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Obama Discusses Drinking, Drugs
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ShareNovember 20, 2007 12:16 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., spoke candidly Tuesday about experimenting with drugs while he was in high school at surprise stop at Manchester Central High School in New Hampshire.
"I made some bad decisions ... You know, got into drinking and experimenting with drugs, there was a whole stretch of time where I didn't apply myself," Obama confessed to the study hall class.
Obama added that it wasn't until he went to college that he "started realizing, man, I wasted a lot of time."
Obama said his mother called him a goof-off and he explained how living in Hawaii didn't help.
"There's a lot of opportunity to goof off because the weather is really good all the time," Obama said.
Another distraction? "I thought about girls a lot."
Obama said it wasn't until his junior and senior year in college that he started getting serious.
"I realized if I had spent a little more time readying and studying that I could actually have some influence in the world. I got so serious that my mother told me to lighten up," he said.
The White House contender wrote about his drug experimentation in his book, "Dreams of my Father," but rarely talks about it on the campaign trail.
November 20, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (38)
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Then Obama announced that he would go on the campaign trail with former DC Mayor Marion Barry.
Posted by: Pain in the Donkey | Nov 20, 2007 12:20:02 PM
At least he was open and honest, unlike Bush and Clinton. Last time i checked honesty is a good thing.
Posted by: john | Nov 20, 2007 1:12:12 PM
So is affirmative action, I guess? How did Obama get into Harvard Law school from applying himself the last year or so of college? Hmmmm.
Posted by: Chuck | Nov 20, 2007 1:16:00 PM
it's called an LSAT Chuck, and I'm sure his scores were off the charts
Posted by: Joe Fetter | Nov 20, 2007 1:27:22 PM
It's ridiculous to hide or "sugarcoat" a foolish choice made in your younger years. When Clinton made his famous "I didn't inhale" statement did anyone really believe him? I don't believe anything that he or his wife says. We've all done stupid things when we were younger. Hopefully, you learn from the mistakes and move forward - and Obama is proving this. I only wish my teenage son would have been in the class Obama spoke to. Good choice for '08!
Posted by: Mel | Nov 20, 2007 1:36:23 PM
Chuck, is it affirmative action to graduate first in your class from Harvard Law School, be president of the Harvard Law Review and end up teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago?
Posted by: Bob | Nov 20, 2007 1:50:07 PM
The moral of the story: stay focused on your goals and don't waste valuable time in frivolous activities. Good Point. He's just being real.
Posted by: Gerald | Nov 20, 2007 2:15:22 PM
While Obama might be the better choice over Clinton, it's just so sad that she's going to win the nomination anyway. I just think the delegates swoon too easily at the Clinton name.
Posted by: TexBork | Nov 20, 2007 2:18:45 PM
Hillary Clinton is by far the best candidate and will be the next President ... but Obama still has many, many opportunities to serve this country if he chooses to.
Posted by: Jackson | Nov 20, 2007 2:34:48 PM
Most of us have experimented. At least Obama doesn't act like a druggie or Alcoholic in recovery.
Posted by: Roy | Nov 20, 2007 2:39:29 PM
Some people feel that you should always go through life never making a mistake.. That's just plain WRONG.. Everyone makes them, no one is perfect--PEOPLE.. Get over it.. At least he has the guts, as a presidential candidate, to stand up & admit his wrong doings.. I personally am not going to be voting for Obama; however, he has impressed me with speaking the truth about his past..
Posted by: Summer | Nov 20, 2007 3:13:23 PM
Bush admitted to having a drinking problem until age 40 (throughout the 1970's), but would never answer questions about drug use. Bill Clinton tried to have it both ways by saying he "never inhaled". Obama is a breath of fresh air compared to those two - like most people he did some dumb things as a young person, but he is honest about it now.
Posted by: D | Nov 20, 2007 4:07:52 PM
BOY, Hillary really SMOKED HIM OUT didn't she?! With her 'secret information' he's going to squeal like a stuffed pig . such is the life of a Presidential candidate.
Posted by: Rob | Nov 20, 2007 4:34:43 PM
Rob! make sense, obama wrote a book called "dreams from my father" in it he detailed his live, what he did and did not do. It was only a secrete to the handful of people who can not read, I am pointing the finger at you Rob
Posted by: akhinaten | Nov 20, 2007 4:53:00 PM
@joe fetter: why are you sure obama's LSAT scores were 'off the charts' - i see no indication of 'genius' in obama -
Posted by: skyz | Nov 20, 2007 5:08:32 PM
Crack is whack....
.
Posted by: havoc40154 | Nov 20, 2007 5:53:09 PM
dks0442, is that you Karl Rove? Unsuported and unsubstantiated lies and inuendo must at least be a Republican.
Posted by: BooMan | Nov 20, 2007 5:56:43 PM
I apologize to the true Republicans out there. I should have said Bushy.
Posted by: BooMan | Nov 20, 2007 5:57:38 PM
The word "reading" is misspelled in the transcript. Unprofessional.
"I realized if I had spent a little more time readying "
Posted by: Spelling freak | Nov 20, 2007 6:03:05 PM
you people are amazing and probably some of the same people that put bush in office...see what your mistakes get you...open your eyes obama will be a good president
Posted by: tones | Nov 20, 2007 6:40:39 PM
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