The Miami Herald Does Not
Question Prohibitionist Propaganda As It Reports On Hearings
(Marijuananews note: The prohibitionists made a
mistake holding the hearings, because it allows the reporting of opposition to marijuana
prohibition, thus further shattering the myth of consensus, but as this article shows,
they weren’t taking much of a risk.)
See
New York Times
Reports that Questions Were Raised About Prohibition,
But Does Not Examine The Issues. June 18, 1999
From The Miami Herald
heralded@herald.com
http://www.herald.com/
By Frank Davies, Herald Staff Writer
GOP STANDS FIRM AGAINST DRUG LEGALIZATION
WASHINGTON—A free-wheeling debate on drug legalization broke
out in Congress this week, but only after Republican leaders made it clear that a
hard-line approach to drug issues—including the medical use of marijuana—still
prevails on Capitol Hill.
(Marijuananews note: This was hardly a "free-wheeling
debate. It was a show trial of the anti-prohibitionist movement with many of the leading
anti-prohibitionists, such as NORML excluded so that the prohibitionists could portray any
opposition to present policies as one vast conspiracy to "legalize all drugs"
for children.
Several members of a House Government Oversight subcommittee,
chaired by Republican John Mica of Winter Park, Fla., pressed federal drug-control
director Barry McCaffrey at a Wednesday hearing to redirect much of a $185 million TV and
radio anti-drug ad blitz to counter campaigns in several states to allow the medical use
of marijuana.
"Why can’t we target these states?" asked Rep. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark.
McCaffrey resisted. He pointed out that the ad campaign, which is in several languages,
is an important part of wide-ranging anti-drug efforts that have energized many
communities.
(Marijuananews note: Notice the unquestioning prohibitionist spin
on the prohibitionist propaganda campaign. The statement that it has "energized many
communities" is reported like the collectivist propaganda that one finds in countries
in which the press is controlled rather than just bought and paid for.
In reality, the Czar ducked repeated questions on this subject because he apparently
did not want to tell them what they should have known, that what they are proposing is
illegal. The federal government already spends billions of dollars every year on
anti-marijuana prohibitionist propaganda, but it cannot be overtly directed at influencing
state initiatives.)
See
Seattle Times
Editorial Reports Washington State Lt. Governor Brad Owens Fined
For Using Tax Dollars To Campaign Against State Medical Marijuana Initiative
"We’re going after youth attitudes. We’re not
going to shift money around chasing George Soros’ $15 million," said McCaffrey,
referring to the international financier who has helped fund marijuana initiatives in
several states.
(Marijuananews note: The government spends many multiples of
this on prohibitionist propaganda, but you will not find that out here.)
See
LA Times
Editorial Calls For Alcohol to Be Added To Czar’s Propaganda Campaign
Republican attacks on Clinton administration drug policy dominated much of the hearing,
and it wasn’t until later that other views were heard. Representatives of the
libertarian Cato Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union critiqued the
nation’s drug policy as a failed experiment that wasted billions of dollars and
eroded states’ rights and civil liberties.
"For years, drug-war bureaucrats have been tailoring their budget requests to the
latest news reports," said David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato
Institute. "When drug use goes up, taxpayers are told the government needs more money
so it can redouble its efforts against a rising scourge. When drug use goes down,
taxpayers are told it would be a big mistake to curtail spending just when progress is
being made."
See
Testimony
Of NORML Director David Boaz At The Hearings on Drug Policy Reform Movement
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s director of drug control, James
McDonough, stoutly defended the drug war, insisting that any decriminalization would be a
mistake. He cited surveys showing that drug use among Florida’s children is 20
percent higher than the national rate.
"The legalizers are wrong, and their advocacy for the legalization of drugs
threatens the well-being of the nation," McDonough said.
Wednesday’s daylong hearing was billed by Mica as a "civil discussion of a
complex issue," and several subcommittee members pushed for more money for treatment
and rehabilitation. Some conservatives, including former judges and William F. Buckley,
have questioned the underlying assumptions of the drug war.
But several subcommittee members questioned the legitimacy of the
debate itself.
"We don’t debate the pros and cons of rape or child
abuse," said Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind. "We don’t bring rapists in here to
explain their views."
(Marijuananews note: So much for "civil discussion!")
Copyright: 1999 The Miami Herald
Supported