Much has been made of allegations of possible youthful use of illegal drugs by Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush. Meanwhile, his chief GOP opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain, has admitted that his wife not only illegally used drugs but walked away from criminal charges. The McCains have worked to make Cindy McCain's addiction into a political asset--despite the fact that she stole the drugs from a charity she directed and used them while mothering four young children.

In 1994, Mrs. McCain admitted that she had solicited prescriptions for painkillers from physicians who worked for an international charity that she founded, the American Voluntary Medical Team. She then filled the prescriptions in the names of her staff.

There are two ways to react to this behavior. According to the Betty Ford model, people can sympathetically respond to the oppressed and ignored wife of a busy politician who has bravely come forward to admit her overpowering addiction. Mrs. McCain took this posture when she first tearfully confessed her addiction. She and her husband repeated this performance in October on the NBC program "Dateline."

The other possible public reaction is one of anger. Americans are prosecuted every day for such drug use. While most drug abusers purchase their drugs from street dealers, Mrs. McCain used her status as a charity director and senator's wife to cajole the drugs she wanted.

In fact, Mrs. McCain was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration after the agency was approached by a former staff member of her charity. The investigation resulted in no charges or prison time for her, and she entered a diversion program. While these records were not made public at the time, Mrs. McCain eventually confessed her drug use when she learned that a reporter was investigating the story.

Is Mrs. McCain to be judged as a pitiable victim or as a criminal felon? This debate is at the heart of the discussion of American drug policy. Should we deal with illicit drug users as victims or as criminals?

Let's examine Mrs. McCain's position in these terms. She was the privileged wife of a prominent family and spouse of an important politician, a person who had her own position of prestige and power. Should she not be held at least as accountable for her actions as an uneducated inner-city drug user? After all, she could enter drug treatment at any time she chose, unlike many drug users who find themselves in prison.

Moreover, Mrs. McCain was violating a position of trust by stealing from a charitable organization, using its money and medical expertise to fuel her drug use. Is this not morally more reprehensible than simply purchasing drugs illegally?

Finally, Mrs. McCain was the mother of four children at the time she admits to using drugs--between 1989 and 1992. Her children were born in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1991. In other words, Cindy McCain was using drugs while raising small children, one of whom she adopted while she was an addict. In most states, family services will remove children from a woman who is known to be an active drug addict, and she would certainly not be allowed to adopt a child while addicted.

John McCain is a hawk in the drug war. He advocates stricter drug laws, penalties and enforcement against drug sellers. He has had nothing to say about redressing our punitive approach toward drug users. Of course, McCain also supports family values. Yet if John and Cindy McCain were not well-off and influential, they might not have a family at all. McCain's lack of concern for street drug users contrasts sharply with the support and understanding his wife received. It's the old American double standard. For "straight-shooter" McCain, charity begins at home--and ends there.
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Seems Barack whiffed up a little blow as well...

http://www.russpage.net/barack-obama-cocaine-use-and-60-minutes/

Looks like it's old news....

" Pot meet kettle"

















l
o
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But really, prescriptions filled in the names of her staff, stealing from a charitable organization, raising the kids while smacked out? Dad stood by and gave tacit approval? If that's not a double standard I don't know what is.

Glad to know a Prius can do 100mph+.

What was it that Mayor "five pennies" son got caught doing? Oh yeah, defrauding a casino by fixing card games. Youthful indescretions.

It was BushCo that coined the term "youthful indiscretions" in reference to his $100 a day coke habit and his Drinking & Driving conviction. Nice try though.

Remember this from 8 years back?

Hubby gave tacit approval to to something that is very against his "values". "looked the other way" Where's the integrity?

How many of you would sit in front of a reporter or camera that reports on a national level or any level for that matter and bad mouth your wife telling everyone how much a dope addict she was and how much a crappy mom she is and that she is an unfit parent. And not expect to wake up on the wrong side of the daisies. I rest my case...

REALLY? Are we really more concerned with what these candidates family members are doing in their personal time then how the respective candidates would do at running our country? This is the problem with partisan politics. I for one, am casting my vote for Barrack Obama as I feel that he will make a better president than McCaine, but I dont think that McCaine's shortcomings have anything to do with his wife's opiate addiction, I just like Obabma a bit more, thats all. Back biting does nothing at all to strengthen the state of our Nation and just further contributes to the rift between Republican and Democrat.... Don't get me wrong, I do love whipping a little sh!t on your average Republicsn, but lets do it based on REAL polititcal issues, not something as petty as who origionally coined the phrase "youthful indescretion"

Fish 4 brains, If you had even a clue as to what really happens in the court system you would know that users, both casual and heavy are given the benefit of the doubt in 99% of the cases if they will enter treatment programs.

No one especially underprivileged go to prison for use without mitigating circumstances. Packing heat and selling will get you in prison in a heartbeat.

You'd be hard pressed to show one example of a user going to prison for first or even second offense.

Our prisons are not capable or willing to lock up casual users. The guy that finds a gullible reporter to print his story has much more in his background, than use. I have listened to attorneys plead their clients cases and you would think they were Mother Theresa's own little foundlings. Then the Prosecutor gets up and describes the arsenal he had and the record of assaults he had and the number of chances he has had to rehab himself and you sit there and think WTF!

I've had relatives hooked on meds and even hard drugs who were given the chance to rehab. They took it and are productive members, business owners and work with the users themselves. Doing drugs is not the end of the world for everyone. Society will give the second chance. All they have to do is take it.

There are some real judgemental folks here. I'd like to see some of their backgrounds. Usually they have something to cover up.

I never inhaled.

Fixed it for you.

Everyone does stupid sh!t on drugs, that's what they're for. I'd be more suspicious of anyone in this day and age that claimed they had never touched drugs.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/01/study-shrooms-help-some-s_n_110182.html

I can't remember where I first read this, could've been here for all I know, thought it was interesting.

Prove it............

Lets see the quote.

No quote to sink your teeth into on this one Lead. This, like a lot of things is a hypathetical situation. I don't know a single person that would do that to their wife they weren't trying to divorce or put in prison. That is what I was getting at. I never back up anything I say with facts, that would be boring and leave nothing to debate. So...

Weird, now not doing drugs makes you suspicious. I think you might be a little parinoid? Watch out, my freinds and I might be out to get you.

Jhook,
I agree with you about the prosecution. After watching the way the system works, it kind of gets scary. Show up with your pastor, kids, and parents and you can walk away from all kinds of stuff, show up alone and scared and get the book tossed at you. I watched a poor retarded guy get put away for 90 days (held till trial) for stealing a light bulb (one prior shop lifting offense 8 years earlier) while they were letting meth heads out on their own recognition.