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Friday, August 29, 2008

The Tokin’ Token

posted by on August 29 at 10:39 AM

Palin admitted to smoking pot—on more than one occasion, even though she says she didn’t care for it—back when she was running for governor way, way back in 2006:

Palin doesn’t support legalizing marijuana, worrying about the message it would send to her four kids. But when it comes to cracking down on drugs, she says methamphetamines are the greater threat and should have a higher priority.

Palin said she has smoked marijuana—remember, it was legal under state law, she said, even if illegal under U.S. law—but says she didn’t like it and doesn’t smoke it now.

“I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled.”

Yes, yes: we wouldn’t want to send kids the message that pot is some sort of harmless drug that you can use and still somehow go on to become the governor of a state, a vice-presidential nominee, and, if you get elected and your elderly running mate’s heart gives out, perhaps even president of the United States. Yeah, that would be the wrong message.

Via Sullivan.

RSS icon Comments

1

Well! As long as she didn't LIKE it, right?

Posted by Gloria | August 29, 2008 10:54 AM
2

You sound worried Dan.

Posted by scott dow | August 29, 2008 10:55 AM
3

The important message here is that she has the courage to be hypocritical, for the sake of the impressionable young people who might otherwise look to her actions rather than her words for leadership and guidance.

Posted by flamingbanjo | August 29, 2008 11:03 AM
4

Courage to be hypocritical? Republican, Pro life, and a Female? I'd say she's a walking Hypocrisy.

Posted by ZWBush | August 29, 2008 11:07 AM
5

Wait a second -- not that I feel any compulsion to defend this tool of a woman, but, "she says methamphetamines are the greater threat and should have a higher priority."

Don't you AGREE with that?

Posted by Irena | August 29, 2008 11:09 AM
6

Well, she admitted to it, and spoke openly about it when asked. So, I guess I don't see what the big deal is.

Plus, this is old news. I've never even been to Alaska, and am not a traditional follower of Alaskan politics, but I heard about this back in 2006. It's not like she said this an hour ago in her speech.

Posted by James | August 29, 2008 11:10 AM
7

If I'm not mistaken (and the law hasn't been overturned since I was back) the 1975 Raven decision allows for adults to have up to 4 ounces in their homes for personal use. Mix that with $3200 they're giving every Alaskan resident this year, and I'd say it's a pretty good incentive to move.

Well, as long as you don't mind crazy republican homophobes.

Posted by UNPAID BLOGGER | August 29, 2008 11:12 AM
8

I'm so tired of knee-jerk Republicans and knee-jerk Democrats who spin ANYthing an opposing politician says to be negative. She has the "courage" to be hypocritical?!? It sounds like she was totally honest to me. And I agree meth IS higher priority than marijuana. So she doesn't want to legalize weed. BFD. I sometimes drive over the speed limit. It doesn't mean I want the speed limits raised, it just means I'm willing to face the consequences if caught.

Posted by him | August 29, 2008 11:23 AM
9

Another concern: how many igloos do her and her husband own?

(full disclosure note: I totally stole this off another website but it's too good to not keep passing around...)

Posted by michael strangeways | August 29, 2008 11:25 AM
10

I do not get this. It's okay to try drugs if you do it wrong, or you don't like it. Lies, all lies.

You would be hard pressed to find an adult in North America who hasn't used recreational drugs of one kind or another at some point in their lives. And we all did it more than once. And we inhaled. And we liked it. Why can't we just admit it?

Posted by Charm | August 29, 2008 11:26 AM
11

Full Attribution on the igloo joke:

http://wonkette.com/402358/liveblogging-vpilf-sarah-palin-greeting-america#comments

(I don't want anyone saying I'm a Dane Cook level joke thief)

Posted by michael strangeways | August 29, 2008 11:37 AM
12

@8: Anyone who admits to a crime, doesn't think they should be punished for committing it (regardless of whether they think they "learned their lesson" -- in this case apparently that she didn't enjoy pot) and yet thinks the law that punishes others for committing that same crime is by definition a hypocrite. It is an especially troubling form of hypocrisy in those who would have a hand in making the laws by which others must live.

This particular brand of hypocrisy has been a staple of American politics since Clinton's "didn't inhale" dodge continuing right on through our current president's "youthful indiscretions" (which we are led to believe extended well beyond a little experimental pot smoking.) It is galling when anybody does it, Republican or Democrat, but yes it is even more galling when it comes from the mouth of law-and-order Republicans.

The Republican party has cast itself in the role of America's stern, tough-loving Daddy, and so every instance of "Do as I say, not as I do" is noteworthy because it undercuts their relentless depiction of themselves as fundamentally fair and moral people who live by the principles they espouse and value personal responsibility above all else.

Posted by flamingbanjo | August 29, 2008 11:47 AM
13

I officially hate this woman. I can't wait to see Biden murder her in the debates.

Posted by Jennifer in Chicago | August 29, 2008 12:28 PM
14

I just want to smoke pot with Bill Clinton. Is that so much to ask?

Posted by pothead | August 29, 2008 12:30 PM

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