cannabisnews.com: If Jenna Bush is a Pothead, Is It News? If Jenna Bush is a Pothead, Is It News? Posted by FoM on March 23, 2001 at 12:46:39 PT Commentary By James Pinkerton Source: Salon.com The media has been silent about the National Enquirer's recent allegation that the first daughter is a marijuana user. Is the press giving the drug war's commander in chief a break? Should Jenna Bush, the 19-year-old daughter of the president, be in jail? Or at least be arrested? That's a conclusion to be drawn from a recent report in the National Enquirer that asserts she smokes marijuana. After all, some 600,000 Americans are arrested every year for marijuana possession -- including about 13,000 teenage girls. Some would say, of course, that Jenna Bush shouldn't be hassled for allegedly smoking pot, but then maybe nobody else should either. The charge that Jenna smokes marijuana is found in the Enquirer's March 20 issue; the tabloid quotes two unidentified fellow students, one of whom says, "Jenna came over one night and we all did some doobies together. I wouldn't say she's a major pothead but she likes to toke up when it's around." Can unnamed sources be trusted? The answer to that question usually depends on the reputation of the publication. Starting from a low base, the Enquirer's rep has been rising in recent years. It had so many scoops on the O.J. Simpson case that even the New York Times had to acknowledge its journalism; in the Ennis Cosby murder, the reward it offered broke the case. And just in the past few weeks, it scooped the establishment media on Jesse Jackson's "love child" and Hugh Rodham's receipt of $400,000 to influence his brother-in-law on presidential pardons. One reason the Enquirer gets scoops like these is that it hunts for them, while other publications are leery of "scandal-mongering." But as media critic William Powers observed recently in the distinctly unsensationalistic National Journal, sometimes the real news is scandal: "Despite their well-known flaws, the tabs are now serious players because they know that great journalism isn't just about bloodless policy and issue debates. It's about ethical foibles and hypocrisies of the powerful." Speaking of the powerful, George W. Bush, who refused to answer questions about his own drug use during the campaign, now finds himself as commander in chief of the worldwide drug war, being fought all over the Third World as well as on Mean Streets, USA. But if the Enquirer's pot-puffing allegation is to be believed, Bush's own daughter is nevertheless safe and sound, actively protected by the U.S. Secret Service -- this in the Lone Star State, where conviction on possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana leads to a jail sentence of up to 180 days. The White House dismisses the Enquirer report as not being worthy of comment. Noelia Rodriguez, press secretary to the first lady, said only this much on the record: "Our position on the daughters is that they're private citizens." Fair enough, although that position doesn't shield others from being hassled over their activities as private citizens. As the drug war escalates, Uncle Sam's reach extends further. In 1998, Congress amended the Higher Education Act in an effort to exclude students with past drug convictions from receiving financial aid. According to Students for Sensible Drug Policy, some 8,600 college kids have lost some or all of their benefits during the current school year after revealing a drug conviction on their application form. Another 278,000 refused to answer the question; Congress is poised to tighten restrictions further to de-fund those students, too. In other words, between drug busts and aid cuts, young people and pot is a big story. So why has there been utter silence -- a database search finds not a single reference to the Enquirer story in the two weeks since its publication -- on the Jenna Bush allegation? Three explanations present themselves. First, reporters have found no evidence to corroborate the Enquirer's allegation. Fred Zipp, managing editor of the Austin American-Statesman, said in an interview, "From time to time we have pursued tips about the behavior of the Bush daughters" -- that is, Jenna and her twin sister, Barbara -- "but we didn't find anything newsworthy." A second possibility, of course, is that the major media aren't much interested in marijuana-crime stories. Why not? Maybe because reporters, who may have had countercultural-pharmaceutical-type experiences in their own pasts, tend to empathize with marijuana dabbling. And so journos might not think that dope smoking is a crime worth getting revved up about. According to a Pew Center poll released this week, 38 percent of Americans admit they've experimented with marijuana. Extrapolated to the entire U.S. population, that's over 100 million experimenters. So maybe the media deserve credit for realizing that marijuana use is no big deal -- even when, allegedly, the "criminal" in question is a president's daughter. A third possibility is that the non-tabloid pressies are simply afraid to follow the truth if they think it will lead them into trouble. Jane Hall, professor of journalism at the American University in Washington, observed in an interview, "It's not going to win reporters any points with the public to go after this story." But what about the law, which goes after plenty of pot users? Hall answered by noting the current split between popular culture and the legal culture: "The American public is forgiving; the penal system is not forgiving." Needless to say, President Bush and the entire White House apparat would probably not feel forgiving toward the media entity that pursued a story about drug use in his family. That means no state dinner invitations for Enquirer editor Steve Coz. But it also might leave people wondering what revelations are being squelched by the reporters and editors who do show up at presidential fetes. Who could blame Bush for feeling unforgiving and unfriendly toward those who would violate his family's privacy? But who could blame any other father for feeling similarly -- but perhaps unavailingly -- protective toward his own children as they are drug-busted? This much is certain: The law is not nearly as forgiving to the nonwhite and the non-protected. According to the Sentencing Project, African-Americans account for 13 percent of the drug-using population, but a disproportionate 55 percent of those convicted of drug offenses. Jenna Bush, of course, has been convicted of nothing. But the legal system her father now oversees looks increasingly guilty of discrimination against the weak and hypocrisy in favor of the strong. And that should be a big story. About the writer:James P. Pinkerton is a columnist for Newsday and a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He worked as a domestic policy aide in the White House for President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush. Source: Salon.com (US Web)Author: James P. PinkertonPublished: March 23, 2001Fax: (415) 645-9204Copyright: 2001 Salon.comAddress: 22 4th Street, 16th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103Website: http://www.salon.com/Contact: salon salonmagazine.comForum: http://tabletalk.salon.com/Feedback: http://www.salon.com/contact/letters/Related Articles & Web Site:Student's For Sensible Drug Policyhttp://www.ssdp.org/Students Vs The Drug War http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8790.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - SSDPhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=SSDP Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #29 posted by FoM on April 28, 2001 at 10:58:13 PT News Brief From The Associated Press Jenna Bush Cited for Alcohol PossessionAssociated PressApril 28, 2001 | AUSTIN, Tx. -- President Bush's 19-year-old daughter, Jenna, was cited early Friday for alcohol possession by a minor, police said. The ticket was issued by Austin police who were checking for minors in possession of alcohol at nightclubs along the city's popular East Sixth Street. Officers questioned Bush and another woman they believed to be under age 21 at about 1:30 a.m. They were given a citation but were not arrested. Bush is a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin. White House officials would not discuss the incident. "We respect the privacy of this young woman and we're not going to comment on her personal life," said Noelia Rodriguez, spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush. Bush and her twin sister, Barbara, graduated from high school last May in Austin. Barbara Bush attends Yale University. What's New [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by jAHn on March 26, 2001 at 11:46:21 PT Lehder... You're links Are furrrRESH!!! I have them eternally filed. I hope those Warriors aren't down too many Cannaheads necks! I've been OK! Thanks for being curious because I know that somewhere, deep down inside...You Are. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by MikeEEEEE on March 24, 2001 at 13:32:12 PT whatif whatif, don't bet on it getting out. I'd imagine certain persons will keep it quiet, I don't think they want the drug war to fall totally on its ass, yet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Lehder on March 24, 2001 at 13:32:08 PT what if... She's probably too young and too much of a party girl to really have enough experience to appreciate the deeply sinsiter aspects of this war. She's having fun. But she seems to know a little of drugs and i would bet she's called her father a Nazi, just like in the movie. She can't hurt. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by whatif on March 24, 2001 at 12:48:55 PT What if... What is Jenna is one of us ... what if she believes as we do, and is trying to convince daddy that arresting potheads is wrong? [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by F*CK the R*CH !!! on March 24, 2001 at 12:21:10 PT Salon.com can... tell us the day and time!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by jAHn on March 24, 2001 at 12:16:35 PT For those of you thinking,"Compassion." W A K E U P !!! People that believe that Cannabis is less harmful and most importantly, Less Prohibitable, than Alcohol NEED to stand up against this Crud!!! Ron Reagan's Son: POTHEAD who can smoke Wherever the Hill he feels like it. John Ashcroft's Nephew: POTHEAD who can smoke and grow Wherever the Hill he feels like it. (60 plants) Christie Whitman's Daughter: Littered NJ with Beer Cans...and was busted, a year ago, for SMOKING POT.(No arraignment.) George Herbert Walker Bush: DRUGHEAD (does 'em all!!) Has Cocaine Children. POTHEAD grandchildren. "Dubya": (like father, like son) Has children that can smoke POT freely, wherever the Hill she wants. Al Gore: Smoked ALOT of POT. Has children that smoke WHEREVER the HILL they want to!!! Slick Willy Clinton: Smokes, doesn't smoke, SMOKES AGAIN and shows VERY LITTLE public support...Once Again!!! WHAT A PARTY!!! If only someone invites me, everything'll be kewl...I'll have a nice Mega-Pixel cam for some "Snapshots in the Family Album!!!"(Pink Floyd reference)So, why is it that when Peter Tosh puts an Album out that touts the Legal, FAIR usage of Cannabis, then is Assassinated on grounds unknown??? America is Creator of The Forth Reich...Where it leads everyone into thinking that it knows Supremacy like the back of its' own dirty hands...As the leaders children Puff Away...while Millions, and i mean MILLIONS are being arrested for dealing with the same, LESS PROHIBITABLE Substance, than Alcohol...Even some of the Cosmetics that become Advertised for your very Eyes!!! No Compassion for Us? Why in the HILL would anyone of a "lower class"--even think for a second that this is what they are deserving of.!?! PROTEST in LARGE Numbers It's the only way that Justice will be served. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by jAHn on March 24, 2001 at 11:55:14 PT For Some Reason: It seems as if the earliest Prohibition created a downfall in the economy with the boom of the Black market. In order for the U.S.A. to get back money to avoid falling into the "Third World" statistics range, it just creates Wars...Winnable or Losable. It drags them out for unpredictable lengths of time- to be stopped when enough Capital is raked in. In some cases, like the Vietnam War, someone steps in to shed light on the subject (usu.a mid/poor status pol:JFK) and becomes censored from letting the rest of the Humane World know of the True, Military Directives. It's only obvious that the same holds true when one speaks about the War on Cannabis/Users. Why else would they try to A)Establish a pill made of the Active Chem. in Pot? B)Tryto claim that Cannabis is a "New" medicine, which little known fact is documented? For some reason, I've always felt that it isn't me that tries to rewrite history! [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Lehder on March 24, 2001 at 06:48:11 PT hellbound train Yeah, dddd, these are some wild and crazy chicks. And that guy in the background with the booze and lazy eyes ain't no secret service type. Maybe the bush "silence on drugs" should say something here. Actually, the silence on drugs arises from some pretty clear messages and strong signals - i am guessing - from foreign officials and heads of state communicated privately to potus, privately and discreetly to be nice and not publicly confound the new president of us in his first weeks. We have a drug-uppity Europe, presidents of Uruguay and Mexico turning into drug legalizing loud mouths - looks like the drug war is caving in all over. And he's probably being told what to do with his herbicide, not to mention propaganda. He's not just plotting or confused, he's been told by some people who count - Shut Up. Jenna might be one of them. Thanks to all.Jenna Rocks!http://www.ceg.ai/news10.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by dddd on March 24, 2001 at 04:50:31 PT Party girl Thanx for the great link Lehder.This chick is definatly on the hellbound train.I'll betchya the security around her is better than for the Queen of England. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Lehder on March 24, 2001 at 04:12:34 PT party Here's the picture, scroll to bottom.http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3750/bushgossip.htmJenna Rocks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Lehder on March 24, 2001 at 03:45:02 PT I wear my button every day An expression, a slogan, just popped into my head and I can't get it out. If I were in high school and had to stop look and listen to all sorts of anti-drug bs everyday, I would make myself a magic button to dispel and ward off such nonsense and I'd wear it to school. My button:Jenna Rocks Jenna Rocks!But I'm too old for this button. I have my own. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by rambler on March 24, 2001 at 02:45:13 PT give me a break I dont mean to be confrontational,or overly critical of others views,but I hope that Imprint was being sarcastic in saying," If we took a minute and gave her and her dad a break then maybe, just maybe her dad would see the light and give us all a break."Giving her a break might be OK,but as far as her dad goes,you gotta be kidding!Suggesting that dubya would ever even think of giving us a break,is like suggesting Dick Cheney will win the triatholon in the Olympics.The only break that we will get from dubya,is when we are all broke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Lehder on March 24, 2001 at 02:32:27 PT promises, promises "There are few clear areas in which we as a society must rise up united and express our intolerance. The most obvious now is drugs. And when that first cocaine was smuggled in on a ship, it may as well have been a deadlybacteria, so much has it hurt the body, the soul of our country. And there is much to be done and to be said, but take my word for it: This scourge will stop." - President Bush in his 1989 Inaugural Address [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by CongressmanSuet on March 24, 2001 at 01:26:44 PT: No, no, no... We sholud really assault DC with about 5 million protesters against the way the votes in Fl were counted, the way big money runs this country thru rampant political coruption, the lost WoD,and the anger against the growing militarisation of the police state in republican sanctioned middle life crisis. Sorry, Im rambling like "Brother Theodore" who died 2 weeks ago, by the way. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by dddd on March 23, 2001 at 23:34:12 PT compassion I think it's a nice thing to suggest compassion for this youngster,but Idont agree.I think she should be busted,searched in a no-knock raid,andthrown in the can to rot,along with all the other sons and daughterswhos lives have been f*#ked by dimented drug laws.I have a hard timescaring up any sympathy for her.She should face the same brutal policestate reality as everyone else.She should be no different than anyone elsewhen it comes to the insane drug war......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Stripey on March 23, 2001 at 23:15:30 PT If there's anything we can do. . . To help further our cause with Dubya, we need to stop giving to him on the chin. . . he takes enough lumps from everyone else. If he sees our cause letting the past slide and willing to support some sort of reform, that's definately going to help with his decisions on the matter. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by observer on March 23, 2001 at 23:11:19 PT Jenna ... I do say yes to compassion for a young American.Yes, I agree Imprint. I will treat her as I would like to be treated. No one deserves to be jailed for responsibly using cannabis, not her, not anyone. I wish her the very best. I hope her daddy has mercy on us. Her grandaddy didn't. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Vibeye on March 23, 2001 at 22:22:52 PT let's test eeeeeeeeeverybody... To all the people advocating mandatory drug testing in schools: test the president's daughter first. Then ask what the president's own piss would show had he been tested in school.that will shut them up [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Imprint on March 23, 2001 at 22:11:35 PT: She's just a kid It’s tempting to string this girl up and make her an example but it just wouldn’t be right. If we took a minute and gave her and her dad a break then maybe, just maybe her dad would see the light and give us all a break. I say no compassion for the corrupt police and no breaks for the sleazy DEA but I do say yes to compassion for a young American. I wouldn’t want to hurt this girl’s future to lessen my place as a POW. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by New Mexican on March 23, 2001 at 21:03:15 PT Media Blackout! Regarding the complete lack of coverage of this scandal:It is damning proof of the media exercising massive fraud and censorship in the U.S. If it were Chelsea Clinton,it would be front-page headlines...FOR WEEKS! The see no evil in Bush approach is a duplicate of PRAVDA or anycurrent regime of Korea, Peru, China. Folks, it's a done deal (if you haven't woken up from the nightmare selection of 2000), y2k was 11 months late, but hey...we should've assumed it was in the planning stages when Nader was locked out of the debates!) WE LIVE IN A DICTATORSHIP! In 3 months , this place has been under attack by the Bush/Sorry to bust anyones illusion that this is a Democracy called the U.S.A. Stand up for our rights Jenna and give your father a lessonabout compassion , love, and understanding he's never had.Please Jenna, I hope your friends are reading this. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on March 23, 2001 at 16:30:50 PT: If true, you can forget about it being dynamite Think nuclear. Like in 'fusion bomb'.But our corporately controlled media will tread very softly around this, in hopes of avoiding the aforementioned sanctions, such as not being allowed to sit at the feet of Georgie Too like a good little lapdog, or be thrown pitiful scraps from his table, in lieu of actually having to investigate sources.Friends, having scions and daughters of First Families puffing ganja in the La Casa Blanca is nothing new; the Fords, the Carters, and possibly the Reagans had such things happening. Indeed, the Secret Service types had complained about Ford's kid; they didn't like either having to be witness to it...or not being able to arrest him. But as been made abundantly clear, there are two sets of laws at work in the country: law for us...and law for the rich. And woe to the 'vessel of power' who serves the rich and forgets that that is all he is...a vessel of power. There is a long history going back to FDR's time of posthumously awarding medals to Secret Service agents who were given assignments that were known to be suicidal; in FDR's case, he sent an agent who had been Mrs. Roosevelt's 'confidant' off to the Pacific...where he was promptly, conveniently 'killed in action'. The rest of them got the point.Yep, two sets of laws...unless enough of a stink is raised in public, and can't be shouted down - or those doing the investigating aren't stabbed in the back. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by observer on March 23, 2001 at 15:51:24 PT spokesperson It would be great to see an intelligent, articulate person like this with the pluck to speak out against prohibition. She'd be vilified at first, but if she continued earnestly speaking against the jailing of adults who use cannabis responsibly, she'd eventually get more and more fair hearings. I seem to recall someone asking recently a question along the lines of, "How can we wage a war against our own families?" [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by The GCW on March 23, 2001 at 15:32:24 PT: legalization When we start sending children of white women to jail proportionatly to the population, we will end this war. I do not think there should be a big deal w/the girl smoling cannabis, UNLESS, IT IS AMERICAN POLICY & HUMANS GET CAGED. Then if she does not go, no one should be caged.There are all kinds of drug testing going on in schools, It would be fine w/me if she was subject to a mandatory test and the public should know even if she does not get caged.I say this is big news. It must be revealed to help end the war against cannabis, even if the war on drugs continues. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by ras james rsifwh on March 23, 2001 at 14:28:32 PT A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND This war on cannabis is similar to the Vietnam War.It has invaded our homes and turned Parents against their own.When the USA pulled out of Vietnam, the Nation began to heal...and the USA won the Cold War.Yield and Overcome...few understand this wisdom.It is again time for America to abandon an unjustand an unwinnable war.Let the Almighty's Herb "Heal the Nations" of the World.GIVE ALL PRAISE AND THANKS TO JAH RASTAFARI. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by zenarch on March 23, 2001 at 14:18:44 PT Howz about a . . . . No-Konck raid on the White House!!! what's good for the goose . . . . . but seriously folks, I have a 19 y.o. daughter who imbibes the blessed herb from time to time w/her parental units and I'd hate to see her dragged out this way. I feel like giving the young lady a break . . . . If only the thugs at the DEA would do the same for the rest of us! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Neutrino on March 23, 2001 at 13:44:55 PT Daughters Drug test for president's daughter? Hey, it works for millions of others. Let the truth out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Dave in Florida on March 23, 2001 at 13:32:29 PT "Can unnamed sources be trusted?" Can unnamed sources be trusted? The answer to that question usually depends on the reputation of the publication.Sure they can,just ask any LEO. They seem to get no-knock warrants based on unnammed people. Anonymous tips are good for them but not for us.. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Juan Costo on March 23, 2001 at 13:07:42 PT Al Gore's got a pot smoking daughter too Kareena (sp?) I think her name is -- the cutie from the DNC convention. Apparently she had a reputation as a major party girl at the Cathedral School for Girls in DC. Quite sure her stoner days are behind her (as are Al's and Dubya's), but these stories definitely help reform. It's the hypocrisy stupid! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: