Toronto Mayor Admits He Smoked Crack
After months of denial, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits that he did indeed smoke crack as apparently indicated on a video that is now in the possession of local law enforcement authorities:
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has admitted that he used crack cocaine while in office.
“Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,” Ford told reporters outside his office. “But no, do I, am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago. I answered your question. You ask the question properly, I’ll answer it. Yes, I’ve made mistakes. All I can do now is apologize and move on.”
Ford, who will be making a further “announcement”this afternoon, said he did not know the exact circumstances of his crack use.
“I don’t even remember,” he said. “Some of the stuff that you guys have seen me, the state I’ve been in? It’s a problem.”
Ford’s bombshell concession may end his political career. He said in May that he does not smoke crack — using the present tense — but steadfastly refused to answer when asked repeatedly if he had ever smoked crack or done so while in office.
“I wasn’t lying. You didn’t ask the correct questions,” he said. “No, I’m not an addict and no I do not do drugs. I made mistakes in the past and all I can do is apologize but it is what it is. And I can’t change the past and I can apologize to my family, my friends, my colleagues and the people of this great city.”
In fact, Ford was asked repeatedly whether he has ever smoked crack. He dodged the question as recently as yesterday morning, saying simply that he is not an addict.
“You ask the question properly, I’ll answer it,” Ford said Tuesday. “Yes, I’ve made mistakes. All I can do now is apologize and move on.”
As Taegan Gooddard puts it, Ford’s press conference is must-see television:
Where things go from here is an open question, but perhaps Ford can go on an international tour with former Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry.
That response belongs in the Hall of Fame. It cannot be improved upon.
Can you imagine an American politician? Even with video footage showing the guy smoking crack, the response would be something like:
“Yes, I have
smokedheard of crack cocaine,”Fordhe told reporters outside his office. “But no, do I, am I an addict? No. Have I tried it?Probably in one of my drunken stupors,Have I smoked it? Never in my life.probably approximately about a year ago. I answered your question.You ask the question properly, I’ll answer it.Yes, I’ve made mistakes, I’ve tried to be too perfect. All I can do now is to ask you to apologizeandso we can get back to the people’s business and move on.”Ford is no Marion Barry.
This story is definitely beyond the schadenfreude phase, as far as I’m concerned. This guy obviously needs alot of help.
@al-Ameda: I never inhaled.
He should have tried the Rand Paul defense:
You accuse me of doing drugs, well I am not a thief and only haters and cranks would say I was a thief. And I wish I could fight a duel with the Chief of Police.
Who hasn’t smoked crack?
I’ve seen the crack pipe and the damage done
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