By "Radical" Russ Belville on February 25, 2008
Top Obama Flip-Flops – washingtonpost.com
Decriminalization of marijuana: While running for the U.S. Senate in January 2004, Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use. In the Oct. 30, 2007, presidential debate, he joined other Democratic candidates in opposing the decriminalization of marijuana.
I think it’s interesting that the Post is criticizing a “flip-flop” for becoming more punitive toward cannabis smokers. It’s the kind of “flip-flop” that people who wouldn’t support the senator would want to see, isn’t it? Wouldn’t decrim be something the political establishment would want him to “flip-flop” on?
Whatever brings the subject up in conversation, I suppose…
Posted in ACTIVISM, SOCIETY | Tagged Barack Obama
I am the host of the NORML SHOW LIVE and The NORML Stash Blog. I'm married, live in Portland, Oregon, and I am a registered medical marijuana caregiver in this state. I've worked days as an IT geek and nights as a professional musician. Previously, I have been the host of my own political talk radio show on satellite radio. I've been the High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month" for my work producing Oregon NORML's TV show, "A Cannabis Community Forum", and for helping to institute Portland's wildly successful medical marijuana cardholders meetings, where we help sick and disabled Oregonians acquire cannabis plant starts, learn gardening, and understand the medical marijuana law. I've dedicated my life to bringing an end to adult marijuana prohibition and re-legalizing cannabis hemp, and I'm honored to be chosen by NORML to be our daily voice.
The point isn’t that he changed his mind. The point is that he says whatever his current audience wants to hear. In this particular case, his original decriminalization statement was made at a college campus.