Reps. Lauren Boebert and Dan Bishop authored new legislation to ban federal taxpayer dollars from funding crack pipes, needles and other drug paraphernalia, following a firestorm over a viral report that alleged the Biden administration would be funding crack pipes for addicts.
They've introduced the Halting the Use of Narcotics Through Effective Recovery Act this week, dubbing the bill the HUNTER Act.
The hubbub over crack pipes originated from a $30 million new "harm reduction" grant proposal the Biden administration announced. A list of supplies that can be purchased with the grant funds included overdose reversal medications, safe-sex kits with condoms, fentanyl test strips, syringes, as well as "Safe smoking kits/supplies," according to grant documents.
The Washington Free Beacon reported that such kits will provide pipes for users to smoke crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and "any illicit substance." Both HHS and the White House quickly put out statements in response saying the grant funds wouldn't go to crack pipes.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki has called the crack pipe story "misinformation." "They were never a part of the kit; it was inaccurate reporting," Psaki said of the crack pipes. She said safe smoking kits may include "alcohol swabs, lip balm, other materials to promote hygiene and reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis."
If you think shouting "Hunter smokes crack" is going to be the thing that brings down the Biden Administration, you're going to have a hard time explaining how the Ford family still holds so much power in Toronto.
I'm saying it's the style of politics that the right wing engages in. Trolling works, and Democrats fail to understand the power of it. Which is one dimension (of many) of why they lose
Oh sure. Just ask President Gingrich.
The Clintons used to play this game as well as any Republican. But now everyone's a fucking Clinton.