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Joseph Lieberman on Drugs
Democratic Jr Senator (CT, retiring 2012), ran for V.P. with Gore, ran for president 2004
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Apologizes for never having smoked marijuana
At the “Rock the Vote” debate, the moderator inevitably asked,. “Which of you are ready to admit to having used marijuana in the past?”“Yes,” said John Kerry, leading off. “Yes,” said John Edwards . “Yes,” said Howard Dean.
None of these three baby-boomer candidates said anything beyond their short, declarative affirmations. None followed with a hurried explanation that it was just a few times, that it was some kind of “youthful indiscretion,” or that he didn’t inhale.
The implication of their answers seemed to be, “Yeah, so what?”
In fact, the defensive answers tended to come from those replying in the negative. “No,” said Dennis Kucinich. “But I think it ought to be decriminalized.”
“I grew up in the church,”
said Al Sharpton. “We didn’t believe in that.”
“I have a reputation for giving unpopular answers,” said Joe Lieberman. “I never used marijuana. Sorry!”
In the next day’s news coverage, the admissions of marijuana smoking were largely ignored.
Source: [X-ref Kerry] Steven Holmes, NY Times
, Nov 9, 2003
Increased penalties for drug offenses
Lieberman’s voting record on drug-related issues:- Voted YES to increase penalties on certain drug-related crimes. (S.625 11/10/1999)
- Vote IN FAVOR of an amendment that would increase funding for state juvenile court systems and
establish juvenile drug courts. (S.254, 5/12/1999)
- Vote YES to authorize funds for anti-drug programs and would prohibit federal funding of needle exchange programs. (S.1415 6/9/1998)
Source: Vote-smart.org “Voting Record”
, Nov 10, 1999
Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses.
Vote to increase penalties on certain drug-related crimes. The amendment would specifically target the manufacturing or trafficking of amphetamines & methamphetamines and possession of powder cocaine, and set stronger penalties for dealing drugs
Reference:
Bill S.625
; vote number 1999-360
on Nov 10, 1999
Voted NO on spending international development funds on drug control.
Vote to add an additional $53 million (raising the total to $213 million) to international narcotics control funding, and pay for it by taking $25 million from international operations funding and $28 million from development assistance.
Reference:
Bill HR 3540
; vote number 1996-244
on Jul 25, 1996
Page last updated: Aug 08, 2014