The Obama campaign has long maintained that Obama's drug use was only during his teenage years, but today Obama's campaign manager has announced that Obama used cocaine until he was 20 years old.
The full clip of Axelrod's statements can be viewed here:
thepage.time.com/axelrod-talks-to-reporters-after-debate/
At a minimum, this shift in Obama's "story" about his cocaine use demonstrates an inability -- or at least an unwillingness -- to tell the truth about an issue that gets to the core of his electability. Previously, Obama had always claimed that his drug use was limited to his high school years, when he was a wayward teenager.
Obama has tried to turn his drug use into a positive story, and has boasted of how he's discussed the issue with high school students, to warn them of the dangers of cocaine. To me, this is completely irresponsible. He's running for President, for goodness' sake. This is not a confessional talk show -- it's the Democratic primary.
If any Democrat honestly believes that the Republicans won't air a million commercials during the general election, complete with footage of Axelrod, if Obama were to somehow secure the nomination, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Do not underestimate the Republicans.
Axelrod deserves credit for beginning to explain the truth, but he needs to clarify Obama's record.
UPDATE: Someone messaged me and said, "I believe his book said it was while he was at Occidental College, not high school? I could be wrong."
If that's the case, and I don't have a copy of his book handy to check, then the point about high school vs. 20 years old is wrong. Still, in any event, the question begs: WHY would a strategist as cunning as Axelrod feel the need to clarify when Obama stopped buying cocaine? There has got to be more to this story.