McCain surrogate raises Obama's past drug use
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/09/art.keating.agi.jpg caption="Keating is a McCain campaign co-chair."](CNN) - A prominent surrogate for John McCain on Thursday raised Barack Obama's admitted cocaine use as a teenager and said the Illinois senator should speak candidly about it to the American people.
Speaking to Dennis Miller, a comedian and conservative radio talk show host, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating said Obama should be more forthright about his background and what he called his "very extreme" record.
"He ought to admit, ‘You know, I've got to be honest with you. I was a guy of the street. I was way to the left. I used cocaine. I voted liberally, but I'm back at the center,'" Keating, a co-chair of McCain’s campaign, said Obama should tell voters. "I mean, I understand the big picture of America. But he hasn't done that."
An aide to John McCain said Keating was not directed by the campaign to make the comments.
"We didn’t ask him to do it,” the aide said. “He didn’t clear it with us, but obviously he’s read Senator Obama’s books.”
The Obama campaign has not responded to the comments.
The remarks ring similar to comments made by prominent New Hampshire Democrat Bill Shaheen, a Hillary Clinton supporter, during the primary. Shaheen predicted in December that Obama’s drug past would be a major Republican talking point if her were the Democratic nominee. He later apologized for the comments, but stepped down from his role in the Clinton campaign. Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson, another Hillary Clinton backer, also had to apologize after making overt references to Obama's drug use at campaign rally in South Carolina.
In Obama's 1995 book Dreams of My Father, he writes that he was once headed in the direction of a "junkie" and a "pothead. Referring to his emotional struggles as a young man, Obama writes, "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though."
Obama did speak during his primary campaign about his past experimentation with drugs and alcohol in high school.
"I made some bad decisions that I've actually written about," he told New Hampshire high school students last November. "There were times when I, you know, got into drinking, experimented with drugs. There was a whole stretch of time where I didn't really apply myself a lot."
The more you guys continue to talk about these issues you are gonna lose. Americans please don't be fooled these supporters who are asking these questions have already done well for themselves, they are not feeling the pressure like me and you McCain needs to start talking about what matters to me, I will bet you that he will lose if he can't tell me what he is going to do for this country.
Desperation has set in for the Republicans. The fact that Obama wrote openly about his teenage drug experimentation only makes him more of a real human person to whom many can relate. The only people who would profess to care about this as an issue in the election are the tiny-minded minorty of Ultra Right Christian Conservatives - many of whom, as we've seen, are hypocrite.
so disgusting. They don't want to talk about the issues. They admit they don't want to talk about the issues. 100% of their television ads are NEGATIVE ads. 1/3 of Obama's television ad's are negative ads.
people that support McCain/Palin should be ashamed of themselves. This much negativity is NOT what this country needs. Have you seen the type of people they are attracting at their rally's? People screaming disqusting foul language about Obama and McCain/Palin is saying absolutely nothing about it.
DESPICABLE!
I think Obama did talk to the American people when he wrote about his drug use in his book which is available at almost every bookstore all across the country! The McCain camp is very obviously getting really nervous now that sophomore comments like this are being made. Geez...
Is this guy kidding? Is this what these morons resort to when they know it is a lost cause for the republican party? I wonder what this jerk has in his skeleton closet. Actually I really don't want to know, I am sure he is as pathetic as any other jerk with blatant double standards. Why does the press continue to dignify this junk by giving it a voice? Wow, McCain's posse is just exemplary in their vaccuous ineptitudes.
Uh....I think he has talked about it openly. I don't think you write about your drug and alcohol use in a best selling book and expect it to be a secret. McCain is really getting desperate now. Obama has been fully vetted during the primaries. This has all been covered and re-covered. If it were an issue with the American people, Senator Obama would not be the democratic nominee.
Its about nightfall now for the McCain campaign and the the sewer rats are emerging attempting to nip at our intelligence. I want to say this once: ITS THE ECONOMY STUPID!!!!
Good lord! Perhaps he should flagellate himself in the public square. He was stupid and young AND HE HAS ADMITTED IT! I read the books also but apparently I understood them. Someone should explain to Mr. Co-Chair that these books are what honesty looks like. If I had the behavior and academic record of Johnnie-Boy, I would tell anyone speaking of my opponent's youth to shut up! I'd say Mr. McCain fits into the definition of reckless better than maverick.
old man mcsame is desparate. he will do anything to win. they are telling out and out lies about PRESIDENT OBAMA. mcsame doesnt have any ideas for the economy, health care or anything else. it is so very sad. desperate old man.
Former Governor Keating, did you request an investigation into Sarah Palin's background? It seems the officials is Alaska are dragging their feet. Of course you didn't. Sarah Palin would never do the things she's been accused of. The way I see it, it's black and white.
Wow, they are real desperate now. Seems they're gonna go out fighting. Only 26 days till Mcshame goes away.
Non issue... not worth a response.
Obama’s past drug use has really nothing to do with the current campaign. McCain’s campaign should not bring up events during Obama’s teen years. His drug use can be understandable because his father had died and he didn’t know what to do. Another possibility is that McCain has done drugs himself. After all he did serve in Vietnam and no offense to any veterans but there were lots of drugs floating around over there. Even my dad experienced it during his service. All I’m saying is that it wouldn’t be hard to believe that McCain has done some experimenting of his own.
It is difficult to watch the news anymore. I'm freaking out about the market and what is happening to my retirement which was already little as it is and these idiots are going off about smears on Obama's characters. All respect that I had for McCain is out of here.
I wonder if he inhaled?
This is getting totally ridiculous..............Why is it that the Republicans are always the mudslingers, while the Democrats stay on the subject at hand.......all of this crap McCain is bringing up has nothing to do with the election.......the way a person is today........he is desperate........he knows he's losing the race........what better way to go out........do a little mudslinging......like a spoiled brat child.......throw a tantrum McCain......you and that thing who you have as a sidekick........you both have eyes of an insane person........nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs...........people are tired of your antics.........believe me.
We have big economic problems. Why is the GOP focusing on 40 years ago and not the last eight years? What hypocrisy from the Mccain camp.
He was a friggin teenager, get over it. We all made stup!d mistakes at some point in our youth..... some are old and STILL are!
Keating ??????
McCain is sleaze king. His sidekick is an empty brain that can be programmed with a smile. It's so depressing for a person like me who wants to vote Republican. I'm a conservative, but I have no choice but to vote Obama. He's the conservative, reasonable force of our times–strange but true. j.Day
A DROWNING MAN CLUTCHES AT A STRAW. HOW MUCH DESPERATE YOU REPUGBLICANS WANT TO LOOK? OBAMA WILL BE THE PRESIDENT WETHER YOU VOTE FOR HIM OR NOT.
Why are all of you shocked. This is a non-starter. Lets see, stock market down 678 POINTS!!!!!! People are losing their a–es and the Republicans talk about OLD NEWS WHICH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED. November 4th can't come too quick to put the Republicans in the minority and we can finally address the huge problems we have.
Yeah, I guess he should come clean just like George W. Bush did. Stoooopid hypocrite.
Another non-issue that has absolutely nothing to do with my life or the prosperity of my family, just like the silly "60's radical" nonsense the McCain campaign has been pushing...noticably absent from all McCain's negative campaign rhetoric is any reason why the voters should want to support any of his issues or positions, or why we should believe that he or his perky sidekick should be considered to lead the country.
"The other guy is a ...(fill in the blank)"...just aint getting it, as the polls clearly show.
THEY ALL SMOKED A BIT AND DRANK A LOT.
BUT ONLY OBAMA HAS WRITTEN A BOOK IN WHICH HE BOLDLY TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE EXPERIENCES.
THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO TALK ABOUT MR. KEATING.
I READ THE BOOK AND SO DID YOU. SO WHATS THERE TO TALK?