Pat Robertson Backs Legalizing Marijuana

Clem Britt/AP ^ | Jesse McKinley

[AnTiw1]

Of the many roles Pat Robertson has assumed over his five-decade-long career as an evangelical leader - including presidential candidate and provocative voice of the right wing - his newest guise may perhaps surprise his followers the most: marijuana legalization advocate.

"I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol," Mr. Robertson said in an interview on Wednesday. "I've never used marijuana and I don't intend to, but it's just one of those things that I think: this war on drugs just hasn't succeeded."

[Revolting cat!]

It appears that the Holy Reverend Pat took a vacation in Jamaica.

[Responsibility2nd]

You may be right.

As we all know - there is a large contingent of Freepers many consider to be the Nannies of this site. I won’t name them or ping them, cause I am on good terms with them (you had better be or they will freep-mail around and BOOM! You get zotted)

But anyway... As soon as some libertarian slips up and claims abortion is a States Rights issue - you see “them” (me included) swarm in like flies, and before long the viking kitties are there with an IATZ.

So why this silence with drugs? I don’t really know. Clearly drugs are a moral wrong and you’d think that us “moral busybodies” would pressure them off the site. But no...

I know I would contribute a lot more if FR wasn’t so liberal, but that’s just me. But if the 2 month long FReepathons are any clue, then it does appear there are factions and problems here.

[gdani]

Your drug use inspires my kid to do something stupid, that effects me.

My alcohol & caffeine drinking inspires your kid to do stupid things?

That is the responsibility thing that separates you libertarians from Conservatives.

Except I'm not libertarian. Although I agree with them on drug laws. What separates them from you in this regard is they believe in the Constitution.

There is a point where rights intersect in a community and society. Every man has a right to do as he pleases as long as its effects do not impact anyone beyond his island.

And how does someone smoking marijuana impact society any differently than drinking alcohol?

[Yardstick]

I would also however, allow employers to test for it and they should have the right to fire or not to hire those who do use.

Yes, this is critical. And I guarantee you that if marijuana were legalized, this would be the first thing that liberals and conservatives would battle over. Liberals would seek to make pot smokers a special class with the special rights, namely the right to be hired and to work with THC in their system.

[TalonDJ]

Tell us how YOU beleive your state should LEGALIZE prostitution.

If they were kicking in doors in the middle of the night and shooting people in their homes in order to catch hookers then I would be TOTALLY in favor of legalizing it. Liberty means letting people do things you don't agree with.

[ejonesie22]

So explain to me how being for making pot readily available is not a PRO POT POV. Furthermore your ally has referred to those like me as Anti Pot, and that is not the first I have heard that.

So...

And before you come back, again, with a pro freedom response, exactly where does your pro freedom argument end?

[discostu]

It’s very simple you see your whole “PRO POT” is a strawman you use pathetically to try to corner people and avoid troubling things like logic. I use logic. And I don’t have an “ally” there just happen to be other people that realize that the WOD is failed AND want it to end (as opposed to you who admitted it failed but still want it around anyway).

I already explained to you where the freedom logically ends. There was apparently too much logic in it, you didn’t even bother to reply with one of your strawmen. 105.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

I had friends like you....didn’t realize how efffed up on pot(or their drug of choice) they were....as they lost everything, then wondered why.

As I already told you, I haven't used pot or alcohol in several years. Luckily I have no friends like you ... who lie about people they don't know.

[ejonesie22]

Well I think there are some Libertarians still around. But I think staying here is a simple matter of being an actual conservative or at least playing one on the net. The off the beaten path stuff like Ron Paul and being all for drug use is something that is a little out there. However these guys are good about staying in the lines by couching it in all the right terms.

Of course when you strip it down, most just want to be able to light up free and clear. And while I am all for letting anyone to unto themselves what they will, there is a much bigger picture and responsibility, a line that has to be maintained, a balance, something we conservatives grasp.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

So your debate winner is “I agree that pot is harmful (you may want to discuss that with your buddies) and addictiave but I'm PRO-POT all the way?”

Try: Pot is harmful but anti-pot laws are more harmful so I'm PRO-FREEDOM all the way.

[ejonesie22]

Logic, interesting you bring that up.

One is either Pro pot or Anti pot.

So...

Yeah yeah I know. I'll just have to be happy in the fact you guys have a long row to hoe before a majority of any type thinks making pot legal is just a dandy idea. That there are still folks responsible enough to see this for what is is gives me hope.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

while I am all for letting anyone to unto themselves what they will, there is a much bigger picture and responsibility

What governmentally enforceable responsibility is abdicated by drug use?

[Responsibility2nd]

However these guys are good about staying in the lines by couching it in all the right terms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dittoes. But every once in awhile these libs jump the couch and blurt out something they truly believe that is - of course - anathema to fundamental conservatism.

And I’m hoping that someday soon that Just Say No guy jumps the couch and gets the zot. Man, will I be glad!

But for now - he is being very careful not to give himself away.

See? That’s another difference between us SoCons and them liberals. I can speak from the heart whereas they can’t

[discostu]

Actually that would be the logical fallacy of the false dilemma.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy/False_dilemma

Which is really all you’ve got. Fallacies, lies and insults. And actually the majority is supporting us. But the government doesn’t like to let go of power, especially not a power that’s allowed it to completely shred the Bill of Rights. Have fun when the no knock raid comes to your house. Thanks to the WOD that’s the norm now.

[ejonesie22]

Ah...

Well good luck with that...

Keep the PRO FREEDOM in all caps, it may fool the straights into buying the argument to have pot available at Wal Mart......

[JustSayNoToNannies]

you guys have a long row to hoe before a majority of any type thinks making pot legal is just a dandy idea.

Record-High 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana Use

[JustSayNoToNannies]

So your debate winner is “I agree that pot is harmful (you may want to discuss that with your buddies) and addictiave but I'm PRO-POT all the way?”

Try: Pot is harmful but anti-pot laws are more harmful so I'm PRO-FREEDOM all the way.

Keep the PRO FREEDOM in all caps,

Just following your lead.

it may fool the straights into buying the argument to have pot available at Wal Mart......

I think pot should be about as restricted as hard liquor - does WalMart carry that?

[JustSayNoToNannies]

One is either Pro pot or Anti pot.

I'm anti-pot, anti-alcohol, and pro-freedom.

[ejonesie22]

Majoirty of what, Conservative or the country in general. Remember this is a Conservative site. And the majority of Americans elected Obama, so if it is the nation as a whole, the really doesn't help the argument.

(Oh and while you are at it, how many of your friends have been victims of no-knock raids exactly?)

[AnTiw1]

"As we all know - there is a large contingent of Freepers many consider to be the Nannies of this site. I won’t name them or ping them, cause I am on good terms with them (you had better be or they will freep-mail around and BOOM! You get zotted)

But anyway... As soon as some libertarian slips up and claims abortion is a States Rights issue - you see “them” (me included) swarm in like flies, and before long the viking kitties are there with an IATZ.

So why this silence with drugs? I don’t really know. Clearly drugs are a moral wrong and you’d think that us “moral busybodies” would pressure them off the site. But no... I know I would contribute a lot more if FR wasn’t so liberal, but that’s just me. But if the 2 month long FReepathons are any clue, then it does appear there are factions and problems here."

if posting this article is cause to be 'zotted', i'm just going to need clarification from higher up...

i'm interested to hear that the reason FR isn't meeting its financial goals is that people like you can't zot "liberal" people like me, and that's why people like you don't give more...have you shared this theory with The Boss?