Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jun 2012
Source: Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2012 Southeast Missourian
Contact:  http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Author: Scott Moyers

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE PARKER SAYS DRUG WAR SHOULD BE FOUGHT AT STATE LEVEL

Bob Parker Bob Parker is adamant -- he doesn't think drugs should be
legal. But the Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's 8th
District Congressional seat says it is not the federal government's
role to decide and should be a matter left to individual states. But
the Texas County rancher stopped short of calling for a federal
decriminalization of drugs on Monday, a fact that had Emerson's camp
criticizing him for holding a "reckless position" and failing to
properly understand the legislative process.

The issue came to light at a recent meeting of the Poplar Bluff for
Liberty group, when one media outlet reported that Parker announced
his support for the federal decriminalization of marijuana. On Monday,
Parker said that the report was false and that he only said it's a
states' rights issue.

"I do not support decriminalizing drugs in any way," Parker said. "I
was asked about the war on drugs. I never said I supported the
decriminalization of drugs. I just think they should debate that at
the state level."

In a position similar to U.S. Rep. Ron Paul -- who does call for
getting anti-drug laws off the federal books -- Parker said that the
U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal government the authority
to enact such laws and he doesn't believe they should be there.

Jo Ann Emerson But Emerson staffer Josh Haynes said Monday that Parker
can't hold both views simultaneously. As a federal representative,
Parker would have to vote to decriminalize drugs at the federal level
to put the issue back in the hands of the states. "You can't hold both
opinions," Haynes said. "There are right now strict federal laws
making drugs illegal. To allow the states to determine on their own to
make drugs illegal, it would have to be decriminalized at the federal
level. And Jo Ann is absolutely opposed to that. It is not OK to sell
drugs, move them between states and smuggle them into our country."

Haynes added: "We need to give more tools to law enforcement to stop
drugs from coming into our communities, not less. This is a very big
difference between the two candidates."

Parker said he rejected Haynes' assertion about the requirement to
decriminalize drugs at the federal level. The laws, for example,
should be stricken because Congress does not have the authority to
enact them. Parker, who acknowledged he experimented with marijuana
until he was 18, said he realizes how destructive drugs can be.
Parker, 55, also added there are more important issues to deal with,
including the national debt and reining in government spending.

"This isn't even my issue," Parker said. "I know it is an issue for
some. But I was asked a question."

Jack Rushin The other two candidates -- Democrat Jack Rushin and
Libertarian Rick Vandeven -- each also weighed into the debate on
Monday. Rushin, a chiropractor from Poplar Bluff, said he believes the
war on drugs should be a joint effort of the federal and state
government. "I would side with the federal government being involved
as well," Rushin said. "I just don't think it makes sense to push to
legalize drugs. I'm for doing whatever is necessary to curtail drug
use."

Vandeven, who lives in Chaffee, Mo., and works at Procter & Gamble,
holds the opposite view.

Rick Vandeven "It's not a crime, it's a vice," Vandeven said. "It's
only a crime when there's an identifiable victim. I should be able to
do whatever I want to with my body. It should not be prohibited at any
level. It's like drinking or eating a whole rhubarb pie." Parker lost
to Emerson in 2010 GOP primary as did Vandeven -- along with Democrat
Tommy Sowers and Independent Larry Bill -- in that year's general
election. The GOP primary takes place this year on Aug. 7
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MAP posted-by: Matt