Question by teddy1066: Is Cindy McCain a good role model?
Critics say that Cindy McCain is a drug addict and thief.

According to Wikipedia, she was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for stealing drugs and breaking Federal law.

Cindy McCain began abusing narcotics when she and her husband John McCain were being investigated for their role in the ‘Keating Five’ scandal. Cindy McCain was the bookeeper who couldn’t find Keating-related receipts.

Is anyone else bothered by this?

Is Cindy McCain a good role model for children?

Best answer:

Answer by Independant
Cindy is a billionaire heiress who has always been used to getting exactly what she wants including (married man). John McCain met Cindy in Hawaii when she was 25 when they began dating (yes John was still married to Carol at the time). Stanton Peele, a New Jersey Psychologist and Attorney and Author of “Diseasing of America” wrote about Cindy McCain in 1995 (Jossey-bass, 1995).

In 1994, Mrs. McCain admitted that she had solicited prescriptions for painkillers from physicians who worked for an international charity that she founded, the American Voluntary Medical Team. She then filled the prescriptions in the names of her staff.

There are two ways to react to this behavior. According to the Betty Ford model, people can sympathetically respond to the oppressed and ignored wife of a busy politician who has bravely come forward to admit her overpowering addiction. Mrs. McCain took this posture when she first tearfully confessed her addiction. She and her husband repeated this performance in October on the NBC program “Dateline.”

The other possible public reaction is one of anger. Americans are prosecuted every day for such drug use. While most drug abusers purchase their drugs from street dealers, Mrs. McCain used her status as a charity director and senator’s wife to cajole the drugs she wanted.

In fact, Mrs. McCain was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration after the agency was approached by a former staff member of her charity. The investigation resulted in no charges or prison time for her, and she entered a diversion program. While these records were not made public at the time, Mrs. McCain eventually confessed her drug use when she learned that a reporter was investigating the story.

Is Mrs. McCain to be judged as a pitiable victim or as a criminal felon? This debate is at the heart of the discussion of American drug policy. Should we deal with illicit drug users as victims or as criminals?

Let’s examine Mrs. McCain’s position in these terms. She was the privileged wife of a prominent family and spouse of an important politician, a person who had her own position of prestige and power. Should she not be held at least as accountable for her actions as an uneducated inner-city drug user? After all, she could enter drug treatment at any time she chose, unlike many drug users who find themselves in prison.

Moreover, Mrs. McCain was violating a position of trust by stealing from a charitable organization, using its money and medical expertise to fuel her drug use. Is this not morally more reprehensible than simply purchasing drugs illegally?

Finally, Mrs. McCain was the mother of four children at the time she admits to using drugs–between 1989 and 1992. Her children were born in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1991. In other words, Cindy McCain was using drugs while raising small children, one of whom she adopted while she was an addict. In most states, family services will remove children from a woman who is known to be an active drug addict, and she would certainly not be allowed to adopt a child while addicted.

John McCain is a hawk in the drug war. He advocates stricter drug laws, penalties and enforcement against drug sellers. He has had nothing to say about redressing our punitive approach toward drug users. Of course, McCain also supports family values. Yet if John and Cindy McCain were not well-off and influential, they might not have a family at all. McCain’s lack of concern for street drug users contrasts sharply with the support and understanding his wife received. It’s the old American double standard. For “straight-shooter” McCain, charity begins at home–and ends there.

BTW – As the director, Cindy fired the doctors who refused to give her drugs, until one of them finally turned her in.

Give your answer to this question below!

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Question by Exhilarating, isn’t it?: Texas “Drug Policy”: What is likely the sentence for this crime?
My boyfriend was arrested for possession of marijuana (less than two ounces) and possession of a controlled substance (5 capsules of Zoloft). This is his first offense so what will his sentence likely be? We live in Texas.

Best answer:

Answer by Spanky
here is the laws in texas about marijuana

Possession
2 oz or less* class B misdemeanor 180 days $ 2,000
2 to 4 oz* class A misdemeanor 1 year $ 4,000
4 oz to 1 lb* state jail felony 180 days – 2 years $ 10,000
1 to 5 lbs state jail felony 180 days – 2 years $ 10,000
5 to 50 lbs felony of the third degree 2 – 10 years $ 10,000
50 to 2,000 lbs felony of the second degree 2 – 20 years $ 10,000
More than 2,000 lbs felony 5 – 99 years $ 50,000
Sale
Gift of 1/4 oz or less class B misdemeanor 180 days $ 2,000
Sale of 1/4 oz or less class A misdemeanor
1 year
$ 4,000
1/4 oz to 5 lbs state jail felony
180 days – 2 years
$ 10,000
5 to 50 lbs felony of the second degree 2 – 20 years $ 10,000
50 to 2,000 lbs felony of the first degree 5 – 99 years $ 10,000
2,000 lbs or more felony MMS 10 – 99 years $ 100,000
To a minor felony 2 – 20 years $ 10,000
Within 1,000 feet of a school or within 300 feet of specified areas misdemeanor or felony increased penalty increased penalty
Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc…)
Paraphernalia possession class C misdemeanor none $ 500
Paraphernalia sale class A misdemeanor 1 year $ 4,000**
Details

* With no prior felony convictions, if convicted of possession of less than one pound of marijuana a judge must impose a sentence of probation with mandatory drug treatment. If no treatment center exists within the jurisdiction, the judge may waive the treatment requirement. They judge can also waive all fines.

** Unless previous conviction of paraphernalia sale or possession (if previous conviction, 90 days to 1 year). Paraphernalia sale to a minor at least 3 years younger than actor- State Jail Felony = 180 days-2 years; $ 10,000

Possession of two ounces or less of marijuana is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $ 2,000. Possession of greater than two ounces is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $ 4,000. For greater than four ounces the penalty increases to 180 days – two years in jail and a fine up to $ 10,000. Possession of greater than five pounds carries a penalty of 2 – 10 years in prison and a fine up to $ 10,000. For greater than 50 pounds the penalties increase to 2 – 20 years in prison and a fine up to $ 10,000. For any amount greater than 2,000 pounds the penalty is 5 – 99 years and a fine up to $ 50,000.

The penalty for delivery, without remuneration, of one-quarter of an ounce or less is up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $ 2,000. For delivery or sale of one-quarter of an ounce or less the penalty is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $ 3,000. For delivery or sale of amounts greater than one-quarter ounce of marijuana the penalty increases to 180 days – 2 years in jail and a fine up to $ 10,000. Sale or delivery of greater than five pounds is punishable by 2 – 20 years in prison and a fine up to $ 10,000. The penalty for delivery or sale of greater than 50 pounds is 5 – 99 years in prison and a fine up to $ 10,000. For any amount of 2,000 pounds or greater, the penalty is a mandatory minimum 10 – 99 years in prison and a fine up to $ 100,000.

Any sale to a minor is punishable by 2 – 20 years in prison and a fine up to $ 10,000. Sale within 1,000 feet of a school or within 300 feet of a youth center, public pool or video arcade increases the penalty classification to the next highest level.

Repeat Misdemeanor Offenses:

* If charged with a Class A misdemeanor and defendant has been before convicted of a Class A misdemeanor or any degree of felony = 90 days-1 year; $ 4,000
* If charged with a Class B misdemeanor and defendant has been before convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or any degree of felony = 30 days-180 days; $ 2,000
* If charged with a Class C misdemeanor and defendant has been before convicted under one or a combination of the two above three times and the prior offense was committed within 24 months of incident = > 180 days; $ 2,000

Repeat Felony Offenses:

* If charged with a state jail felony punishable and defendant has previously been finally convicted of two state jail felonies, on conviction the defendant shall be punished for a third-degree felony.
* If charged with a state jail felony punishable and defendant has previously been finally convicted of two felonies, and the second previous felony conviction is for an offense that occurred subsequent to the first previous conviction having become final, on conviction the defendant shall be punished for a second-degree felony.
* If charged with a state jail felony or of a third-degree felony and defendant has been once before convicted of a felony, on conviction he shall be punished for a second-degree felony.
* If charged with a second-degree felony and the defendant has been once before convicted of a felony, on conviction he shall be punished for a first-degree felony.
* If it is a first-degree felony

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

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