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INDIANAPOLIS — In a political season where it seems every move is intensely researched, scrutinized and vetted, how did the great Marijuana Flop of 2004 occur?
Reporters around the state have looked into Republican Mitch Daniels' marijuana bust that occurred 34 years ago while he was a student at Princeton University. The arrest has been reported in numerous publications over the years as he worked in Washington. He even penned an article for the Washington Post in 1989 that mentioned his marijuana use.
But it wasn't until an Indianapolis TV station sent a reporter to New Jersey for an in-depth piece airing last week that the issue took flight.
For Democrats, it took flight the wrong way.
It started when Democratic State Party Chairman Kip Tew called on the Daniels' campaign to release more information on the bust.
State party spokesman Terry Burns said Tew's quotes were not part of a plan to use the subject for political advantage, merely a response to a media question seeking reaction.
"We didn't want to dwell on this thing," he said.
But someone apparently didn't tell the rest of the Democrats, because on Tuesday, two state representatives and two Indianapolis City-County Council members threw together a hasty news conference on the subject.
Reporters were informed just a few hours before — about the same time Rep. Ed Mahern, D-Indianapolis, told the state party of his plan.
"I thought it was important for people to know the sequence of events and the details on the bust," Mahern said. "There were unanswered questions. I was concerned it went deeper."
Daniels was arrested in May 1970 along with two others after a five-month investigation. Eventually, he pleaded guilty to a disorderly person charge stemming from his use of marijuana. He was fined $350, and prosecutors dismissed other charges.
Daniels long ago acknowledged his transgression and since served in two White House administrations after FBI background checks.
Mahern did not inform Gov. Joe Kernan's office or Kernan's campaign of his news conference because he didn't want them to be accused of pushing a negative campaign.
At the news conference, reporters soon began asking the members themselves whether they had smoked marijuana. Two said yes — including Mahern — and two said no. Then, an Associated Press reporter went to Kernan's office to ask the same question.
Within hours, his campaign staff told AP that Kernan had used marijuana a few times in his 20s, which obviously superseded Mahern's comments in news stories.
In hindsight, Mahern said he expected the questions of himself but was surprised that reporters "ran and asked the governor."
"I guess it made sense when you thought about the natural progression," he admits now. "A substantially higher number of people now know Mitch Daniels has a drug conviction. ... But I might do some things differently.
"I definitely would consult the campaign."
Lower taxes? Not so fast
An obscure character on "The Simpsons" once said, "You know a town with money's like the mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it, and danged if he knows how to use it."
That analogy could have been applied to the Allen County Council on Thursday afternoon.
The council conducted its 2005 budget hearings during the week to finalize appropriations before they are adopted next month. During the hearings, the council became pleasantly surprised to learn it had an extra $68,869 after doling out money to each department. Talk soon focused on what to do with the extra bucks.
Councilman Cal Miller, R-4th, said he would like to be the first council to reduce the property tax levy, even if it was by only $1.
Councilman Roy Buskirk, R-at-large, said that effort wouldn't be worthwhile. "It's almost like a publicity stunt to say we're reducing the levy," he said.
Auditor Lisa Blosser reminded the council that it has millions of dollars of outstanding debt to pay off and the money could be used for that.
In an effort to please everyone, the council decided to not make a decision. Instead of closing the hearings, it called a recess so a decision on the $68,869 — less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the county's general fund budget — can be made at its Sept. 16 regular meeting. D'oh!
Top lawyers to debate?
Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter has challenged his Democratic opponent, Joe Hogsett, to at least two debates in September.
Carter specifically wants one debate at one of Indiana's law schools, either in Bloomington or Valparaiso. His proposed format even included the topics of the majority of the questions.
In addition to that debate, Carter wants to participate in a central Indiana event being put on by a local TV network — possibly more of a roundtable discussion.
"As we approach Election Day, it is important for those of us running for statewide elective office to provide Hoosier voters with an opportunity to learn about our views," Carter said in a letter to Hogsett.
But Hogsett thinks Carter's format misses on several fronts.
First, Hogsett would prefer the debate be in a location with the opportunity for it to be televised at least regionally, if not statewide — "not in a moot courtroom in a law school some distance from any major media market."
Hogsett also questions the dates Carter proposed — all before Labor Day.
"These debates should be closer to Election Day, when voters have their minds on the issues," he said.
Made in Indiana?
The Indiana Democratic Party is talking itself hoarse about a major campaign issue — where Daniels gets his campaign shirts.
At a recent debate of the lieutenant governor candidates, party officials couldn't stop telling reporters about how Daniels' "My Man Mitch" shirts are made in Mexico while Gov. Kernan's campaign shirts are made in the United States.
And the refrain hasn't stopped since. They believe voters should care because Daniels has taken a hard stance on spending Indiana tax dollars on Indiana businesses.
The Journal Gazette
By Niki Kelly and Dan Stockman
Sun, Aug. 22, 2004
https://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/politics/9467438.htm
Reporters around the state have looked into Republican Mitch Daniels' marijuana bust that occurred 34 years ago while he was a student at Princeton University. The arrest has been reported in numerous publications over the years as he worked in Washington. He even penned an article for the Washington Post in 1989 that mentioned his marijuana use.
But it wasn't until an Indianapolis TV station sent a reporter to New Jersey for an in-depth piece airing last week that the issue took flight.
For Democrats, it took flight the wrong way.
It started when Democratic State Party Chairman Kip Tew called on the Daniels' campaign to release more information on the bust.
State party spokesman Terry Burns said Tew's quotes were not part of a plan to use the subject for political advantage, merely a response to a media question seeking reaction.
"We didn't want to dwell on this thing," he said.
But someone apparently didn't tell the rest of the Democrats, because on Tuesday, two state representatives and two Indianapolis City-County Council members threw together a hasty news conference on the subject.
Reporters were informed just a few hours before — about the same time Rep. Ed Mahern, D-Indianapolis, told the state party of his plan.
"I thought it was important for people to know the sequence of events and the details on the bust," Mahern said. "There were unanswered questions. I was concerned it went deeper."
Daniels was arrested in May 1970 along with two others after a five-month investigation. Eventually, he pleaded guilty to a disorderly person charge stemming from his use of marijuana. He was fined $350, and prosecutors dismissed other charges.
Daniels long ago acknowledged his transgression and since served in two White House administrations after FBI background checks.
Mahern did not inform Gov. Joe Kernan's office or Kernan's campaign of his news conference because he didn't want them to be accused of pushing a negative campaign.
At the news conference, reporters soon began asking the members themselves whether they had smoked marijuana. Two said yes — including Mahern — and two said no. Then, an Associated Press reporter went to Kernan's office to ask the same question.
Within hours, his campaign staff told AP that Kernan had used marijuana a few times in his 20s, which obviously superseded Mahern's comments in news stories.
In hindsight, Mahern said he expected the questions of himself but was surprised that reporters "ran and asked the governor."
"I guess it made sense when you thought about the natural progression," he admits now. "A substantially higher number of people now know Mitch Daniels has a drug conviction. ... But I might do some things differently.
"I definitely would consult the campaign."
Lower taxes? Not so fast
An obscure character on "The Simpsons" once said, "You know a town with money's like the mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it, and danged if he knows how to use it."
That analogy could have been applied to the Allen County Council on Thursday afternoon.
The council conducted its 2005 budget hearings during the week to finalize appropriations before they are adopted next month. During the hearings, the council became pleasantly surprised to learn it had an extra $68,869 after doling out money to each department. Talk soon focused on what to do with the extra bucks.
Councilman Cal Miller, R-4th, said he would like to be the first council to reduce the property tax levy, even if it was by only $1.
Councilman Roy Buskirk, R-at-large, said that effort wouldn't be worthwhile. "It's almost like a publicity stunt to say we're reducing the levy," he said.
Auditor Lisa Blosser reminded the council that it has millions of dollars of outstanding debt to pay off and the money could be used for that.
In an effort to please everyone, the council decided to not make a decision. Instead of closing the hearings, it called a recess so a decision on the $68,869 — less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the county's general fund budget — can be made at its Sept. 16 regular meeting. D'oh!
Top lawyers to debate?
Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter has challenged his Democratic opponent, Joe Hogsett, to at least two debates in September.
Carter specifically wants one debate at one of Indiana's law schools, either in Bloomington or Valparaiso. His proposed format even included the topics of the majority of the questions.
In addition to that debate, Carter wants to participate in a central Indiana event being put on by a local TV network — possibly more of a roundtable discussion.
"As we approach Election Day, it is important for those of us running for statewide elective office to provide Hoosier voters with an opportunity to learn about our views," Carter said in a letter to Hogsett.
But Hogsett thinks Carter's format misses on several fronts.
First, Hogsett would prefer the debate be in a location with the opportunity for it to be televised at least regionally, if not statewide — "not in a moot courtroom in a law school some distance from any major media market."
Hogsett also questions the dates Carter proposed — all before Labor Day.
"These debates should be closer to Election Day, when voters have their minds on the issues," he said.
Made in Indiana?
The Indiana Democratic Party is talking itself hoarse about a major campaign issue — where Daniels gets his campaign shirts.
At a recent debate of the lieutenant governor candidates, party officials couldn't stop telling reporters about how Daniels' "My Man Mitch" shirts are made in Mexico while Gov. Kernan's campaign shirts are made in the United States.
And the refrain hasn't stopped since. They believe voters should care because Daniels has taken a hard stance on spending Indiana tax dollars on Indiana businesses.
The Journal Gazette
By Niki Kelly and Dan Stockman
Sun, Aug. 22, 2004
https://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/politics/9467438.htm
