Fox host defends Republicans’ right to smoke pot

[DiscoBiscuit]

Even Republicans should be able to get stoned, according to a Fox News anchor. While interviewing Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Fox News' Gretchen Carlson found herself in the curious position of advocating for marijuana rights Friday.

Chong told Carlson that he wants to see marijuana legalized -- but not for Republicans. "We want to legalize pot for everyone that wants to smoke it. You know, we don't want to legalize it for Republicans."

Carlson quickly came to the defense of stoners in the GOP. "That wouldn't be fair. Would it?" asked Carlson. "I mean being fair and balanced, if you want to legalize it shouldn't you want to legalize it for everyone?"

"I want to legalize it for everyone," answered Marin.
This isn't the first time that the duo have pulled politics into their desire for legalization.

Only a week ago, the pair said they wanted to smoke with Sarah Palin. Marin believes she grows it herself in Alaska while Chong told Politico, "she answered a lot of questions like a stoner."

The stars of "Up in Smoke" received "The Trailblazer Award" from the Marijuana Policy Project for their advocacy of marijuana legalization earlier this month. The two have now embarked on the "Get it Legal" comedy tour.

The video is from Fox News' Fox & Friends, broadcast Jan. 22, 2010.

By David Edwards
Friday, January 22nd, 2010 -- 11:43 am
http://rawstory.com/2010/01/gretchen-carlson-defends-republicans-right-to-smoke-pot/

 

[SpasticGramps]

I reckon once Capital Hill starts toking up on a regular basis, the legalization initiative will gain some ground. Pretty soon they'll be able to roll across the street to grab some dank before giving a press conference.

The right, and center is starting to wake up to the logic of this. I think we are getting closer and faster. They louder the conversation becomes the closer we get.

Good find!

 

[rootfingers]

I hope legalization is around the corner but I also hope it gets done before elections next fall because if not it won't for a long time. The US supreme court yesterday decided 5-4 that big pharma can spend as much as they want brainwashing Americans into voting for their candidates. Bet those guys aren't voting for legalization any time soon.

 

[WaterFarmFan]

I bet there are a lot more Republicans and Independents than Democrats on icmag. It is one thing to be progressive about taxing and legalizing pot, but quite another to be progressive about giving away hard-earned tax dollars to every reject that wants a handout.

WFF

 

[rootfingers]

What you are saying is true but in true republican fashion you try to gain an edge by lumping independents with republicans. I consider myself independent but rarely vote republican.

 

[WaterFarmFan]

Hey Root. I am also an Independent that voted for Obama. I bought his "Change" message about transparency and cleaning up Washington. That has not worked out too well so far...

 

[LoudBlunts]

WaterFarmFan....i agree with both of your comments

 

[LoudBlunts]

i'd also like to add.... mj doesnt discriminate....it should be for all. even our enemies...haha

its the bridge that brings all walks of life together

partisan politics is never good

 

[Skip]

I reckon once Capital Hill starts toking up on a regular basis, the legalization initiative will gain some ground. Pretty soon they'll be able to roll across the street to grab some dank before giving a press conference.

You know I hadn't even thought of that b4. Perhaps the reason Congress finally passed the DC MMJ law, is so that THEY THEMSELVES (and their staffs of course) would be able to get their cannabis so much easier now!

They finally jumped on the bandwagon so they wouldn't be left out and would have legal protection for possession while they're in the Capital.

Now Senators like Barney Frank no longer need to drag their stash with them to D.C.!

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

i'd also like to add.... mj doesnt discriminate....it should be for all. even our enemies...haha

its the bridge that brings all walks of life together

partisan politics is never good

If you're talking about TC's comment, it was a joke. He doesn't want exclusivity, he's just making a crack about a group he figures doesn't support mj reform.

 

[LoudBlunts]

If you're talking about TC's comment, it was a joke. He doesn't want exclusivity, he's just making a crack about a group he figures doesn't support mj reform.

lol i know...speaking in general...some loons do think like that

 

[SmokyMtnToker]

I could tell you a story...but not tonight...lets just say that I have first hand knowledge of high ranking state politicians, from fl., many years ago, both parties, who toked up all the time in private and at exclusive aprties. I met a guy who was a political arranger...he did all sorts of stuff for politicians, like running campaigns and such,,I was dealing weed at the time, Columbian gold mainly,,,yes, that was the wonder years..Ok, I will tell you ONE true story:

One dauy this guy, George, come by and buys an OZ of weed from me and asks for a paper bag for it because the guy he was getting it for was going to meet him in a public place and he didn't want it being seen openly.

I got the bag and he left. A few minutes later I got hungry and decided to run down the street to the Ho jo 9 Howared Johnsons) which had a restaurant attached to it, and get a hiot dog ( they had great dogs)...anways, I am sitting there and look around and lo and behold across the dining room sits George!! I see him reach in his jacket pocket and take out the batg I had just sold him and pass it across the table to a man sitting with him. i really didn't think much of if, his contacts were his business..

When he saw me, I waved at him, not thinking anything of it, a coincidence...but he looked freaked out and came over to my table and said" Hey, did you follow me here? What are you doing here?" I told him I eat there a lot and was hungry..he told me to never mention it again and keep my mouth shut. Then he walked away.

george had never spoken to me like that before, and when I took a good look at his table mate, I saw he was a man running for governor!! No mistake about it. Hw as known for walking across the state doing various jobs and crap as part of his campaign. But, he was a hard liner and screwed all others who got caught...law and order man....yeah, right.

Anyway, all true and shows how even the worst appearing politicians may actually be stoners...not that it helps anyone else when they hide it..

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Joe Scarbobo?

 

[SoloGro57]

Yes, contrary to outward appearences, and their stated goals, republicans are people too. The real story here is that now, in 2010, Cheech and Chong, are embarking on their "Get it Legal" tour. How sad. I will consider my generation a total failure if we fail to free the Herb soon.

 

[DiscoBisquick]

I reckon once Capital Hill starts toking up on a regular basis, the legalization initiative will gain some ground. Pretty soon they'll be able to roll across the street to grab some dank before giving a press conference.

The right, and center is starting to wake up to the logic of this. I think we are getting closer and faster. They louder the conversation becomes the closer we get.

Good find!

There are several delivery services in DC w/very high profile customers. They already puff.... How else do you deal w/the stress of DC...

 

[Darkstarlive]

with this wave of libretarianism crossing the country, it may get there eventually but watch out for the other things Libretarians want to do. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[kaotic]

I wouldn't mind if the Libertarians had their way. I'm a wanna be paleolithic fuck anyways. I would envoy living in a shack in the woods without being bothered.

 

[Hydrosun]

with this wave of libretarianism crossing the country, it may get there eventually but watch out for the other things Libretarians want to do. Be careful what you wish for.

Like what? Lower my taxes and get government out of peoples homes and bedrooms? They may not be as likely to engage in war?

What are these Libertarians actually up to?

Peace,

 

[REDEYE_420]

Good shit Tommy and Cheech! Ha ha Sarah Palin growing weed

Peace.

 

[WaterFarmFan]

Like what? Lower my taxes and get government out of peoples homes and bedrooms? They may not be as likely to engage in war?

What are these Libertarians actually up to?

Peace,

Just like the Republicans and Democrats, Libertarians have SOME good ideas, but they would open Pandora’s box with their whole agenda due to human nature.

Libertarians are the polar opposite of Communists, which in my book is a very good thing, but without some regulations on Business and Society in general - total chaos would ensue. Financial crisis anyone???

Some naive people think that America has a true free market system, but we had a mix of socialism for a very long time. The system needs to get smaller and more efficient, but without a strong central government, America would not be the world power that we are today.

This is from the Libertarian Party website:

National Platform of the Libertarian Party

Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado

Preamble

As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.

We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.

Consequently, we defend each person's right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power.

In the following pages we have set forth our basic principles and enumerated various policy stands derived from those principles.

These specific policies are not our goal, however. Our goal is nothing more nor less than a world set free in our lifetime, and it is to this end that we take these stands.

Statement of Principles

We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.

We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.

We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life -- accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action -- accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property -- accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.

Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.

1.0 Personal Liberty

Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.

1.1 Expression and Communication

We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. We favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.

1.2 Personal Privacy

We support the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating "crimes" without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.

1.3 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the rights of individuals by government, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships.

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

1.5 Crime and Justice

Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.

1.6 Self-Defense

The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.

2.0 Economic Liberty

A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.


2.1 Property and Contract

Property rights are entitled to the same protection as all other human rights. The owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy, their property without interference, until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others. We oppose all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates. We advocate the repeal of all laws banning or restricting the advertising of prices, products, or services. We oppose all violations of the right to private property, liberty of contract, and freedom of trade. The right to trade includes the right not to trade — for any reasons whatsoever. Where property, including land, has been taken from its rightful owners by the government or private action in violation of individual rights, we favor restitution to the rightful owners.

2.2 Environment

We support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Pollution and misuse of resources cause damage to our ecosystem. Governments, unlike private businesses, are unaccountable for such damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. We realize that our planet's climate is constantly changing, but environmental advocates and social pressure are the most effective means of changing public behavior.

2.3 Energy and Resources

While energy is needed to fuel a modern society, government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production.

2.4 Government Finance and Spending

All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution. We oppose any legal requirements forcing employers to serve as tax collectors. Government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes.

2.5 Money and Financial Markets

We favor free-market banking, with unrestricted competition among banks and depository institutions of all types. Individuals engaged in voluntary exchange should be free to use as money any mutually agreeable commodity or item. We support a halt to inflationary monetary policies, the repeal of legal tender laws and compulsory governmental units of account.


2.6 Monopolies and Corporations

We defend the right of individuals to form corporations, cooperatives and other types of companies based on voluntary association. We seek to divest government of all functions that can be provided by non-governmental organizations or private individuals. We oppose government subsidies to business, labor, or any other special interest. Industries should be governed by free markets.

2.7 Labor Markets

We support repeal of all laws which impede the ability of any person to find employment. We oppose government-fostered forced retirement. We support the right of free persons to associate or not associate in labor unions, and an employer should have the right to recognize or refuse to recognize a union. We oppose government interference in bargaining, such as compulsory arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain.

2.8 Education

Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education.


2.9 Health Care

We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions.


2.10 Retirement and Income Security

Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. We favor replacing the current government-sponsored Social Security system with a private voluntary system. The proper source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.

3.0 Securing Liberty

The protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of government. Government is constitutionally limited so as to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself. The principle of non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments.

3.1 National Defense

We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world and avoid entangling alliances. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.

3.2 Internal Security and Individual Rights

The defense of the country requires that we have adequate intelligence to detect and to counter threats to domestic security. This requirement must not take priority over maintaining the civil liberties of our citizens. The Bill of Rights provides no exceptions for a time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight and transparency. We oppose the government's use of secret classifications to keep from the public information that it should have, especially that which shows that the government has violated the law.

3.3 International Affairs

American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world and its defense against attack from abroad. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.

3.4 Free Trade and Migration

We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders. However, we support control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a threat to security, health or property.


3.5 Rights and Discrimination

We condemn bigotry as irrational and repugnant. Government should not deny or abridge any individual's rights based on sex, wealth, race, color, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference or sexual orientation. Parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs.

3.6 Representative Government

We support electoral systems that are more representative of the electorate at the federal, state and local levels. As private voluntary groups, political parties should be allowed to establish their own rules for nomination procedures, primaries and conventions. We call for an end to any tax-financed subsidies to candidates or parties and the repeal of all laws which restrict voluntary financing of election campaigns. We oppose laws that effectively exclude alternative candidates and parties, deny ballot access, gerrymander districts, or deny the voters their right to consider all legitimate alternatives.


3.7 Self-Determination

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.

4.0 Omissions

Our silence about any other particular government law, regulation, ordinance, directive, edict, control, regulatory agency, activity, or machination should not be construed to imply approval.