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Ramstad: Obama’s new Drug Czar?

November 18th, 2008 – 2:09 PM by Kevin Diaz

Rep. Jim Ramstad’s name is being bandied about in D.C. as a possible “drug czar,” or head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

President-Elect Barack Obama is filling out his team, and Politico, a respected Washington tabloid that covers all things Washington, has mentioned the retiring Minnesota Republican as a potentially popular and bipartisan pick.

Asked for confirmation, Ramstad told the Star Tribune, “It’s humbling to be mentioned for this important position, and that’s all I can say.”

Sources close to Ramstad, a recovering alcoholic and longtime proponent of mental health and drug treatment, say he might be interested. Although Ramstad cited fatigue with the weekly Washington commute in his decision to retire after 18 years in Congress, sources say that could be trumped by his passion for helping addicts like himself.

Ramstad’s spokesman, Dean Peterson, told Politico that it’s “gratifying to hear Jim’s name being mentioned for drug czar.” Peterson noted that Ramstad has worked for 27 years on anti-drug efforts in Congress and the Minnesota Senate.

“As a recovering person, he’s worked every day to help those suffering the ravages of chemical addiction,” Peterson told Politico.

The speculation comes as President Bush readies to sign landmark mental health “parity” legislation on Thursday that was pushed in large part by Ramstad and his protégé in treatment: Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I. The bill — named for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, who also championed the cause — aims to give people with mental illnesses the same access to insurance and treatment as people with physical illnesses.

The Obama camp has not responded to Star Tribune inquiries about the Drug Czar report.

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11 Responses to "Ramstad: Obama’s new Drug Czar?"

Cash N. Carey says:

November 18th, 2008 at 6:17 pm

You have to check out the intelligence of the Obama supporters. It is worth a laugh at their expense.

http://www.howobamagotelected.com/

adlib says:

November 18th, 2008 at 6:59 pm

CNC here’s a multiple choice quiz for you: Chemical dependency is…
a. a physiological disease.
b. a state of willful misconduct.
c. a disease of the soul.
Just wondering how someone as intelligent as yourself would respond.

Dora says:

November 18th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

A Zogby push poll commissioned by a former rw radio talk show host that presents rw “facts” as questions such as:

“Which of the four [candidates] said his policies would likely bankrupt the coal industry and make energy rates skyrocket?”

Of course Obama supporters got that “wrong” because only by misrepresenting what he said can you say Obama that said that.

And this one:

“Which of the four [candidates] won his first election by getting opponents kicked off the ballot?”

Of course Obama didn’t win his election that way because he ran against a Republican. He did challenge the petition signatures of Democratic primary rivals because they had non-voter signatures. Winning a primary does not ensure you’ll win an election. Another misrepresentation of the facts. And the answer could also have applied to John McCain because he also did the same thing with his primary rivals in two elections as I posted previously.

Of course Obama supporters didn’t get these “questions” right because they don’t follow the rw blogosphere and smear emails. And that in itself is a testament to their intelligence.

parthian says:

November 19th, 2008 at 8:30 am

There is no vat of right wing sewage that the pinheaded Preacher Cash won’t swill. And peddle.

Kids, Preacher Cash is your brain irreparably polluted by wingnut poison. Any questions?

parthian says:

November 19th, 2008 at 8:40 am

And with extremists like Preacher Cash still convinced that Saddam was an ally of bin Ladin, was behind 9/11 and possessed “WMDs”, wingnut “polls” about supposed lib’rul ignorance (about election “history” of all things) are beyond comic.

But then, “Bushservatives” never could understand the difference between fact, opinion and spin.

SgtPendleton says:

November 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am

“On November 4th, 2008 millions of Americans were shocked that a man of Barack Obama’s limited experience, extreme liberal positions and radical political alliances could be elected President of the United States…”

….other than the 66 million people who voted for him.

adlib says:

November 19th, 2008 at 7:44 pm

Not one post as yet on the subject of this article. Is Jim, Ramstad an inspired choice for heading up the war on drugs.

CNC, an intelligent resonse to the multiple choice quiz would have been “all of the above and more.”

What is the Drug Czar in any administration? Chief cop of DEA? Is Obama’s rumored bipartisan choice for this post just conspicuous window dressing or signal of a shift in national approach to dealing with the complex web of smuggling, addiction, crime and recovery.

Ideas?

lebowski says:

November 19th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Cash-
thanks for the link, good humor. Also a fairly sad reflection of the msm and the democratic party.

You can spin it however you want, but people don’t know the issues and background of the people they support.

What were the 2 questions everyone answered correctly…..and what were the 2 things that matter least in selecting our countries leaders?

lebowski says:

November 19th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Cash-
thanks for the link, good humor. Also a fairly sad reflection of the msm and the democratic party.

You can spin it however you want, but people don’t know the issues and background of the people they support.

What were the 2 questions everyone answered correctly…..and what were the 2 things that matter least in selecting our countries leaders?

Dora says:

November 20th, 2008 at 12:59 am

The rw blowhards were really upset that their lies didn’t penetrate the consciousness of the electorate.

adlib says:

November 20th, 2008 at 8:32 am

Ok, I concede we’re not going to read another word about the possible selection of Jim Ramstad as Obama’s DRUG CZAR.

Dora’s correct that Zogby push polls are designed to lead the witness. Were these You Tube interviews done before or after the subjects voted?

Speaking of preaching to the choir, are you really a man of God, CNC?

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