By – Craig Mazer
Barack, you bonehead. Man, did you piss me off. I mean, I’ve been a vocal supporter, even to people who would rather dismiss you as a false idol or ‘maginary messiah. I’ve said, “Come on, give the guy a chance.”
Then you go and say something ignorant, immature and exactly what the legislative (and conservative) status quo would hope for.
For those who missed it, President Obama held a town hall meeting in late March where he answered questions submitted online via the White House website. The question posed to him that received the most votes was the one he was both most brief and flippant about.
The question, receiving over 3 million votes, asked, “With over 1 out of 30 Americans controlled by the penal system, why not legalize, control, and tax marijuana to change the failed war on drugs into a money making, money saving boost to the economy? Do we really need that many victimless criminals?” Variations of the same question pointed out an increase in jobs, as well.
Obama clearly felt he had to answer the question—not because it’s a damned important and necessary question to be asking, but merely because a bunch of weed-dazed web junkies forced him to address it (since it was far and away the most popular question).
“There was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation,” Obama said, smirky smile in full blaze. “And, uh, I don’t know what this says about the online audience, but, I just want, I don’t want people to think, this was a popular question. We want to make sure it’s answered. The answer is no, I don’t think that’s a good strategy to grow our economy, so, alright.”
And that was it. The audience chuckled and the President marched on.
WTF, Mr. President?! Seriously? That’s the best you can do? You are the most intelligent, crafty speaker our nation has maybe ever had at its helm and you crap that turd of a response out?! I’m pissed.
When Barack Obama speaks, I listen. I’m riveted. I find his charisma, character and competence wows me every time. But this response was Bush-esque, minus the gaffs and snickering.
I’m not expecting the President to legalize marijuana, but I am expecting a man of his great intelligence to recognize that this issue is important enough to not shove aside so casually. Was it not enough that it received three million votes online? Is it not enough that nearly a million people were arrested last year on marijuana charges, clogging up our judicial system and jails over a drug that is less dangerous than cigarettes (which our President smokes), alcohol and prescription medication?
Surely, the President would have preferred the question have never come up. But it did and in a big way. I only hope that the strong desire for an answer, and Obama’s sorry excuse for one, garner media attention that brings the debate over marijuana legalization back to the forefront.
While little can be said about why it should be legalized that hasn’t already been beaten home, media attention and, in turn, a change in public opinion (though February Zogby poll shows already 41 percent would support it if taxed and regulated) could force politicians to at least consider the subject—something that hasn’t been done on a national scale, maybe ever.
In the meantime, I’m not going to try to come to terms with my anger over President Obama’s answer and write it off this time. Instead, I’m going to count on the numerous legalization organizations, progressive and mainstream media and individuals (like you) to start being outspoken to force our legislators to address this important issue.
15 Comments
yea i agree its a shitty response and he didn’t give enough attention to it but its very early in his campaign and he’s got bigger shit to deal with, plus he’s right. People can talk that legalization shit all they want but in the end the impact would be the exact opposite of good for the hundreds of thousands of families already living off marijuana. You absolutely cannot take that market out of the hood and place it in the hands of the rich. Decriminalization is what people should be shooting for, and the release of the nonviolent drug offenders not legalization. But when something like 60 percent of the prison population is nonviolent drug offenders and a high percent of the prisons are private businesses ran for profit fat chance of that shit. The whole issue is a catch 22 and the shit should probably be legal and will be someday especially if they come up with a valid DUI test for it but I’m telling you they take that money out the hood and the hood will starve. You’ll just end up with more trafficking of the dangerous drugs, even less money in the hands of indigent America and the rich getting even richer. They ain’t about to share that shit with us.
Hahah seriously? You’re worried about the impact of legalization on hoodrats that sell schwag and shoot people?
Hahaha.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think the real issue is that before being elected he had some worthwhile opinions on the matter. His reply in the video, now that he’s already been elected, makes him look like just another political hag that told the people what they wanted to hear and now no longer wants to be bothered by it. That so many Americans voted to hear an answer warranted a response with a little more substance.
Decriminalization? Of course. Acting like this would make things in “the hood” for the “hundreds of thousands of families” living off of it worse doesn’t make sense to me. Would it help keep those people out of prison? Of course. That’s what should matter here, not the idea that it’s okay for pushers to post up on street corners just because they have the balls to do so. I find it hard to believe that everybody in “the hood” is happy to have their neighbors dealing to their kids.
“Hahah seriously? You’re worried about the impact of legalization on hoodrats that sell schwag and shoot people?”
^^^^^
our first official asshole comment!!!!!!!!! moving on up
Tim, yeah man, we’ve hit the big time now. Though I don’t disagree, decriminalization isn’t the final step, it’s the first. Ultimately, it’ll come out of the hands of the illicit dealers and be run by companies that specialize in it, not unlike tobacco businesses and alcohol businesses. Legalization is what is best. And fuck it, legalize all drugs, not just herb. Not bad when CNN agrees: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/31/cafferty.legal.drugs/index.html
Dank had it right, untill they find a dui test it will never become legal. For the record im against legalizing it.
That shit would fuck up my pension plan!
****Hahah seriously? You’re worried about the impact of legalization on hoodrats that sell schwag and shoot people?****
^^^^^ kill yourself
Nice to see some passionate opinions being posted here. But again, the real issue isn’t about should or should it not be legalized, it’s that the president treated the question as a joke when in fact the pubic sought his response. I believe most of us all voted for the man, but that doesn’t mean we should stop policing our own government after they’ve been elected. They never stop doing it to us (hello C.I.A., I didn’t just type that…)
The way I see it, as long as he has time to fill out an NCAA Tournament bracket and break it all down for us in the process, he can take two minutes to give a better explanation in between messing with the other bigger shit he’s got to deal with.
it’s simple what happens when a plant that employs probably a half million or 1 million or more people( who really knows I’m just speculating) closes down?
I heard/ read somewhere(don’t have a citation for it) California’s number 2 export behind grapes is marijuana. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t this the most populated state in the country? What happens to it if you completely destroy the economy of its number 2 export?
I agree with Craig, legalize em all if simply to destroy the violence surrounding them. While we re dreaming tho lets socialize their profits too!
Yea i gotta admit the dealing to the kids part sucks but tell me how hard is was to get alcohol from the store when we were kids(especially after a certain journalist i know turned 21.) Thats all the sudden gonna change? You’re also using a very stereotyped “hollywood” corner boy drug dealer.
The main feat to be gained from legalization isnt so you can buy 20 dollar oz’s of piff from your drive thru and still not be able to smoke because your job has no way to test if you were high when you got your ballsack stuck in the paper shredder, but the release of our people from the prison system and the destruction of the violence and crime that comes with any illegal pander.
I said i think Obama’s answer was lazy but the question right now is fucking retarded too. It’s been 2 months! and I don’t know how things are going in sunny Orlando, but in good ol manufacturing land Ohio almost everyone I know is laid off and who knows if any of these companies are ever coming back. I’m more worried about whats gonna happen when this unemployment money runs out in 6 months, I bet it won’t be hard to find a sack.
I meant the question he read and answered was retarded not the first question craig wrote:
“With over 1 out of 30 Americans controlled by the penal system, why not legalize, control, and tax marijuana to change the failed war on drugs into a money making, money saving boost to the economy? Do we really need that many victimless criminals?”
This question includes the real issue the one he read and laffed off just asked if legalizing marijuana could help the economy (all though i think everyone laffed because he said the question ranked “high”.)
First off, you started with the hollywood bullshit when you began by trying to make a point about taking money from the people in the hood. Was your reference to “the hood starving” or whatever meant to be a generalized one that includes country folk too? Because this issue includes people of all classes and races throughout different parts of the country.
Here’s a link about the California thing – http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28354324/
And let’s see, Florida has the highest unemployment rate in 33 YEARS. You wanna know how sunny it is down here? Orlando had 121 murders in ’06, 105 murders in ’07 and 123 murders in ’08. Life is fucked up for everyone, everywhere, so we’re all pretty much in the same damn boat together.
Was it bad timing for that sort of question to the president? maybe so. But is it “fucking retarded” right now to ask? Come on, when is the next time this forum is taking place again? Any other questions he didn’t answer for you?
Why couldn’t he have provided a similar response as the one he made in 2004 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQr9ezr8UeA – maybe it was because the way the question was presented, about using it to improve the economy and creating jobs, was a little off-point i regards to what the true point was supposed to be. It would have been nice to have led him into talking about the decriminalization aspects as opposed to what was actually asked.
Some other interesting takes on Obama and this subject -
http://prorev.com/2008/02/obamas-many-views-on-marijuana.html
http://blog.norml.org/2009/03/26/president-obama-what-is-so-funny-about-taxing-and-regulating-marijuana/
Yea i suppose the question has to be asked..and yea i was using the term “hood” very loosely. .its kinda shitty to jump all over dude already tho, he sure did duck it…I think people just gotta be carefull what they wish for… damn thats a lot of murders in Orlando…shits scary for real..i had never seen that video when he said he approved decrim. its promising tho…now i can see being a little upset he ducked it…
Cynicism alert! He’s a politician. Yes I think we all can agree he’s in a different category compared to the other ones we’ve all encountered in our short lives and we should alway expect him to be honest and respectful towards our views and questions. But he is still a politician and he will answer questions and govern in a way that best suits his overall goal. I throw up in my mouth a little evreytime he quotes scripture because I have this weird feeling that he sides a little closer to me on the issue of religion then say your average God fearing American, but it would be political suicide to say so. In the next 4-8 years do you think were going to get anything less than status quo respnses or actions when it comes to the issue of gay rights (unless there’s a shift in the popular opinion). And the same goes for the war on drugs ( I believe the Latin American countries are calling the war on drugs the failure that it is-But Uncle Sam is standing strong). I think if it was up to Barack the man- Jim & Albert from down the street would be legally married while smoking legally purchased (enter ironically gay slang term for marijuana here) while listening to a prominent political figure give a speech void of religious vauguries. But Barack the man ceased to exist when he entered politics and especially once he became president. So i hope for and anticipate great things coming from him but i anticipate them coming from within the culture of the presidency-i don’t expect him to change the culture of the presidency(hows that for abstact psuedo intellectual bullshit you’d use to try and get into some freshmen chicks pants)……But on a serious note that one commenter actually wrote hoodrats and schwag in the same sentence!!!!! bahahahahah-talk about juxtaposition of termanology.
i think all the views of my damn article is from you guys debating. sweet!
I told ya’ll from the start that Obama was just another douche bag politician. You fools wher all onhis jock from day one. I voted for the man but he was the lesser of 2 evils. I was really hoping that he would be different but it looks like it aint gonna happen.
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