The Trail

OBAMA'S PAST

McCain Co-Chair Presses Drug Use

Former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating, a co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign, called Barack Obama "very extreme" on a radio show Thursday and raised the issue of Obama's past drug use.

"He ought to admit, 'You know, I've got to be honest with you. I was a guy of the street,' " Keating said. " 'I was way to the left. I used cocaine. I voted liberally, but I'm back at the center.' " Keating made the comments on the radio show of comedian Dennis Miller.

Miller, a conservative, offered a long critique of Obama, calling him "the most liberal guy" and saying that the "obfuscation" and "smoke and mirrors" surrounding his campaign were "Clintonesque."

Miller did correct Keating on the accusation that Obama was hiding his drug use.

"Wait, I've got to jump in, Frank. He has copped to the blow use, right?" Miller said, referring to Obama's admission of cocaine use in his autobiography. "I mean, he did so in his own book; he said he did blow."

"Oh, yes, he did," Keating said.

In 1999, Keating was quick to weigh in on rumors about George W. Bush's alleged drug use as a young man. The former FBI agent did himself some real damage with the Bush campaign when he told an interviewer that Bush should answer questions "about private conduct."

-- Robert Barnes