Off-topic subject in the Off-Topic forum. When Bill Clinton said he smoked marijuana, but did not inhale, was he lying or telling the truth?
Yes. As Dennis Miller said, Clinton not only should have come clean about marijuana use, he should have said he not only smoked, but he drank the bong water. Next question. Unfortunately, Bill spent his whole presidency seeking approval from people and institutions that he loathed--yet felt compelled to embrace.
Funnily enough, a mere eight years later everyone knew George W. Bush had partied like a rock star when he was younger, and no one cared.
He lied, but who cares? I'd be suspicious of anyone in his age range that didn't try marijuana, except for maybe someone like Mitt Romney or another Mormon-type.
Not during his run for the Presidency. He was extremely cagey about the subject, claiming he'd done illegal drugs but not "hard drugs." This was, of course, a like, unless you don't consider cocaine a "hard drug."
I wasn't speaking in particular of W's admission/non-admission of smoking marijuana, but in general his openness per his struggles with alcohol.
Indeed, yet when revealed, he came clean. Clinton has never "owned up" to inhaling. I have empirical evidence proving he did inhale..............he said he didn't, which means he did.
There are plenty of actual reasons to criticize the Clintons, why be unfair? Clinton is the first President to admit trying a drug that is incredibly popular. I have to think that his admission--even if it wasn't entirely complete (and we don't know that)--made it easier for GWB to be a former cokehead and current dry drunk, yet still be acceptable to a near-majority of voters in 2000. (Gore won that count.) And I think the US grew up a bit about this topic because of GWB, making Obama's admitted drug use a non-issue. It's called being progressive on an issue, and even the GOP does it.
Rich, this thread was not intended to be a chemical juxtaposition between "W" and "Willy." There isn't a president in US history who hasn't had skeletons of some type (ethical/moral/sexual/verbal comments/affiliations/associations/etc) on their "resume" or from their past. Such is the lot of imperfection in an imperfect world. The thread was posted in the Off-Topic forum as a lighthearted remembrance of one of the best one-liners in recent times. Reporter, "Have you ever smoked marijuana?" Clinton, "Yes, but I didn't inhale." It's a classic! Lying with a straight face when everyone knows you're lying and no one believes you didn't inhale, yet you continue to hold said position, and to this day (as far as I know) Willy has never retracted/corrected the story. But, as we know, patterns of behavior develop and become ingrained in individuals. IIRC, Willy also said "I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
The first statement (about not inhaling) sure seemed like an attempt at covering it up by dissembling. First, it was a distinction without a difference, making the whole thing laughable. Second, it was hard to believe anyway. Third, he was ridiculed by the left for doing it wrong! The second one was really bad. First, it should have been no one's business. But you don't fix that by (a) lying about it and (b) leaving your paramour twisting in the wind. He should have owned it, said it was a private matter, and taken whatever high road might have been left to him. Personally, I've always had reservations about the Clintons' inclination towards dissembling when a straight-forward answer would be less troublesome. They've always pandered to voters and have acted with great umbrage when pressed. It's like they resent being asked and react by dodging and weaving. Hillary's positives would be much higher if she faced these issues head-on. It only encourages more silly accusations that, over time, affect the voters' perception of her. She's her own worst enemy in that regard; the GOP and their trumped up fake scandals are nothing compared to the damage she does to herself.
Meh. Bill Clinton's duplicity is what drove me away from the Democratic Party when I was in my late teens, and even I don't care about this.
Rich left out perjury and disbarment (Bill’s plea bargained deal: 5-year law license suspension and $25K fine—he could have faced contempt charges) … Just some more Republican silly accusations and trumped up fake scandals re the Clintons… A further indicator as to HRC’s integrity failings…? http://m.wsj.net/video/20160426/042616opinionhillary/042616opinionhillary_v2_ec664k.mp4 Of course this has to be merely some more GOP silly accusations and trumped up fake scandals about Hillary… What difference does it make—it’s not like anyone of any real significance (to HRC anyway) actually died ... right…?
