Dem Presidential Candidates Answer Questions on Oregon Initiatives

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have held events and met with editorial boards around the state recently. Obama gave an interview with the Medford Mail Tribune in late March and Hillary Clinton met with the editorial board of the Register Guard as reported yesterday.

On the topic of some Oregon voter initiatives which have been challenged by the Bush Justice Department, here's a sample of their (very carefully stated) views on assisted suicide (and medical marijana from Sen. Obama).

First Obama:

Mail Tribune Q: A couple of other issues of interest to Oregonians involve initiatives passed by the voters that have come into conflict with the federal government: physician-assisted suicide and medical marijuana. Do you support those two concepts?

Obama A: I am in favor of palliative medicine in circumstances where someone is terminally ill. ... I'm mindful of the legitimate interests of states to prevent a slide from palliative treatments into euthanasia. On the other hand, I think that the people of Oregon did a service for the country in recognizing that as the population gets older we've got to think about issues of end-of-life care. ...

As for medical marijuana ... I'm not familiar with all the details of the initiative that was passed, but I think the basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors, I think that's entirely appropriate. ...

I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue.

And Clinton:

Register Guard Q: What’s your attitude toward Oregon’s assisted suicide law?

Sen. Clinton A: I believe it’s within the province of the states to make that decision. I commend Oregon on this count, as well, because whether I agree with it or not or think it’s a good idea or not, the fact that Oregon is breaking new ground and providing valuable information as to what does and doesn’t work when it comes to end-of-life questions, I think, is very beneficial.

Q: Would you have voted for it if you were a resident of the state?

A: I don’t know the answer to that. I have a great deal of sympathy for people who are in difficult end-of-life situations. I’ve gone to friends who have been in great pain and suffering at the end of their lives. I’ve never been personally confronted with it but I know it’s a terribly difficult decision that should never be forced upon anyone. So with appropriate safeguards and informed decision-making, I think it’s an appropriate right to have.