Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Congress / Kotz / Politics Congressman Zach Wamp, Former Cokehead
Posted by Pete Kotz on Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Congressman Zach Wamp has confessed to being a former cokehead. The Wampster says that during his college days 25 years ago, he had quite an affinity for the whitey, and that "he crashed and almost burned."
Fortunately, being a former addict doesn't preclude one from elected office these days. President Bush has long been rumored to have been on a first name basis Colombian gun powder during his wilder days. And you have to admire anyone who goes from cokehead to congressman in just 10 years.
The weirder question is why Wamp is raising the issue now. The Associated Press speculates that he's trying to get ahead of the issue for his potential run for governor. It may defuse the possibility of a Wamp re-enactment in an attack ad, where a look-a-like is seen snorting the carpet for spilled particles.
But a confession may also play well with the evangelical crowd. Nothing quite lights up a conservative church like the guy who acknowledges his bout with the devil, but testifies to being salvaged by Christ.
Comments (9)
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There are many good and capable candidates for public office who didn't "use" during their younger days. Let's get away from the expose/forgive group and cast our nets wider.
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Definitely trying to get out in front. This is not something that is a big secret, however, his timeline is a bit generous as to end date.
Sueyyyy: I'll certainly agree there may be better, more capable candidates out there. But I would argue that his drug use in his younger days shouldn't disqualify him in any way.
Someone who has overcome that sort of issue is only stronger for it. And frankly, I'm pretty wary of someone under 50 who's never tried an illicit substance. Would that describe you?
It's sad that political viability should anyway depend on what we did in our younger days. We should elect the best people, not the best saints. I'm not a Republican and wouldn't vote for Wamp regardless of the situation but his experience with a little white powder means nothing to me.
Not in anyway, Jack. I'm just tired of the media defining drug use as a typical youthful indiscretion. There are many who are not righteous but just didn't step over that line. And I find cocaine a pretty big line. You certainly lose some precious time and brain cells in the process.
Well, Sueyyyy, if your party host is particularly wealthy and generous, the cocaine can be in pretty big lines. The cheapskates at the parties I went to put out the smallest lines of coke I'd ever seen.
God, I crack myself up. Anyone else laughing?
I'm still laughing at "I find cocaine a pretty big line." Abbott & Costello couldn't have asked for an easier set-up.
I knew Zach back in his wild days. I also dealt with my problems and went on to go to college, law school and become a Prosecutor. While I don't have a lot in common with my old friend Zack's political beliefs, I am very proud to know him and consider him a friend. We grew up in the 1970's when a whole lot of people made the same mistakes. At least he has been honest, which is a rare quality in Washington for both parties.
