Clinton Supporter Raises Idea of Young Obama Dealing Drugs
| Wed Dec. 12, 2007 3:22 PM PST
Earlier today Billy Shaheen, Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire co-chair and husband of former N.H. governor Jeanne Shaheen, was thinking out loud about electability. He made these comments about Barack Obama, who just climbed into a tie with Clinton in N.H. in a CNN poll that had Obama down 20 points in September:
"The Republicans are not going to give up without a fight ... and one of the things they're certainly going to jump on is [Obama's] drug use."
Okay, fair enough. In making the case that his candidate is more electable, it is reasonable for Shaheen to point out that Obama has spoken openly about using marijuana and cocaine in his early years. That is something the GOP will likely jump on, after all. Shaheen continued:
"It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?'... There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome."
Hey now! That's some strong stuff! Just because Shaheen wrapped his comments in a blanket of sympathy (or supposed sympathy) doesn't hide the fact that he just raised, for the first time in the campaign, the possibility that Barack Obama was a drug dealer.
And this is probably so obvious I don't need to say it, but I will. Any comment along these lines is racially coded. No one—no one—would ask if Mitt Romney slung rock if he were to admit he did drugs as a kid. Same with John Edwards or Hillary Clinton. But for many Americans the young Obama, who went to Columbia and Harvard Law, fits into their mental picture of what a drug dealer looks like.
Shame on Shaheen. I really hope this wasn't coordinated within the Clinton campaign. Right now they're saying, "These comments were not authorized or condoned by the campaign in any way."
Obama's response, after the jump.
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Update: Obama camp's response: "Senator Clinton's campaign is recycling old news that Barack Obama has been candid about in a book he wrote years ago, and he's talked about the lessons he's learned from these mistakes with young people all across the country. He plans on winning this campaign by focusing on the issues that actually matter to the American people." Should it be troubling that that's a non-denial denial? I know that answering directly would entail lowering Obama to the level of the accusation, but it would have been nice for everyone to be completely clear.
Comments
Not sure what the point of this article was... But when I read stuff like this it makes me ashamed of our media. Report but don't smear! I am one of these rare folks who never tried drugs but I know most have. The man is honest - I know that is rare in politics. Did the comments by Clinton's campaign raise drug-dealer questions?? No, I think this article raised that. Geez, lets get over sensationalism and leave the muds-slinging to the candidates. By the way - I am ready to vote for Barack Obama and I'm not fooled by all the junk being sold to us. Get a life y'all.
BFD!!! At least he didn't lie and say he didn't inhale. Hillary isn't the bastion of moral values. And anyone who says they are (like Bush), is going to just get your kids killed is some BS war. Time people wake up and realize what is really important. Do you want some fake puritan or some one who is honest?
You can bet your last dollar that Billy Shaheen is more scripted with talking points than an actor on the Young and the Restless. The idea that he would be discussing something apart from that is bordering on ludicrous. I think the NH co-chair would be considered part of the "campaign," so this is just another Orwellian example of how Hillary and her elusive "campaign" (which apparently has a life of it's own) twist words to mean whatever suits them.
I agree that this is obviously a Clinton campaign trick - comes off like the katty lady at a party - "Darling, I don't care what anyone says, you look marvelous considering that Sam left you for that pretty young thing down at the office! Just marvelous!"
All the same, I agree with Julie in that Jonathan Stein sensationalized the story greatly. I like MoJo magazine a lot and participate in the blog regularly, but a fair amount of the posting journalists/editors are guilty of this pot stirring. Pun intended. The 'update' expressing concerns because Obama failed to address drug dealing alligations THAT WERE NOT IN FACT MADE was just as vile as the comments that were in fact made by Shaheen.
Also think someo
Submitted by J. Lamb (not verified) on Thu Dec. 13, 2007 7:12 AM PST.
I disagree with the commenters who believe that this article was too sensationalized. A Clinton supporter publicly identified Senator Obama with drug dealing, people! The Clinton camp devolves Senator Obama into 50 Cent or Snoop Dogg in order to frighten middle American voters into the Wilder Effect and people find that too mundane? Rather sad commentary, that....
There is a serious racial difference between youthful personal drug use, something much of the post-60's Boomer generation can relate to, and drug distribution, something identified almost exclusively with young Black men, no matter how often crime statistics offer a less polarizing racial narrative.
To me, this new anti-Black attack displays desperation in the Clinton camp, since we all know that for Senator Obama to combat this idiocy for what it is would remind voters that he's Black, not a non-threatening 'post-racial' automaton. This attack appears too clumsy and hypocritical to really change any supporter's mind on Senator Obama's electability.
There are no illusions here; no one's voting for Senator Obama simply because they think he can win. People support Senator Obama because they believe in his message and his 'change the world' energy. Still, Mr. Stein is correct - calling Senator Obama a drug dealer is both inaccurate and racist.
Albeit it was a cheap shot from Shaheen, I think calling it a "racist" remark is a little bit of a stretch. What candidate has ever admitted to "real" drug use (Bill doesn't count)? Pretty tough to avoid the "dealer" issue regardless of the candidate.
Submitted by Justin (not verified) on Tue Dec. 18, 2007 5:12 PM PST.
I am not sure about Hillary's chances right now, I think Oprah's support for Obama really hurt her it bit strongly into her women support and consolidated all blacks for Obama. I think one of the best trackers for elections is the gambling line as people will only put money on what they think will win, I have watched the line on Clinton drop steadily for the past weeks since Oprah began campaigning for Obama lines are at wagerweb.com Politics Betting I prefer following these lines to polls as I feel they are just as accurate if not more
C'mon people... When you get right down to it, I need Hillary Clinton as my President like I need Mike Tyson as my mailman. Whatever strengths that she has. I don't really care about and certainly DO NOT want her representing me or MY COUNTRY ~ EVER. She was a crappy lawyer, a crappy First Lady, a crappy Senator, and a crappy WIFE. When the President needs the FULL support of a Laura Bush or Jackie Kennedy type at his side - who needs a Hillary to have her own agenda and leveraging her husbands clout to try to "shove" her dubious master plan through to the public. No Thank you, Hillary. Hers is not the agenda of the people, and SHAME on the great state New York for bringing her into your Senate - what has she done for YOU ? The reality is that if she did not get the NY Senate seat, we know that she would have pandered for Arkansas then Illinois till she did steal a Senate seat for herself. She plays us all like pawns in her game of global political scheming. My God, she makes "Doctor Evil" look like a frikkin' Teletubby. Ultimately, who does she represent other than herself? I simply don't TRUST her, and I don't LIKE her. Any-who, please God , steer us away from Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire Primary. My vote stands: Any candidate that is NOT Hillary Clinton ... and my advice to you is that if you must vote Democrat, PLEASE make a more intelligent choice than Hillary.
a lot of people have done drugs but not all have arrest records - just would like to know if he was ever arrested for anything linked to drugs - I know people that can't even vote because they have done drugs and had the mis- fortune of getting caught
racially coded my arse. there are already rumors circulating and they have been for some time. and your term "racially coded" is really just another form of race baiting. just because i'm a bleeding heart liberal doesn't mean you can bait me into not asking tough questions -- or wanting honest answers. if anyone will uncover the dirty truth, he will be a republican. if there is one shred of truth to allegations by some that obama did in fact sell or give away drugs, then they should come clean or me and the rest of the bleeding heart liberals will have to put up with at least another eight years of political fratricide in the US.
by making this a veiled race issue, and by in effect intimidating people into not asking these questions so as not to be racist, is a perversion of logic.
way to go MJ.
First of all, this shouldn't be an issue. George Bush Sr. was an international coke dealer. His son admitted to habitual use of both cocaine and alcohol. Does anyone really think the VOTERS care about Obama's youthful indiscretions?
"if anyone will uncover the dirty truth, he will be a republican."
I'm so sick of hearing stuff like this. When did we, as democrats, start embracing a universal fear of republicans?
I'm not scared. Bring em on!!
Besides, that sentiment is usually used as an excuse for Billary's behavior. It's as transparent as her Bosnia sniper-fire story...
I can't believe you morons. Stop with that damned "anyone who questions anything Obama did, is a racist." That's so stupid!! And that's what makes him so dangerous, if he becomes president, no one will be able to question anything he does, no matter how wrong it would be. For Christ's sake, we need to know about his drug taking and if he sold, as well. And you can tell by how easily he lies and gets away with it, he learned how to lie very well as all drug addicts have to. I always thought that Mother Jones was an intelligent magazine, but after reading this blog, it is clear that the people here are an ignorant bunch.
Submitted by Nike Dunks (not verified) on Mon May. 19, 2008 6:36 PM PDT.
This episode just proves that Hillary is, in most respects, too much like George W. Bush. A cheap shot straight out of Karl Rove's playbook isn't very becoming.
