Today we heard the bizarre story of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who was allegedly videotaped smoking crack with some Somali drug dealers while he was obviously supposed to be doing mayor things…whatever that is.
Yeah, dude went no-holds barred.
And while the conservative politician, who by some accounts is a “racist,” denied the allegations, numerous sources from the Toronto Star and Gawker confirmed that the tape they viewed was actually Ford.
Looks like this public official is in some hot water.
So that got us to thinking…what other politicians have been caught or admitted to drug use?
The list is unfortunately, hilariously, and surprisingly pretty long:
Bill Clinton:
The former president famously admitted in 1992 to trying marijuana while he was attending Oxford University. But, he claims he didn’t like it. And we all remember that infamous quote: “I didn’t inhale it…” Sure you didn’t Bill!
Marion Barry:
Arguably the most infamous on this list is former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, who was arrested back in 1991 on charges of possession of cocaine. He’s even been called a “compulsive user of cocaine.” Well, D.C. residents weren’t fazed, because dude was re-elected into office in 1994, but that didn’t do much to quell his addiction. In 2005, Barry pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges stemming from an IRS investigation. The mandatory drug testing for the hearing showed Barry as being positive for cocaine and marijuana. I won’t even mention Barry’s sexual and tax scandals here. Doesn’t matter…he’s still considered D.C’s “Mayor For Life.”
President Barack Obama:
OK, it wasn’t crack, but it was marijuana and he did “inhale often.” And some reports even say that Obama experimented with cocaine in his college days. Early in his political career, the now president decided to let it all hang out and tell the truth about his past drug use. “When I was a kid, I inhaled often, that was the point.”
Michael Bloomberg:
Got the munchies? Seems like a guy concerned about the effects of second-hand smoke and large, sugary drinks would have a clean record, but New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has admitted that he was a little wild back in the day. He admitted in 2002 that he had, in fact, smoked some weed in his past. Actually, his answer to the nosey reporter was this: “You bet I did. And I enjoyed it.” Been trill…
David Paterson
Former governor of New York, David Paterson, admitted to the media that he smoked weed when he was younger and even used cocaine in his early 20s. Paterson was clearly young, wild and free…but seems like all of the politicians on this list were.
Sarah Palin:
The gun-toting, moose-hunting, Alaskan politician and former vice presidential candidate is quoted as saying that she too smoked marijuana, but she followed that confession by saying she couldn’t “claim a Bill Clinton” by saying she never inhaled. Well, damn!
Clarence Thomas:
Back in 1991, a White House spokesman said that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had smoked marijuana several times in college. Does that mean regularly? Or sporadically?
George Bush:
You know we couldn’t leave Dubya out! The former U.S. president is infamous for beating around the bush (no pun intended) when asked about his former party boy ways and cocaine use, but he always replies with an answer like “I’ve made mistakes” or “We had some pretty wild parties back in the day, and I just don’t remember.” There are even allegations that Bush had been arrested for cocaine possession in 1972 and that his father pulled strings to have records of the arrest expunged. Not surprising.
Al Gore:
The former vice president and climate change activist did admit that he smoked marijuana, however, he said that his use was “infrequent and rare.” If it’s bad for the environment, he’s clearly not about that life.
Arnold Schwarzenegger:
The Terminator and former California governor is actually smoking weed in the 1977 documentary “Pumping Iron.” It’s probably one of the few times you’ll see a politician actually using drugs on camera. Well…before Rob Ford came along…
