Democrat Barack Obama told a group of high school students in New Hampshire on Tuesday that when he was a teenager like them, he was “kind of a goof-off” who indulged in drinking and experimented with drugs.
Not until he got to college, the Illinois senator said, did he clean up his act.
“I will confess to you that I was kind of a goof off in high school,” he said. “It came fairly easily to me, but I never really worked as hard as I should have.”
“I made some bad decisions,” he said. “There were times when I got into drinking and experimented with drugs. There was a whole stretch of time where I didn’t really apply myself. It wasn’t until I got out of high school and went to college that I started to realize, man, I wasted a lot of time. I did a lot of catching up when I got to college.”
Listening from the back row in the high school study hall, freshman Tyler Moglia, 14, liked what he heard.
“I think everybody deserves to play around a little bit, you know?” he said. “He got his priorities straight, you know.”
(Video by Jason Szep)
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19 comments so far
Sounds a lot more honest and straight forward than “I did not inhale.”
- Posted by James RIchSounds a lot more honest and straight forward than “I did not inhale.”
Or, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”.
Hillary is the same way. Neither one know where the lie begins and the truth ends anymore.
- Posted by MarkI like an honest man. I think if dems are smart, they’ll nominate Obama.
- Posted by barryI sure do appreciate the honesty. I would consider myself a successful business man, and while I’m a ‘good citizen’ now, I and most every one I know have done things in the past they’re not proud of. To be honest about it is refreshing.
I haven’t made my mind up yet, but i’m gaining respect for Obama. The only hang up I have is his relative lack of experience. But he has demonstrated some intelligent ideas, so perhaps I should be so concerned. Of course I’d take a less experience Obama over George any time.
Who ever we put in the WH is has a lot of work to do th repair the damage cause by GB. Obama seems to have the energy to take this on.
- Posted by Wizardso what hes human, i expect all the candidates smokes
- Posted by flagrantWe need to forget Obama and take a closer look at Mike Huckebee. Huckebee I truely think will be the one to save the middle class and the working class. One way is to end all immrigrtion for ten years and force companies to educate our children and enhance our children.
- Posted by williamI think that sets a terrible example for high school students because it is advoctaing the use of drugs and alocohol, illegally, as long as you think you will clean up later. It is giving them permission to break the law because he did.
- Posted by paulbarry said “I think if dems are smart, they’ll nominate Obama.”
I say, if that’s what the republicans are hoping for, we dems better vote for someone else!!
- Posted by Judy[...] Obama did what we call “innoculation” in politics – he got something potentially harmful out into the open on his own terms before someone else could u…. Except in this case, who really cares that Barack Obama did drugs or screwed around at school, [...]
- Posted by November 22, 2007 - As if this is really going to hurt him. « Rachel Marsden’s Daily Drive-ByWe parents don’t get it. Obama’s drug use and apparent casual attitude of talking to high school students about using drug was not big deal just wasting some time shows what kind of character he has! It shows what kind of judgment he has! Hillary, it’s time to fight back about charater and judgment!
- Posted by lindaHe’s go’n to change the whole culture of drug use and imprisionment
- Posted by ImamKashifPaul,
Better to lie than tell the wrong truth, eh?
- Posted by DavidIt is refreshing to see a politician actually tell the truth about whatever the subject is. I would really like to see GB come out and tell the truth about a lot of things. One thing that still haunts me is the WMD! GB got us involved and bogged down in Iraq on the notion that they were really close to having WMD’s and they weren’t afraid to use them. We go straight into a long drawn out operation that currently we can’t get out of if we wanted. I see a lot of brave people (men and women) whose lives are lost because of something that never materialized. I am so proud of everyone that serves this wonderful country overseas. God bless them all. I feel that all of this effort and money could have been spent fighting terrorism on a different front other than Iraq. Since Saddam Hussein has been removed from power in Iraq, the whole country has splintered into different fractions and none of the parties can agree on anything. While all of the time, Osama Bin Laden still hasn’t been captured.
- Posted by RBullinerHonesty is refreshing in this day and age…Most of us would grow a long nose- if we said we did not at least try grass and alcohol in our early years—UNLESS we were calculating early on and already had a plan to go into politics.
- Posted by docbFresh, smart, nimble mind and honest to boot…looks like a winner to me.
It seems it is ok with some people in America for Obama to reply to comments made by his so called former pastor as “his opinion”. Yet when Ferraro made a comment even though it was her opinion, Hillary had to take steps and distance herself. I think Obama will DESTROY this country and give it away. If or anyone does not like that we believe in God as a country, that “In GOD We Trust” is on our money and respect our flag then they need to leave the USA and return to their better place.
- Posted by Carterwell we are getting rid of one bad president, why not get one new one
- Posted by badboyso what hes human, i expect all the candidates smokes
- Posted by MUTFAK DOLABIJust what we need, a President who admits he was a drug user. What an example to strive for. Only the Demorats could deliver a candidate like that.
- Posted by joenice info
- Posted by Games