TheAgitator.com
Cindy McCain’s Painkiller Problem
Sunday, February 3rd, 2008Over at Reddit, someone reposted this old Stanton Peele piece on Cindy McCain. It’s worth revisiting:
McCain was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration after the agency was approached by a former staff member of her charity. The investigation resulted in no charges or prison time for her, and she entered a diversion program. While these records were not made public at the time, Mrs. McCain eventually confessed her drug use when she learned that a reporter was investigating the story.
Is Mrs. McCain to be judged as a pitiable victim or as a criminal felon? This debate is at the heart of the discussion of American drug policy. Should we deal with illicit drug users as victims or as criminals?
Let’s examine Mrs. McCain’s position in these terms. She was the privileged wife of a prominent family and spouse of an important politician, a person who had her own position of prestige and power. Should she not be held at least as accountable for her actions as an uneducated inner-city drug user? After all, she could enter drug treatment at any time she chose, unlike many drug users who find themselves in prison.
Moreover, Mrs. McCain was violating a position of trust by stealing from a charitable organization, using its money and medical expertise to fuel her drug use. Is this not morally more reprehensible than simply purchasing drugs illegally?
Finally, Mrs. McCain was the mother of four children at the time she admits to using drugs–between 1989 and 1992. Her children were born in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1991. In other words, Cindy McCain was using drugs while raising small children, one of whom she adopted while she was an addict. In most states, family services will remove children from a woman who is known to be an active drug addict, and she would certainly not be allowed to adopt a child while addicted.
John McCain is a hawk in the drug war. He advocates stricter drug laws, penalties and enforcement against drug sellers. He has had nothing to say about redressing our punitive approach toward drug users. Of course, McCain also supports family values. Yet if John and Cindy McCain were not well-off and influential, they might not have a family at all. McCain’s lack of concern for street drug users contrasts sharply with the support and understanding his wife received.
McCain’s condescending, dismissive attitude toward medical marijuana patients only exacerbates the hypocrisy. Cindy McCain’s powerful husband and high profile probably had something to do with the fact that she didn’t get the Richard Paey treatment. But as with Rush Limbaugh, prosecutors likely laid off of her also because she played the drug war game—she admitted she was an “addict,” repented, and sought treatment. Paey had the audacity to insist that he oughtn’t go to jail for treating his own pain, and that he wasn’t an “addict,” but a chronic pain patient who was dependent on the medication in order to lead a normal life.
Contra my friend Jeremy Lott, the problem with the hypocritical practice of letting politicians’ family members get off for drug crimes that land normal people in prison is that it doesn’t seem to do much in the way of making them more sympathetic. It just hardens them into more militant drug warriors. We have to throw Richard Paey in prison so we don’t get any more Cindy McCains. See the logic?
[...] Her husband seeks stricter punishment for those who illegally use drugs, but he made an exception for his wife, it seems. Read what Radley Balko has to say about it. [...]
“Should we deal with illicit drug users as victims or as criminals?”
Neither. We should treat them rational people who know how to run their own lives. How do people not see that?
Sheesh. Cindy McCain’s theft from the charity is the only real crime here.
I have no problem with letting the McCain’s and Limbaugh’s of the world off easy. The problem is that they don’t let everyone else off the same way.
A double-standard… say its not so.
Its really quite simple your either a have or a have-not. The McCains(etal) are clearly on the haves side of the scorecard.
Have power.
Have money.
Have influence.
Have access.
The rest of you grovelling hovel dwelling have-nots can piss-off.
Remember do as we say not as we do.
Is Mrs. McCain to be judged as a pitiable victim or as a criminal felon?
To further Windypundit’s point, you’ll never see a third, fourth, or fifth option here. You won’t hear the term “casual user”, nor “uses more than she needs but not out of control”, and certainly not “legitimately needs more for pain than police will allow” So long as the debate is framed this way, there can be no serious discussion about drugs in this country.
I may be looking for any reason to vote against Billary in the general election, but I saw McCain recently say he thinks the drug war should focus more on treatment than prison. I tend to believe him, even if it’s probably near the bottom of his priorities. I also don’t think that line really gets at the problems with the drug war in a substantive way. But I guess it’s better than nothing.
McCain’s body guard accosted relegalization activist and former Texas drug cop Barry Cooper the week of the NH primary. The offense? Asking John McCain a question on the war on drugs. Not only has McCain shown contempt for people in pain and need for cannabis, he doesn’t even show consideration for their free speech rights.
Video Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzh3U1Tk3Do
William, it appeared that McCain desired an elevator alone with his people, the guy with the camera attempted to invade the confined space, and was firmly but politely escorted off the lift.
There is something called appropriate venue for questions, so a little respect probably could have been demonstrated.
Oh and tale about a local girl and her privileged husband. He had the silver spoon, with business and of course a pathway into higher levels of the controlling/influential LDS church.
Seems she started enjoying the scripts, she would get high and actually go break into neighbors homes and steal stuff. Though caught at least three times while inside these homes, she got off and NEVER were charges pressed against her! Trade agreements for treatment and such. Still has not stopped her.
Why is it some folks can’t admit to a bad seed and gene cleansing being necessary?
Oh and of course they are the holiest of the holly in the valley.
Diddn’t Dole’s wife as well have a challenge with the booze, and of course that VP that became pres, Gerald’s wife, Betty Ford, yeah she also loved her scripts and booze.
WE probably should not bring up the Kennedy name eh?
LEAVE CINDY ALONE!!!! (Youtube vid parody)
Well, if they were treated like my family, neither would be working. My 17 year post high school education is crap! My pain patients were deserted. My trouble, falling in love with a beautiful, seductive, patient, (both of us)with bad marrriages at home, cost me a lot. But, I do have a beautiful wife, who is not money hungry, like the first two. Permanently unemployed for marrying a patient? I can’t even get factory work! Cruel and unusual punishment? I should have been the president (Clinton)! And the pain patient that allegedly forged a script, to get treatment for chronic pain. UNEMPLOYABLE! Will we have to steal food?! But, I have never been less stressed, in my life!! I need to lose weight, anyway! We unwittingly destroyed part of our lives. But, we are still alive!
Cindy Mccain is a real piece of work all right..! What she did most non-connected souls would have gone to jail for. But the more important point is that Jim Hensley Cindy’s father an old bootleger and convicted felon launched McCain’s political career. He is a bought and paid for Man. Does anyone remember the Keaton 5 the other four were ruined. The Hensley-McCain family seems to be coated with teflon…!
Maybe Cindy is on drugs again when she made that statement against Michelle Obama
http://www.seferm.com/news/us/governementelection/elections.asp
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Well.. I suppose little tidbits like this article aren’t going to be so charming (like Cindy’s little blazer/skirt combination outfits)… or does this show maybe that someone is SO patriotic that they steal from charities and use the money for drugs… not to mention the fact that if she was doing drugs during the years sited, not only was she doing them while RAISING her kids, she was PREGNANT in some of that time span. I’m not speaking from experience, but lots of drug addicts don’t stop taking drugs while pregnant… I wouldn’t think she’d be an exception… ? I honestly think that it’s pretty hippocritical of her to make judgements about patriotism when you’ve stolen money from a charity….
P.S.- I may stand corrected.. she might be a patriotic stoner?….
cindy mccain, was stealing drugs from a chairity
john McCain was all wraped up with charlie Keating and the savings and loan scandal.
not people I want in my whithe house!!
I live in az. just type in your broswer Cindy Mccain steals drugs
or John McCain and charles Keating savings and loan scandal
get the lowdown on these less then good people it will make you sick he is terrible and lashes out at anyone that is against him
she didn’t steal money she stole the actual drugs that were going overseas to the poor the starving,the sick the hungry it stated she was taking 20 to 30 a day you know what 1 or 2 do to you if the are prescribed! ditch this un dynamic duo
“Pain has no memory.” As a former chronic pain patient, I can easily understand the desire to keep the pain at bay. Unfortunately, the medical world out there doesn’t seem to feel the same way. It’s difficult and incredibly humbling to get the medication that one needs so pain doesn’t control one’s life entirely. I certainly don’t condone her stealing or other alleged shady activities to get her supply. A woman with her $ and influence could easily get what she needed when she needed. But I am glad she’s clean and, hopefully, honest about it. It was difficult for me to get off the opiates. My pain is gone, but my heart goes out to those who truly suffer.