What Impact Will Past Drug Use Have On Campaigns In The Future?

By Turk on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Mrs. Quip and I were talking about people I have worked with that are now running for office, and the fact that I have no interest in doing so. The main thrust of the discussion was whether or not I would be disqualified for having been very upfront with people about past drug use.

(To be clear, I haven’t consumed anything stronger than a mojito since I was about 23, but I also won’t claim the “I tried it once” argument because it is just disingenuous)

Anyway, Mrs. Quip suggested that marijuana and cocaine – and even substances like heroine, acid and ecstasy – simply aren’t that big of a deal now since studies indicate a staggering number of people have tried them.

She did, however, draw a line at meth use.

I’m not sure where the line exists, but I’m sure it’s still there. I’m not sure the American public would be cool with a President that used to do shrooms, LSD, or other hallucinogens. I agree that meth is also likely to preclude you from holding high office.

I’m not trying to rehash charges of drug/substance abuse from past elections. I’m just curious to know what impact drugs may have on future elections.

Drop a comment and let me know what you think.

Post to Twitter Post to Yahoo Buzz Post to Delicious Post to Digg Post to Facebook

Leave a comment

Category: Candidates, Politics, Society

No Comments

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About The Quip

A psuedo-reformed political hack takes stock of his life, family, community, and living in our nation's capitol. If a good writer writes about what he knows, expect me to cover politics, technology, telecommunications, consumer gadgets, pop culture, the constant struggle that is parenting, the two best kids in the known world, the wife that makes me crazy, the odd moments I get to enjoy my hobbies, and a big goofy mutt named Kobi.