Marc Caputo
Posted on 11/24/2013 12:33:39 PM PST by kristinn
Trey Radel owes Big Government. Big time.
Like other tea partiers, the freshman political newcomer from Fort Myers went to Washington to keep government out of our lives and to fight government spending.
At the same time, Radel and some buddies were snorting cocaine. In his private tea parties, the question of one-lump-or-two of sugar had a whole different meaning.
On Oct. 29, the two parties collided.
Radel was busted after an undercover agent in Washington sold him what’s known as an “8 Ball,” an eighth of an ounce of cocaine, or 3.5 grams for $260.
So time to rail against Big Government telling a private citizen what he can do, right? Time to question the governmental costs of the drug war, eh? Maybe even wonder about equal treatment under the law? Growing police power and the Fourth Amendment?
Nope.
Radel, 37, just apologized and went to rehab.
All the talk of less government, big spending, personal freedom and the Constitution were blown away amid the Republican’s expressions of contrition in a case that highlights our political contradictions, especially when it comes to drugs.
“A lot of Republicans say they’re against big government, but they’re not,” said Jeffrey Miron, a Harvard University economist and fellow of the libertarian Cato Institute.
“Most politicians are for big government,” Miron said. “The question is: Which big government are they for?”
SNIP
Now Radel owes that government a solid after the federal cops appeared to cut him some significant slack.
When he was busted in the undercover federal sting, Radel wasn’t taken to the station. It appears he wasn’t even jailed or handcuffed.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
I felt a thrill listening to this music. Immediately, the hip-hop artists did what artists have been doing for centuries – they opened my eyes up to a whole new world.
This is what the anti-legalisation buffoons just don't get.
Of course I wish Trey Radel had not been dabbling in illegal drugs, but he did. The time has come where one should not need to self-exile after a bad choice if there is real contrition. The Dems feel no compulsion to ‘do the right thing and disappear’ after having disgraced oneself. We Tea Partiers need to be disciplined, yes, but wait a while before giving up and wearing the guilty mask. Maybe his career can still be salvaged. It worked for Obama.
Jay Leno had mentioned something about how this guy got a pass (paid vacation) and lenient treatment from the cops while anyone else with ‘Washington’ as his last name would’ve been treated very differently.
I'd understand that if it had been something in his past, but this is unacceptable. He took an HOR seat representing the conservative view; if he really believed in that he wouldn't be giving the opposition to conservatives an isssue. Buying illegal drugs himself in DC?...how dumb does it get? What happens now if it turns out Obama's using illegal drugs? Rehab and a leave of absence?
One can't help but wonder if this is a warning to hypocritacal conservatives and other anti-Obama folks of what will happen if they have any bad habits.
Thanks kristinn.
Marc Caputo
He’s compromised. No reason to suspect that he hasn’t been turned. He’s their man now.
He wasn’t dabbling.
He was swimming naked in a mountain of coke.
To hell with him and his career.
I’m not going to be ruled by criminals.
Leno's full of it. I doubt anyone would go to jail for a first offense possession charge.
There is no misdemeanor possession of cocaine.
Any amount is a felony.
He bought 3.5 grams from a cop. That’s an eight ball. If you or me or anyone else did that, we’d be charged with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
They found a further undisclosed amount at his apartment.
People who use this drug are depraved, empty individuals.
What I see in this thread are people who don’t want to lose a seat held by a criminal and a hypocrite because he has an R behind his name.
Leno is dead right, and the fact that anyone is defending this ahole is pitiful.
You honestly think that Chocolate City has no misdemeanor charge for cocaine possession? He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession. How can he plead to a non-existent crime?
Go buy an 8 ball from a cop and see what happens.
I don’t have to. If you claim their is record of someone in DC getting convicted of a felony with no priors for first time coke possession for this amount, prove it.
No, I think I’m just going to marvel at you defending a coke head who wants to drug test welfare recipients and increase mandatory minimums on drug users the whole time snorting a mountain of coke himself.
It really is true what they say about republicans.
They are damn stupid.
Dunno, maybe he doesn’t want his bad habit to spread?
Well, surely he can’t snort that much himself.
I mean that would pretty much put him on the same level as Scarface in terms of personal consumption.
An 8 ball is a lot of coke, and that isn’t all that they caught him with. That’s just what he bought from that at one time.
I’m not defending a coke head. He should resign.
I’m calling out Leno for his bullshit comment that no Black would have ever gotten the same treatment.
Hey, I don’t disagree that he’s not the best example here.
Hypocrisy tends to be a problem among those who “abuse the body” to put it in general terms. And this isn’t just drugs, it is bizarre forms of sex, it is alcoholism, it is other obsessions that are harmful to health.
I’m not saying this to cast blame on any person. I don’t blame; I do point out the need for taking responsibility.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.