The Point Was To Inhale

Some people are up in arms about Obama's honestly but I think it is a riot ... and I agree!

Earlier this week in New Hampshire Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke candidly about his past experimentation with drugs and alcohol in high school, and on Saturday—after a question on medicinal marijuana—Obama was prodded a bit further and asked whether or not he had ever inhaled.

"I did," the senator from Illinois said to light applause. "It's not something I'm proud of. It was a mistake as a young man."

The question was a reference to a line made famous by former President Bill Clinton who, while admitting to trying marijuana, said he did not inhale.

"I never understood that line," Obama continued. "The point was to inhale. That was the point."

On the campaign trail on Saturday, GOP White House hopeful Mitt Romney said Obama's earlier comments set a bad example for young people.

"I agree with the sentiment that nobody's perfect and most of us, if not all of us, in our youthful years have engaged in various indiscretions we wouldn't want to have paraded in the front of a newspaper," the former Massachusetts governor said in New Hampshire. "On the other hand if we're running for president, I think it's important for us not to go into details about the weaknesses and our own failings as young people for the concern that we open kids thinking that it's ok for them."

It's not something that I am proud or ashamed of. Doing dumb or ill-advised things in youth is part of growing up. Neither Barack nor I ruined our lives by taking a hit or two from a joint. The only thing "kids" need to understand is that when you are impaired - via drugs, alcohol or anything else - your judgment may become cloudy and you may do some other things you may regret - sometimes things that have long lasting or permanent consequences. I don't have children but do have younger relatives. I presume that they will do the same kinds of things that I did. No amount of preaching will change that - particularly when they don't see any ill effects in the adults around them. Teach responsibility and accountability and that is about all you can do.

If they really need convincing that excessive drug use can be detrimental, have them view footage of our current President and watch him try to construct complete and coherent sentences.

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