever. Right now there is legislation popping up around the country to drug test people who receive welfare benefits. I wonder how comfortable these elected officials and their staff would be if they had to piss in a cup.
I have mixed feelings when I hear about Palin and other politicians' drug use. The revelations are beneficial by helping shatter the myth that if you try drugs you are going to be an unproductive person who ruins your life. But the hypocrisy is infuriating. Our prisons are exploding with more than 500,000 people behind bars for nonviolent drug offenses -- and these politicians are perpetuating the policies that created this catastrophe.
It is time for voters to punish elected officials - not for past drug use, but for supporting draconian laws that lock up so many of our brothers and sisters for doing what so many of our elected officials do themselves.
Tony Newman is the director of media relations at the Drug Policy Alliance (www.drugpolicy.org)
Follow Tony Newman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TonyNewmanDPA
As far as i'm concerned it's a non issue as long as she's not currently doing any drugs.
sarah retorted
as she turned her back
and in anger,
snorted;-)
Shatter the myth?? I must disagree. For every one "experimental" drug user that goes on to a successful life, there are hundreds that become addicted and destroy not only their own life, but the lives of their wives, children, parents and siblings. Not sure where you live Tony, but I suggest you pay a visit to your local rehab center and ask some of the patients that transit the facility how dabbling in drugs is working out for them.
Not everyone who drinks has a problem. Not everyone who uses illict drugs has a problem. And yes, there are people who have serious problems from both alcohol and illicit drugs.
I don't think locking people in cages because they use drugs is ever going to help anyone!
Faulty logic Tony.
I do agree however that our prisons are becoming over-populated due to petty type crimes that are costing the taxpayers a fortune. But is that because we as a society have become more socially acceptable of drug offenses while the laws have not? Seems as a society we have become more accepting, and in some cases out-right numb to a variety of crimes…and this can’t be good, for any of us.
Lastly, I still feel the families pay the highest price for the drug abusers chosen actions. Weather it's abuse, divorce, finanicial ruin, or struggling through funeral arrangements for the abuser. They are the real victims of drug abuse. And becuse some people can lead normal lives while "using"...it will only be a matter of time before one of those nasty elements will slip quietly into their lives.
Anyway, don't think we are going to see eye-to-eye on this one Tony, but thanks for the response. I'll continue to read your blogs with interest.
Cheers!
That ratio again, folks, is 1/100s. It's Science.
As for drug testing welfare recipients... Why is that wrong? I can cite one example why it's a good idea...
Jun 25, 2010 – California welfare recipients using state-issued debit cards withdrew more than $1.8 million in taxpayer cash on casino floors
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/25/local/la-me-welfare-casinos-20100625
Gambling is bad enough, but I would sure as hell hate to find out that somehow welfare recipients were using money from taxpayers to buy drugs (I'm sure it's already happening somehow). That would be worse than a politician smoking pot in my eyes.
...and I do think politicians should be forced to "piss in a cup". Those offices should be held to higher standards than other jobs which require drug tests.
Excellent point. Most federal employees must submit to random urinalysis testing...why not our federal politicians? Hard to understand how a senator or congressman/woman can have a classified/top secret clearance....yet can still choose to pursue an illegal activity like abusing drugs.
We don't need drug dealers on the prowl on every block selling drugs to our kids. We aren't going to surrender this fight the the dregs of humanity.
You can be shot or imprisoned for dealing drugs just about anywhere. An exception is Netherlands, where cannabis drugs are permitted, and they are now re-thinking this policy because things aren't working out so well for them with the drug thing.
Also, the "war"on drugs is a farce and needs to end now.