Kumar Tries to Unite Bong Bloc

Slate’s John Dickerson is reporting that Kal Penn —Kumar of Harold and Kumar fame—is going to be leading a series of rallies at Emerson, BC, BU, and Tufts tonight before the debate. I feel as though these events would be akin to Jeff Spicoli leading the charge for Mondale in ‘84, but Penn seems particularly worked up.

I have to wonder, though, who wins the stoner culture vote? Who gets the Tommy Chong bump?

Only Bill Bradley’s 1990 senate race has been worthy of Chong’s money. I thought that Hillary may actually take it, given her promise to not break down doors and generally damp the buzz. But news today tells us Kumar is backing the right horse here.

(via Wash. Times):

… Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign said he in fact has “always” supported decriminalizing marijuana as he answered in 2004, meaning the candidate mistakenly raised his hand during the presidential debate last fall.

That position leaves Mr. Obama as the lone presidential candidate among the four leading challengers in either party who supports eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana. Mr. Obama’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, opposes decriminalization, Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said.

No word yet on when all these rallies start tonight, so just open your window and follow the sound of drum circles and the smell of patchouli.

—DAN MORRELL