cannabisnews.com: Drug Czar Visits ABQ, Attacks Governor’s Drug Plan





Drug Czar Visits ABQ, Attacks Governor’s Drug Plan
Posted by FoM on October 07, 1999 at 17:38:18 PT
McCaffrey calls Johnsons legalization plan 
Source: MSNBC
Albuquerque has become the latest battlefield for the nation’s war on drugs. President Clinton’s appointed Drug Czar, General Barry McCaffrey, was in Albuquerque on a mission to counteract the governor’s stance on legalizing drugs.
   McCaffrey arrived late Thursday afternoon the the Crown Plaza Hotel where he spoke to the Del Sol Rotary Club. He met resistance from members of the Delta Nine Coalition and other organizations, who held signs and chanted in favor of legalization. The protestors say the war on drugs is not working.  “The drug war is a war on the poor,” chanted some protestors.  Protestors interrupted McCaffrey in the middle of his speech, but McCaffrey continued with his agenda. Protestors demonstrated in support of the governor's plan.     “Let me just say this. I think it’s legitimate to debate, the role of drugs in society,” said McCaffrey.  Audience members asked questions about his support of the war on drugs.  “How can you justify waging a multi-million dollar misinformation campaign to criminalize and dehumanize productive and peaceful citizens such as myself,” asked one man who uses marijuana for medical reasons.  McCaffrey unveiled part of an upcoming media campaign aimed at keeping kids away from drugs then left. Before leaving, McCaffrey told the crowd the u-s is making a difference on the war on drugs. He highlighted statistics that show drug use over the last 15 years is down, particularly among adolescents.  McCaffrey also spoke about the governor’s plan early Thursday morning before the debate.  “It’s sort of a goofy proposition. You have kids in this state calling him Puff Daddy Johnson,” said McCaffrey.  For the moment, McCaffrey is Washington’s weapon in the growing national war of words that Governor Gary Johnson has ignited in his quest to legalize drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin.  In the past few weeks Johnson has made speeches around the country about his proposition. He admits to drug use in college, advocates the legalization of all drugs and calls the nation’s war on drugs a “miserable failure”. Just days ago, Johnson made public his belief that most people in America are responsible drug users.  McCaffrey calls Johnson’s message irresponsible in light of the fact Johnson represents a state that has the highest rate of heroin overdose in the nation. He also says the problem has worsened since Johnson was elected.  “The problem with these drugs isn’t that they’re illegal. They’re destructive on a person’s physical, mental and spiritual development. People on heroin can’t work, they’re HIV positive, they have hepatitis,” said McCaffrey.  McCaffrey refutes the claim that our drug war is a failure, and says he was not in Albuquerque to confront Johnson, but to help repair the damage caused by Johnson.  “Personally, I think he ought to be ashamed of himself,” said McCaffrey.  Governor’s reaction  Governor Johnson isn’t upset with McCaffrey calling his proposition “goofy”. Johnson says he has no plans to change his tune in his campaign for drug legalization.  “If by saying ‘Puff Daddy’ he’s bringing attention, which he is, to this issue, thank you General McCaffrey,” said Johnson.Published: October 7, 1999http://www.msnbc.com/local/KOB/default.aspDrug Chief Hits a Governor's Call for Legalization-10/06/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3165.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #9 posted by kaptinemo on October 08, 1999 at 16:57:48 PT
Modern Parallels between US and Nazi Germany
The Nazi's would have smiled on McCaffrey.The top Nazi propagandist, Joseph Goebbels, used exactly the same kind of tactics; if you can't refute the argument with factual information (particularly when a study you had commissioned yourself, in hopes of vindicating you, turns out to destroy all your cherished misconceptions about cannabis) then resort to name calling.Preferably, from afar. It saves you from getting a bloody nose for your insults.But time is running out, General. There is a doom upon you, and it is called the Internet. With the enormous amount of factual information at everyone's fingertips, your lies tend to shrivel up and die, out here. 
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 08, 1999 at 11:07:22 PT
Unbelievable Vocabulary!
Is calling a Governor "Puff Daddy" and "Goofy" all the better expressions Drug Czar McCaffrey has to use? How much do we pay him if that is the best argument he has?Yes, and Medical marijuana is a "Hoax"! He just slapped his own IOM report in the face!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 08, 1999 at 10:58:45 PT
Great Links!
Great Links! I think I'll stop looking for news for a little while and do some reading! Thanks!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #6 posted by Alexandre Oeming on October 08, 1999 at 10:37:16 PT:
"Puff" on this!
>“If by saying ‘Puff Daddy’ he’s bringing attention, which >he is, to this issue, thank you General McCaffrey,” said >Johnson.I couldn't have put it better myself. If McCzar keeps flapping his trap, he's gonna end the WOsD all by himself! I love it!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #5 posted by Thomas on October 08, 1999 at 08:01:43 PT
Propaganda
The point made by Observer is so true. The more I become familiar with propaganda techniques, the more I realize the extent to which the government uses these them. thier entire approach to "educating" the public could be used as a framework for writing a manual on propaganda. Name calling, as in this article, serves to reduce credibility and therefore undermine the message. McCaffrey uses this techniques consistently.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #4 posted by observer on October 07, 1999 at 19:40:52 PT
more propaganda from czar
> “It’s sort of a goofy proposition. You have kids in > this state calling him Puff Daddy Johnson,” said> McCaffrey.Propaganda technique .... name calling. (more on name calling here http://carmen.artsci.washington.edu/Propaganda/name.htm )For more on Barry McCaffery's legandary relationship with the truth, see http://www.marijuananews.com/drug_czar_lies_about_the_dutch_a.htmhttp://www.csdp.org/ads/pinocchio.htmhttp://www.csdp.org/ads/troubled.htmhttp://www.csdp.org/ads/media.htmetc.
Pinocchio McCaffrey Drawing prepared by John Wilson
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on October 07, 1999 at 18:48:18 PT
Worse than a coward
Doc, this man is worse than a coward. He is the most dangerous kind of hypocrite; the kind with power behind him. He knows full well that Johnson could beat the pants off of him in a debate. But Johnson was in Washington this week. McCaffrey's office is not more than a few blocks away from where Johnson and other reformers were having a symposium. If he truly wanted a debate, he had the most golden opportunity he could ever have had, and C-Span would have covered it for free. But it is obvious to anyone that he is petrified at the possibility of having his lies publicaly challenged in a forum he doesn't control. This is what military men and politicians mean when they say they have 'learned the lessons from Vietnam'... never have a free and open debate where the Press might be able to asking biting questions. Control access to your spokesmen, control access to information, and you win the war. IT'S CALLED CENSORSHIP.So, to avoid even the remotest possibility that Johnson might make him look like a fool (no worry there, the man does a credible job without anyone's help) he flew thousands of miles away, at taxpayers expense, to Johnson's own backyard, and bad-mouths him there.That requires real courage... NOT!McCaffrey knows that what he is saying is 90% lies. He knows that in the only country with the good sense to tolerate cannabis, the Netherlands, the murder rate is well below half of ours, but he was able to lie about it being higher and get away with it, and insult a loyal ally of the United States, to boot. He knows the truth... but he lies because the job requires it. He is a hypocrite with power.So was Joseph Goebbels. 
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #2 posted by Chris Knestrick on October 07, 1999 at 17:55:01 PT:
HIV!!!! 
People on heroin have HIV?!?!?!?!?!? The sick M.F. - he's theone who doesn't approve of needle exchange programs!!!!!!!! How do people buy his crap?!?!?
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #1 posted by Doc-Hawk on October 07, 1999 at 17:44:30 PT:
Cowardice
McCaffrey says "Let me just say this. I think it’s legitimate to debate, the role of drugs in society," but he WILL NOT debate the issues. Sounds like a three star, propaganda spewing, coward to me.
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: