I support Obama and am proud to…but I can't help but wonder????? HRC said she had some dirt on him and was waiting to use. I wonder if she was going to release this information and he short circuted her. If so, he is even smarter than I thought!

Reading the responses from these self-righteous holier-than-thou moralists is making me sick. Are there really that many close-minded misinformed Americans out there?
Obviously, look who has been our President for the last two terms.

I personally find the honesty of candidates like Obama and Ron Paul very refreshing. Isn't it time for us to elect someone with honesty and integrity instead of a self-righteous, arrogant, close-minded fool?

I truly hope that enough Americans who aren't blind and misinformed vote this time around…

Americans don't care about what has happened in the past of those elected to office….ANY office.

Want proof…Look at Ted Kennedy.

Obama should be complimented for his frankness and openness about illegal substances. You only need to do the research to discover that there is a high percentage of young people experimenting with illegal substances. I include every mind-altering substance, yes alcohol fits that description, especially when you look at the number of underage drinkers (this is illegal and the substance is illegal at this age)!

yes we also do drugs-nicotine,alcohol and caffeine

It seems some of you that are leaving posts here are smoking weed yourselves!

so Obama made mistakes, who hasn't?

admit you were wrong, BUT DON'T WRITE A HOW-TO BOOK ABOUT THE MISTAKES YOU MADE! Isn't that all Mitt said?

OK, Maybe Obama is "honest" when he admits to drug use, drinking, goofing off in HS, etc. And honesty a a good quality, but is it good enough to make him president? It will take more than "good intentions" to get this country straightened out. We need experience. We need Hillary!

I don't have a problem with Obama admitting he did some drugs. I don't have a problem with somebody not coming right out with. I do have a problem with someone lying about it. Like I didn't inhale. But it seems like it was a bigger deal to the left that Bush had a DUI. Why's that?

Kristy Sanborn, what makes you think McCain is blemish free?? He cheated on his first wife. That's breaking one of the 10 commandments. He was also part of the Keating 5 (you remember the Savings & Loan debacle that cost tax payers like a billion dollars). And I for one don't know what his drug use has been or not been over his 7 decades of life, do you?? Whether we like it or not all the candidates are just human beings, just getting an Honest one like Obama is the absolute best we can ask for.

Has anyone noticed how the posts by right wingers say that since he tried it in HS then he's totally unqualified since he is obviously a crack head? Or how the vehemently anti-drug people say that experimenting in HS means he's an addict, or how 'dangerous' pot is?

Folks, pot got a bad rap in the 20's from the tobacco and cotton growers who saw it as competition and a few misguided moral extremsts. A government study that was thrown out by Richard Nixon concluded beyond a shadow of a doubt that marijuana is not addictive and does not lead to harder drugs. It also rcommended that it be legalized and taxed, just like alcohol and cigarettes.

Talk about government control over thinking. Let's legalize it, tax it and use that money for treatment of people using the hard drugs (the only proven way to get people to stop using)and intevention in the supply of hard drugs, like smack, cocaine, crack, meth, etc.

From my vantage point, I can tell you what I'm ready for…honesty! I don't care who is saying it as long as it is the real truth, unspun. I've heard too much BS.

It's sad that people have come to the point where they don't want to hear the truth from their leaders. I would think that after almost 16 years, maybe skip 4, then another 8 (Reagan) of "who, me?" Americans might be disgusted with the self-righteous behavior, passing the buck, self-preservation and outright lying of their leaders.

Obama is the only top tier candidate to admit mistakes - and all of them have made plenty. This is a huge representation of a person's character, and Obama is the only one who has come clean without overwhelming self-serving caveats.

2nd, as a drug experimenter, who has a fantastic job + functional, loving family, people need to relax with their stigma when it comes to drug experimentation (particularly marijuana). Though illegal, these acts are neither immoral, reckless or fraudulant. (obviously the morality police may have a different interpretation, but i stand by mine.) There is no victim with the exception of the taker's brain cells.
So for all you judgmental tools that maybe take office supplies fr. your employer,tell a white lie to your spouse, misrepresent a little on your taxes, or kill your liver with booze and ESPECIALLY those who get behind the wheel after you've been drinking…
"let he who has not sinned…"

Or if you want to be a total hypocritical fraud and continue downward on this 7-year tailspin, vote for Romney…or Rudy…or hillary..or Fred…you won't be alone and you can cast your stones for 4 more years without looking in the mirror.

Honest? Stupid is a better word.

Obama is just politically naieve and inexperienced. Of all democrat presidential candidates, Obama's political experience is just a junior candidate. Obama is all style, without substance.

NObama 08.

"Believe it or not, the average person in this country has experimented with drugs."

Posted By Matthew Jaworski, Fort Myers, FL

Then I must be above average and I am proud of it. Wouldn't it be great if more people on this blog were above average, Matthew, so that we could read more sound and far more intelligent comments?

“Unlikely” voter in CA,

Be kind, and enlighten us, please!, what exactly you mean by your comment. I live in MA and I never heard that he "sold out" to the people of MA on health care reform.

Wow!!! Too honest??? I would rather a politician be too honest, than too deceitful. At least Obame tells the truth and not fabricated lies.

Cocaine use tends to lead to paranoia and scyzophrenia (sp?). Alcohol tends to kill brain cells. How come this wasn't more highly covered by the media in 2000 and 2004?

I think it depends on how you look at it, and there are a few different views. First, its best to be honest and admit mistakes made, however I don't feel a president or president elect should have those mistakes in his/her past. I think when it comes to the President of the United States, they should be more blemish free of those kinds of mistakes, kinda like John McCain. Someone America can look up to, and I don't mean that as any kind of dig to any of the ones like Obama who openly admit drug use in the past, I only mean a President should be held to higher standards. Even if they did learn from their mistakes, its just not the same.
People can say what they want when someone admits to having drank too much alchohol, but alchohol is legal, even if it shouldn't be.
I respect Obama for his honesty, but I don't feel to a group of high school kids he doesn't know personally, or how they will take it, he should have said it at all.
At least obama was more honest about it than bill clinton was!!
I give Obama credit for that, I think most in America know clinton did inhale, but can't prove it, would be my opinion

would you rather have an honest politician or one who has to consult his lawyers to lie propertly?

This is certainly a touchy subject. But Romney is ridiculous for making this a political score. Obama is far from encouraging kids to do "bad things".

http://www.political-buzz.com/

The point is not that Obama experimented with drugs in his teenage angst years, but, thanks to a critical lady friend, cleaned up his act and applied himself to education; rolled up his sleeves upon graduation to help organize grassroots efforts to improve communities on local levels.

I do not know what world the commenter lives in to only know 10% of people who have tried drugs. I think it would be more like 50% or higher. And that does not include prescription medicines that many get hooked on.

Personally, I think it really shows that the candidate is a human being who, right or wrong, makes what they feel is a mistake and can be a big enough person to admit it. NONE of these candidates are pure and innocent, so let's cut the crap and see what they are going to do to better the country!

People are wondering if Mitt Romney has use Drugs. I would say no.
You may find a few Mormons that have used drugs but very few and the people probably are ex Mormons. Most Mormons do not smoke, drink coffee or liquor or chew tobacco. They follow a doctrine
called Word of Wisdom given by Jesus Christ under D&C 89 advising that if people chose to smoke, drink alcohol or coffee or chew tobacco there would be a price to pay. Before, anyone can renew their temple recommend which is
done yearly and in some cases every two years now they are asked these questions by their Bishops and Stake representatives. If they say yes they are denied a temple recommend. Being a past Stake President and Bishop and Missionary I would say that he probably has never smoked tobacco, chew tobacco or drank coffee or liquor. If you want to look up D&C 89 you can probably find it on http://www.lds.org.
Salt Lake City is only about 30 % Mormon. Therefore, you can not blame all the ills of Salt Lake City on the Mormons.

An honest politician! Isn't that an oxymoron? Suddenly, Obama doesn't look so bad………..

No wonder Hillary's all in a tither!

Maybe if candidates were a little more candid and showed their human side this country would be better off.

Mitt's plastic facade will fool some, but he's a phony as a three dollar bill.

He used Massachusetts as a stepping-stone, but January '09 he'll wind up watching the inauguration from the sidelines.

Gee, an honest politician. What a concept. With the mess we are in geopolitically wouldn't the countries of the world who do not subscribe to the Bush, et al neocon doctrine be pleased to know they are dealing with someone who can admit mistakes?…especially ones that do not kill innocent people.

"too honest" ?? what does "too honest" mean ??? Only CNN and politicians could make sense out of a phrase like that. Either you want an honest president or you want another lier ! How can CNN go on and on about this and try to shoot down Clinton's opponent with this hatchet job ? George Bush Jr had a cocaine addiction, Bill Clinton smoked pot. Rather than face up and apologise they lied and became president. Why do you think Clinton lied about his affair after that ?! After Bush lied about his drug use, he lied about WMD. What does THAT teach children ? "too honest" come on. What do you expect ?! Does CNN decide whether or not to be honest when it reports ?

He did the right thing politically, by disclosing his use of drugs. Otherwise, he'd be forced to conceal or lie. Still George Bush handled it the way any good parent would - don't deny but make the point that any detailing of the activity only gives young kids an excuse for their own mistakes. This is the way a parent should deal with it if it's their own kids asking. If I said to my kids what Obama said to that class, I'd never have the chance to properly raise my kids.

Ok, I don't want to bring up any questions but didn't our president have his own drug indiscretions and a DUI? I'm just saying … wait bad example we saw how things turned out. Maybe better let sleeping dogs …

Nope, Obama is not being too honest.

He's just taking some ammunition away from the Republicans, who were hoping to use it next year.

I think one would have to be on something in order to vote for Romney. Way to go, Mitt. Secrecy about drugs and your religion, makings of a true, yet disgraceful, politician. When you sweep everything under the rug, the bump only gets bigger!

Chris - how wonderful to be perfect and have no skeletons in your closet.

Dude we are all human, and all of us have done something(s) that we would love it if no one ever knew, but when you are running for president, you know it is going to come out, so you might as well give your version first!

He did the right thing, and smoking pot in your past is certainly not the worst thing you can do. Many people, especially military folks drink, and that concerns me more personally, while it is not illegal it certainly can affect judgement!

This whole pot argument is so old. I'm more worried about the legal drugs that people are taking.

who cares what he did in high school when you have politicians taking bribes, playing with little boys and cheating on their wives. I am more concerned with errors in judgement made as an adult rather as a college or high school student

Jimenez - Texas:

No, she's probably right. Remember, drugs just do not include pot, cocaine, crack, etc. They also include nicotine (ciggeretts/chewing tabacco), alchohol, and steriods. When you think of it in those terms, yes - most people have tried "drugs".

It is refreshing to see a political candidate speak with candor and honesty. I am a Lincoln Republican that is embarressed by the current disingenous rehtoric coming from both parties. We could all benefit from Mr. Obama's example. On this issue in particular, any child of the 60s and 70 that claims to have never experimented must be complete hippocrite or grew up in a bomb shelter.

I think Obama did the right thing. One thing people want to see from their leader is that they aren't riding some grand pedestal and portray themselves as I am holier than thou. Here, Obama has shown that he is just like the average person. I think that makes him more grounded and relatable. That is a quality that I think has been lacking from a lot of these candidates across the youth of our country.

Doing drugs in high school, especially in the 60s and 70s…I don't think is something really outside the norm and not really even condemnable. Obviously its is highly frowned upon these days, but I think Obama is trying to show that people make mistakes. No one is perfect and all you can do is learn from those mistakes. I think he is also showing people he has nothing to hide and trying to bring a shred of honesty to politics (as futile as that may be).

CNN This is Pathetic! This story has been on the air for 2 years now, force your LAZY Journalists to get off their butts and do some real reporting.

Way to go CNN. How many stupid posts will you do on this ridiculous subject? Just enough to plant a seed of doubt about his electability in peoples minds? You guys are a disgrace to journalism. How obvious can you make your pro-Clinton advocacy? Pathetic.

Chris in Atlanta:

Obama is not still high. That's not how drugs work. He wasn't capable of launching nuclear weapons in college. I'd like to think that if he were, he'd have made the right choice and stayed sober. Frankly, I don't want a President who can't relate to more than half of Americans. More importantly, I sure as hell don't want a candidate that is of the impression that there's something to be gained from lying to make yourself look better…even in the eyes of a child.

http://www.republicansforobama.org/?q=homepage

I am Ron Paul supporter, but other than Ron Paul this is the only other canididate that has told the truth. Thanks Obama. We have been lied to for so long and about so many things, no matter what the topic the truth is nice.

If Obama had not been open and honest about his past, someone else would have dug it up in order to use it against his campaign. His life experiences would have been exploited in a negative way; fortunately, he was smart enough to control his own personal business. People have a hard time with him because he is not the typical presidential candidate. Expect change with Obama as President. He is not status-quo!

So Obama's crime is being too honest? We all know that Clinton inhaled. Bush is an reformed alcoholic & former cocaine use.

I think Romney has revealed more about himself than Obama with his comment. Perhaps in Romney's world politicans hide the truth from their constituents. We are children.

After 7 year of Bush's lies, I find Obama's candor refreshing.

If the candidates won't tell the whole story, the press will dig it up, so it is best to just come clean with the whole truth and get it out and over with.

Besides, who under 60 these days is shocked by anybody's admission of experimenting with drugs at an early age? Let's quit trying to pretend that we live in a Norman Rockwell world!

Is cnn really questioning a politician for being too honest? That is unfortunate. And more unfortunate is that people may be upset with such honesty. Sounds refreshing to me.

There's no such thing as being TOO honest. I'm glad he admitted to it - if he had said otherwise, I'd know he was lying. Though I don't support him at this time, this whole honesty thing is making me start thinking about changing my mind. I'm thinking Edwards/Obama for sure.

Just to clear up any confusion on this issue, here is a quote from the latest survey by the Office of National Drug Control Policy: "According to the latest Monitoring the Future survey of nationwide youth drug use, more than 50 percent of high school students have used an illegal drug."

Additionally, one can safely assume that some people who refrained from using illegal drugs in High School will experiment for the first time in college. With that in mind, certainly a majority (more than 50%) of today's young adult population has used illegal drugs at some point in their lives.

I applaud Obama for being honest about his past. Making mistakes isn't something to be ashamed of, not learning from ones mistakes is…and after 8 years of dealing with a President who clearly doesn't learn from his mistakes (or even admit he makes mistakes in the first place) wouldn't that be a refreshing change?

We need more honesty in politics - period.

Consider…
1-Obama Barak is a Black man in America running for President. If he hadn't brought up his "youthful indiscretions," SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE.
2-The drug war we have spent so much time and money on has not led to anything but higher incidence of drug use and better product for users. It is time to be honest and start a dialogue with our kids.

Memo to CNN: This story has been sufficiently beaten to death. Please move on.

Good for him talking about this. Too many politicians aren't honest about this. By lying, all they accomplish is gaining distrust. By being honest, he has just won me over Hilary.

I agree that Obama was ingenius to let the cat out of the bag himself. He probably just thwarted a whole slue of swift boaters. HOWEVER, it was to the wrong audience. It justifies complacency more than it inspires those kids. Most kids who do drugs, don't rise above it.

Mitt Romney is an idiot….I can't say how glad I am he's no longer the governor of my state…I sure didn't vote for him.

I don't know too much about Barack Obama, but his open and honest comments will make me look at him a little closer.

A politician who speaks the truth…what a concept.

I admire Obama for his candor, but shudder to think about his past and the choices he has made.

For those of you who do not think past drug use is a big deal…let me put it to you this way: I am a military officer with access to nuclear weapons. Would you like to hear that I do, or have done drugs? Probably not! So why would you hold the ONE person with the legal authority to actually use those weapons (and hundreds more!) to lesser standard, and lesser accountability?

I tend to expect more from my current and future President. Even though I've been sorely disappointed over the past (few? many?) years, I still expect more. Not to preach here, but maybe you should too!

I have been a big supporter of Obama until fairly recently, as I learn more about him as a person. Although I will dance when an African American finally does gain the office, I will not lower my principles or standards to make sure just anyone does.

Right Annie from Miami, that was your epiphany and now you're an Obama fan. Uh huh.

Jiminez–Would you have not voted for George Washington if he would've admitted he chopped down his dad's cherry tree?

When did telling the truth become a bad thing? I'd prefer a negative truth to a positive lie any day of the week. Especially from our leaders.

How far has America fallen that we think our politicians lying to us is ok?

Why can't he tell the truth, we are fighting a 200 year war that was based on lies. None of the canidates are beyond fault, or as we say youthful indiscretions, many have blundered in full aldulthood. Rudy had a gangster(police chief)on payroll and knew it the,list goes on with all.

I for one found it refreshing. How many times do you see politicians tell the truth in such a straightforward way?

It lends credibility to what he's been saying all along that the people need a President who will be open and honest with them.

It makes you believe his "new kind of politics" is more than just a catch phrase.

I guess we need a president who did drugs and has foreign policy experience by virtue of living in a foreign country as a child. God bless.

One of the most frustrating parts of this ordeal is the double standard many people draw when it comes to legal substances versus illegal. Would this even be newsworthy if Obama told a tale of drinking three pots of coffee in one night while cramming for a final, or of having had a few pints more than once in college? Yes, Obama was speaking with a high school audience, and I certainly would never expect him to enthusiastically endorse marijuana smoking, but the stigma attached to his revelation is grossly disproportionate to its importance. Adults drink coffee. Adults drink vodka. Adults can use marijuana responsibly. Obama makes it sound like he plagiarized part of his senior thesis ("It's not something I'm proud of… It was a mistake as a young man.") When will reason enter the legalization/decriminalization debate on a national stage? It seems Obama's not the one to usher in that era.

It is best for a candidate to be completely honest and do what they can to present a true image of themselves, not a false image like many candidates do. We need to accept that our candidates are human and that they make mistakes, and more importantly that they have learned from their mistakes.

This is a stupid discussion. The headline might as well say: "Should Obama have lied?"
It is sad when it is politically incorrect to be honest about something politically incorrect!
People should take his statement as a sign of his character and honesty.
He admitted to it and admitted it was a bad decision. We all make bad choices, especially when we are young.
That should be the end of it. Making a mistake as a teenager does not mean he is any less qualified.
If anyone says they didn't do something stupid when they were teenagers they are probably high.

Barack Obama's comments on his drug use in high school are exactly why we need him in the White House. He'll give us a more complete "truth" than any long time Washington insider. There are lots of americans who will admire him for being honest and truthful.

If Romney is a typical mormon, than you can bet he's tried them all. As for Obama, I believe he just experimented in his youth whereas I'd bet pretty hard that Hillary and slick willie still are.

This would be a good time to start doing mandatory drug testing on our politicians, from Congressmen on up! Bet there would be a lot of empty parking places on Capital hill!!!

Why should we be worrying about what someone did when they were in high school? He doesn't do it now, and he admits it was a mistake. At least we know he's being honest.

Q: Was Obama too honest about drug use?

A: No. Next question.

We're criticizing candidates for being TOO HONEST?!?!? I think our country has hit a new political low. Either that or it could just be that the other candidates CAN'T be honest because then they'd have to admit that they are less than perfect….

I think it makes him a better role model to own up to the mistakes he made in his youth. In showing young people that they can be successful in spite of mistakes they may have made, he is offering them hope. I wouldn't want a dishonest, cover-it-up, don't talk about my mistakes kind of role model for my children.

Obama also smokes, which is a worse example and a very bad sign of an addictive personality. Combined with the drug use, I'd say he isn't presidential material.

I think there's a big difference between trying marijuana and sniffing cocaine. I find it reprehensible that we have elected a man who has had difficulties with addictions that have only been covered up and denied repeatedly. But there is a need to regulate information that is given to our children, particularly about the DANGERS of drugs. By dismissing previous drug use as "reckless" behavior, it minimizes the possibility of a fatal encounter with the drug. Furthermore, by saying that it was a passing part of his history it paints drug use as less addictive than it truly can be. The rates of drug use have been increasing every year and it is imperative that as a morally conscious nation we disclose the negative effects of drug use to our vulnerable progeny. Instead of using this information about Obama's past as a reason to praise him for his honesty and boost ratings with some individuals, how about he takes an initiative to try to increase education, prevention, and perhaps MOST importantly, the teaching of alternative coping strategies when times get tough. Good for him that he "turned down smack", because otherwise he probably wouldn't be as successful as he is. And he should be so thankful about his ability to quit an addiction and use that as an opportunity to teach others how, from where the strength came, and the difficulty in doing so. He also quit smoking before starting his presidential campaign kicked off… which to me means he replaced one addiction with another. One that he felt was important enough to address because we haven't had a smoking president in a long time, and he knows it would not be looked upon favorably by the people. So, congratulations and keep up the good work. But, don't try to depict this weakness as a strength of character.

Mitt's failure to want to be truthful, should say all you need to know about this candidate. We've had enough untruthfullness out of Washington. We don't need anymore.

I give Obama credit for his honesty. For too long, drug use has been demagogued by hypocritical politicians who have done the same or worse.

Plus, doing so inoculates Obama from some later expose set up by a political opponent who has been doing his oppositional research and given his "exclusive" to some compliant reporter from Drudge Report or some other media bottom feeder more concerned with "gotcha" gossip than serious issues.

How is this too honest? He simply admit to having experimented with drugs as a teenager and doesn't delve any deeper into the subject than he needs to. Besides, it's better to have a politician who's too honest than not honest enough, right?

What a horrendous question. Such a question shows why I have become so distrustful of our government. We've gone from a president who "could not tell a lie" to asking whether candidates are too honest. I applaud Obama for his honesty.

Am I one of only a few parents who have been seeing the latest drug prevention commercials encouraging open and candid conversations with your children? I understand we are their parents and not their friends but as a parent I think it is doing our kids a disservice by not encouraging open and honest communications.

I'd much rather have a candidate get up there and say, yes I did drugs in my youth, or yes, I drank before I was 21. I know that they are being honest and they are admitting that they are not perfect. No one is, so why pretend to be something that your not. If you do, it will only come back to haunt you later.

As someone who is just leaving the "youth" age of my life, I can report that most "youth" will drink before they are 21, and they will try some form of drugs before they leave college. It's not something we as a nation should be proud of, but it s a fact. Notice I said most, not all because not everyone does. For those who don't good for them.

But, I'd rather have a President who can admit that he might have made mistakes when he was younger, and use his mistakes to teach the next generation.

Clearly Obama knows nothing about how the CIA has been involved in (and now controls) the world drug trade since the 1950's.
Can you imagine if every dollar of drug money was suddenly purged from the world economy?
It would collapse overnight. Removing a source of liquid cash that size would destroy the world's financial markets.
Gee—-it's almost as if a wise (and evil) government should do its best to prevent such a thing from happening.
From Marseille to Corsica to Lebanon to Iran to Vietnam to Laos to Colombia to Panama to Mexico to Bolivia to Afghanistan to the United States—-the US government has done its level best to ensure that the world drug trade doesn't just exist—but flourishes.
Without it, there would be no economic prosperity of any kind.
Oh yeah—and it also helps to keep "undesirable" populations in their place, and also is a great source of off-the-books (non-Congressional) funds to use for overt and covert military operations.

Just ask George Bush, Sr., William Casey, Oliver North, Bill Clinton, Ted Shackley, William Colby, or anyone in the CIA or the Mob.

Alfred McCoy—where are you on this one?

Isn't there a candidate that did not do drugs? Can't we have a president without the past? This is United States of America, and to be a president of such a great country, one would think we would have better candidates.

Obama wasn't honest enough. He's pretending that smoking pot was a "big mistake," like all of these lying politicians.

I'll say it again: Tobacco and alcohol kill close to half a MILLION Americans a year.

All illegal drugs kill 10,000 Americans per year.

Pot has no legal dose.

It's time to move away from idiotic and stupid perception of pot, made up by your typical joyless far right winger.

Pot is good. Alcohol and tobacco are the killers.

Pull your collective heads out.

I respect Obama all the more for his candor. It makes me more likely to vote for him. Romney's response was typical.

I think it is refreshing to see a candidate be honest about any aspect of his life. I think Mitt Romney is a fool if he thinks it is better to lie about it and act like it never happened. Obama was not promoting his drug use as a great experience. He was saying it was a mistake and wasted time. But maybe Romney is right better to hide parts of your life that are not perfect until you get caught playing footsy with an undercover cop in the bathroom. It would be nice to see more honesty from our polititians.

Kudos, Obama for your honesty. Mitt Romney feels that you should not have revealed that information, but you did the right thing. For your honesty, you have my vote.

At least we can be certain Obama's camp did not PLANT that question unlike dishonest Clinton campaign…. uh.. I am as left as they come but I do not want to vote for her. She will be very very bad for this country.

Lie. Never admit it. Ever. There's no video. And hippie (and others) parents, your kids don't need to know either.

Ok I'm 37 average sucessful female American and have never smoked a cigarette, never done illegal drugs and never drank alcohol while underage. Why do people assume all Americans have some past experience with drug use ?

Does CNN actually pay any attention to these comments? WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT OBAMA'S DRUG EXPERIMENTATION WHEN HE WAS IN COLLEGE. What has happened to CNN? Why isn't there a story about poverty,health care,social security? CNN is turning into tabloid news, plain and simple.

Too honest? Refreshingly honest maybe? You make better decisions as you grow up, especially if you're going to consider becoming the country's leader. I would rather an honest candidate giving credence to his human condition than someone with a marked facade that may be revealed later.

I supposed what has people shocked is the fact that he was honest. Mitt Romney, Bill Clinton, etc. will never be found guilty of telling the truth.

How dare Obama?

This is America and we don't need him encouraging children to do drugs.

In fact, we need to take the 200 million plus people that use drugs (be it heroin, caffeine, nicotine, marijuana, they are all the same) and put them all in jail.

This is the land of the free and anyone who has even thought of doing a drug needs to be jailed.

We don't need blatant drug addicts, such as someone who once tried marijuana, running the country.

When you use drugs (or think about using them), the terrorists win.
Choose Jesus, not drugs.

It is absolutely absurd to say that admiting past drug use sends a message to children that its ok for 2 reasons:

1. Most children (and most adults) in this country are not paying any attention to the race and are not hearing ANY message.

2. By Romeny's rationale, it is better to send children the message that the best way to handle mistakes is to hide and ignore them. Sounds like the Bush doctrine. I for one think accountability for your actions is the most important lesson a child can learn.

I'm not voting for either Obama or Romney, though I do respect Obama that much more for admitting to his prior drug use. If anything he should be looked at as an example of where politics can go right. Why do we have to dig through piles and piles of garbage before we discover what a candidate truly stands for? How much longer do we have to be subjected to manipulation and deceit? I find it refreshing to have glimmer of sincerity once more in our politics. As a Republican, I can only hope my choices for a presidential candidate will stay true to themselves and be upfront about there past, as well as their current decisions in life.

People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election. -Otto Von Bismark-

It is about time someone running is honest about something..It is refreshing. Had Bush told us the truth about his drug use and we had known about the brain impairment that followed we would have been spared his presidency..

Should our politicians be honest?? CNN GO TO HELL!! We need a politican who says you know what I screwed up and I was wrong.. I was wrong to smoke al ittle pot while in high school but I was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT about not voting to give our president a free for all in Iraq and Afghanistan!!!

Pay attention the important issues CNN… honestly..ugh CNN is getting worse and worse.. I am thrilled NY Times is finally free online access…

I hope that some reporter will ask Hillary the same question. I would love to hear her answer (whether she ever used drugs). I know people that knew her back in the day, and they say she did.

Obama dropped 9% in the past 10 days:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008__1/daily_presidential_tracking_polling_history

So now the Obama supporters are very happy with CNN for all the news about him. Is CNN now for Obama? I think this network has been fair to all the candidates. Way to go CNN.

it's funny how they say not to get into their youthfull indiscretions, yet in the bid for presidency the opposition will use any chance to pounce on that fact and exploit it.. i say better be honest with the people, instead of ommitting details.. we will get another George W. by ommitting details.

Why doesn’t Mitt tell us the truth about why he strapped his dog on the roof of his car for a family drive? Why he thinks his 4 sons helping in his campaign for Presidency is equivalent to U.S. Soldiers putting their lives on the line for our country. Why he need to speak to his Lawyer before he as President would attack another country. We don’t care if he is a Mormon. We care if he’s a Moron though.

Funny how CNN will keep this as front pages news day after day, but there's never any mention of Clinton's many scandals..

"45% would be less likely to vote for a candidate who used drugs."

Yet these are the people who hang on every word utterred by OxyContin addict Rush Limbaugh……

Great Job! Osama, Orlando, MI :
It is ridiculous to say that most of our youths use drugs.
The bottom line is that Obama has lots of personal character flaws: drinking, goofing off and taking drugs in high school, lazy and stinky at home, chain smoker, and telling lies that his foreign relation experience was from years in indonesia when young.
America does not need Obama as a leader. He has failed our youths as a role model.
No one is upset that Obama chose to share this. We are just speaking our minds just like the rest of you are. This is America and we do have freedom of speech.

I think the message is to be honest. Youths will see right through you if someone is trying to sugarcoat it.

The message was that…no…it is not cool and it gets you nowhere. Rather than duck and hide like Mitt and George W.

Bush simply took the easy way out saying I refuse to talk about (cocaine?) use in the past. It implies that he probably did use illegal drugs.

Obama sets an unprecented benchmark for public officials to show transparency in their opinions and what they believe. It is actually inspiring to hear how he turned his life around.

you know what happend to america when you voted for a guy who boasted that a "C" average was good enough to be a president-GWB, and now you want to vote for a guy who says it is ok to do drugs and still can be a president- BHO…nice people nice bring down america. JFK must be rolling over his grave.

Mitt, what have YOU go to hide???

The Kennedy curse has effected the America people too. Greed and politics, the culture of corruption..

Let the chips fall where they may. Bush made it into office twice…he admitted he used alcohol and coke. Clinton was in for two as well…and he smoked pot…but of course "didn't inhale". If they've got what it takes it won't matter. If they don't they're fair game. Freedom of speech and opinion (so far) is still free.

how about focusing on "youthful indescretions" we focus on THE FUTURE… are their stories of some drug experimentation really going to impact the way our next president handles foreign affairs or our next national budget?

Couldn't agree more! Borat Osama, Orlando, MI: November 27, 2007 2:00 pm:
It is ridiculous to say that most of our youths use drugs.

The bottom line is that Obama has lots of personal character flaws: drinking, goofing off and taking drugs in high school, lazy and stinky at home, chain smoker, and telling lies that his foreign relation experience was from years in indonesia when young.

America does not need Obama as a leader. He has failed our youths as a role model.

Lance from Monrovia, CA….

You're the man! I couldn't have said it any better! Awesome dude!

That second paragraph you wrote should be in the Democratic TV ads throughout the general election! Send that to the Democratic National Committee.

Mitt is Mr. Perfect. Perfect hair, perfect speech, perfect jacket, perfect children, perfect in every way.

Talk about a mannequin. Mitt is the Mannequin man. What a flip floping joker.

Let us all go around and lie to our chilidren because if we tell the truth our children will all become terrorists.

What a bunch of backward thinking idiots.

Obama's truthful admission about his "youthful indiscretions" sure knocked the boots off any candidate that planned to use it against him. Obama is letting everyone know he has nothing to hide and admits he is not proud of his indiscretions. Now all the candidates need to "ante" up because inquiring minds need to know and will find out.

Elli from St. Louis,

Right on, dude! What a great, succinct and educated post. Too bad most of the people on this board won't have a clue as to what you're saying.

Keep it up, though, it's nice to hear from educated/sensible people on these posts.

Mitt can I you say getting endorsements from a brothel is wrong…..OOOh wait, that is non News!

I think the thing Jimenez and other who are upset about Obama talking about this is the fact that he didn't just start "bragging" about his past drug use, he responded to an audience member's question about his drug use. He is also in no way advocating that children go out and use drugs - he's telling them the exact opposite.

We need more honest and open people like Barack running for office.

Mitt, can you be honest on what happened in massachusetts when you were a governor there? Just out of curiousity. We are adults not kids, you don't have to worry about being honest here!

It’s sad that politics has gotten so bad that we even have to ask if it is OK for a politician to be honest. We should expect this kind of honesty from our leaders. To Jimenez in Texas; are you saying you would rather vote for someone who lies to you than someone who admitted to smoking pot 25 years ago (and by the way also admitted that it was a mistake)? Because that is basically Romney’s position; either he has never smoked pot or he’s is telling us it’s OK for him to lie about it if he did. I personally have had enough liars in the White House the last 30 years and find Obama’s candor refreshing. If you can so easily lie about smoking pot you can also easily lie about 'having sex with that woman' or 'weapons of mass destruction'. Lying is a slippery slope.

Anyone who really thinks today’s high school kids are so naïve that they will “experiment” with illegal drugs because Barak Obama did when he was their age is either oblivious to the world around them or hasn’t been around a teenager since the 50’s.

"We don't tell our children everything and for good reason. We are their role models."

With everything that children see and hear on television and the internet, adults, especially parents, need to tell - more specifically EXPLAIN and SHARE experiences and LESSONS LEARNED…to children. Where should children hear it from? Adults and parents they (hopefully) respect and look to for the truth? Or should they hear it from their friends? Television? The internet?

How does it logically make sense to say that children shouldn't be told everything because adults are role models? By following this argument, the "role models", who would have not heard "everything" when they were younger, would not be the wisest people to listen to because adults didn't tell them everything. A person who claims to be a role model may be nothing more than a firm believer of "Do As I Say, Not As I Do."

This is not the Stone Age. Children know much more than many people think or wish to believe. It's about time adults took their responsibility to children, especially to their own, with the utmost seriousness. If you believe children should only hear, see or learn things when they are "older", you are many, many years too late to help them become the most mature, responsible and productive members of society.

Drug use—whether an indiscretion or not, and whether anyone on this board cares to admit it or not— is part of our American fabric. If we expect candidates to lie about drug use before assuming the role of President, what could we expect to gain from their lies once they do assume that role? You may not want to hear about these issues, but it is the candidates perogative to choose to discuss them or leave it off the table. If you don't like the topic at hand, change the channel and vote for someone else.

I'm so tired of every argument being trumped by "it's for the children." We're practically a kinderocracy. Children don't vote for presidents and presidents aren't children. Given the ubiquity of marijuana I would be more skeptical of a candidate who had never tried it (after assuming first that he was lying).

How about we stop trying to protect children from reality and tell them the truth for once. Santa Claus isn't real and marijuana isn't bad for you.

I read on all the message boards…."all we want is for our politicians to be honest with us"

Obama is being honest with us…..are you going to crucify him for it? if so, don't ever expect a politician to be honest with you again.

"45% would be less likely to vote for a candidate who used drugs." Most people know that a bunch of candidates have done drugs, Obama is the only one brave enough to admit that he that mistake.

Too Honest? That is pathetic that anyone would consider that to be a flaw.

This dude is scary! lol He talks about wire tapping muslim mosques and killing and bombing anyone in our way! And now he's talking about lying to our kids? Im confused why not tell them let them know you've been there and understand and then tell them that its wrong! We were kids once right not robots

"We don't tell our children everthing and for good reason. We are their role models."

What? So telling your kids that it's ok to admit when you made a mistake is a bad thing? I am not a fan of ANY of the candidates, but I can respect having the strength of character it takes to stand before the entire nation (really the whole world) and admit such a mistake.

How many people never smoked a cigarette while under age, never took a drink while under age, never experimented with other, harder drugs? Making mistakes is how we learn, provided we are willing to face our actions and admit them for what they are.

Let's think back to a different age, when parents were respected by children for keeping them safe from things they just didn't need to know. A time when people may have done occasional drugs, but didn't blather on about it. Today's parents with their complete and brutal honesty sure have produced a stellar crop of young people. (insert sarcasm here, for those who don't get it) American children are among the poorest performers in school in the world, have a sense of entitlement that is absolutely remarkable and are more violent than ever before in history. Nice job, folks.

How can you be TOO honest?!?
The guy is right on….

That's OK, Jimenez. Keep thinking that way. I just happen to side with Monica on this one.

I fail to understand why illegal substances are demonized when we have so many people in this country popping pills for depression. Why? Because they can't deal with the ordinary setbacks of life without a "mother's little helper."

Just because it's legal doesn't make it moral. Just because it's illegal doesn't make it immoral. Laws are made by men — powerful men with special interests in keeping things the way they want them to be.

Obama seemed to be bragging about his use of drugs to attract young voters, i think it was a bad idea to bring it up the way he did. he could have said he used drugs and regretted it, but not the way he did it. we don't want to make it seem like drugs are ok. see i am doing great now.

We should be thrilled to have a candidate that is honest and forth coming with his past mistakes. I think he stated his comments appropriately for that specific crowd. Every role model has past mistakes, it's when we put people on a perfect pedestal that they fall…and fall hard.

Nice to know the morals of a presidential canditate is that of a crack head on the street. Great black role model sneaking around the corner to buy a 50cent piece or a 1/4 ounce bag. Well I guess if he is elected by you idiots, he won't have far to score living in D.C.

he puffed and passed it to the left hand side! lol. so what's the big deal? he was young and stupid and learnt from his mistakes. no man or woman is perfect…except Jesus, Muhammad and the Dalai Lama.

The rest of the Dems must be great candidates, not a one of them is saying much about Obama's use of drugs. Maybe they just don't want to have to give any answer? Maybe Hillary is waiting on the polling before getting involved.

America will only get better, I wonder why you guys can't see this.

Put the Clintons back in the white house and we'll make more 'adult movies' starring mr. Bill!

Put the republicans back and we'll go around the world and mess with more people like we are doing in Iraq

put Obama and we'll work hard and if we 'feel real tense', we'll just 'smoke that joint'..just one or two!
Its a win-win situation folks!

I applaud his candor and honesty and I look forward to seeing more of it in Washington - If Mitt has a problem with it, then I have aproblem with Mitt

Obama deffinetly catches my attention and has my respect far more than Hillary does now a days. I would rather have a "normal" American in office than a religious puppet in office. A normal person in office? HA who would have thought that would ever come to be. The bad side is that now that things are out on the table people will not fabricate things just to make it juicy. I'm 32 and this is my first year voting and getting involved in politics. This country is taking a sad turn in my book.. Good luck Obama.

Obama honest? Let's get real. Oh maybe we should just ask Oprah?

How is this remaining a story? CNN is obviously for clinton. They are so desperate and pathetic that they have to keep trudging up month old stories to try to make obama look bad. God forbid someone is honest in politics.

Shame on CNN

Isn't it nice to hear a candidate talk honestly about mistakes of his/her past? How refreshing!
We as voters need to be mature in how we view, and judge, these candidates. They are not gods or godesses–they are human beings.
Thank you, Sen. Obama, for being honest.

Jimenez - The point is not, 'He tried drugs' BAD BOY! No Presidency for you! The point is he is HONEST about it, and you have yet another Republican advocating LYING.

People make mistakes, heck, our COUNTRY makes mistakes, we elected Bush not once, but TWICE! I'd rather have someone able to admit his faults, and express how he learned from them, rather than lie about it as Bush and Romney have done/advocated. Aren't you tired of your government lying to you yet?

And to be frank, we should recognize the futility and lack of accomplishment in the 'War on Drugs'. Every year, the government crows over and over about how well it's doing, yet drugs are EASILY accessible to this day! The 'War' is UNWINNABLE, and the past 4 decades of it should prove it to you, if your mind is open enough to even consider it.

It's about time we recognize that prohibition doesn't work, and excoriating anyone who even considers it doesn't help the situation! Drug abuse is bad, yes, drug USE is not necessarily so (though the ONDCP would have you believe they are one in the same).

People who drink a little, not too bad, people who drink a lot, bad behavior, driving, violence etc. BAD.

Drug USE is VERY different from ABUSE. People can learn from both. Maybe even those with closed minds can learn something too.

A lot of people are saying that we should not tell our children everything, and that we are supposed to be a good role model for them. But what is a good role model? Somebody who lies? Obama was asked a question and he was honest about it. Everybody makes mistakes, and it will do no service to our children to just lie and act like those things never happened. Obama is setting an example of honesty, as well as one of learning and moving forward from his mistakes. I personally do not think he could have addressed the issue with any more poise and class than he did, regardless of the subject matter.

Mitt is getting nervous Parker craig is being told the truth about drug use in America. Relax mitt, gay marriage is real in America and legalized it in massachusetts. Or should we call this politics? ooooh, then Obama is playing good politics too of honest. What was the point of using the drugs anyway if wasn't not to inhale and find out how it would be like? Anyway, good luck with flip flop!
Go Obama!

It's nice to see that the Obama campaign folks are out in force, posting for their man. Keep up the good work!

So, only uncool kids can grow up to be President?

I find it disturbing people think most American have done drugs. In fact I am average and I can honestly say that less the 10% of the people I know well have done them.

I expect more from my leaders. I will not vote for obama, not just becuase of this, this is just one more thing to add to the list. I don't want my children thinking it is ok to use drugs because everyone else has (even the president) and you can always fix your mistakes later. No thank you.

And another thing, it's pretty curious that the Republican party is the party that says they shouldn't talk about drugs or about anything like that, and yet it's also the party that is continually engaged in scandals of repression.

My advice Mitt, would be to take your dog down off the ski rack on your car, stay out of bathroom stalls at airports like Craig, stay away from House pages like Foley, stay away from drugs and hookers unlike Haggard and Vicker, stay away from the mob connections unlike Guiliani, and generally do something that will get rid of some of that Mormon repression you've been enduring for so long.

Y'know, there really is a reason that Salt Lake City has the highest suicide rate in the country. There's also a reason that Salt Lake City also has the highest per capita of mail order porn products.

That's the funny thing about repression, is that it comes out in very wierd ways. Like how Guiliani likes to wear a dress…

I wonder what you're release is Mitt?

What a change from Bill Clinton? Isn't it possible that Clinton, like Obama, was telling the truth?