# Piss test for presidential candidates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 4, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641 "2016-10-04T17:33:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/21 "2016-10-16T15:57:26Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Trump just proposed drug tests prior to debates [Trump suggests Clinton was on drugs during debates, says they should get tested next time.](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/10/15/trump_suggests_clinton_was_on_drugs_during_debates_says_they_should_get.html) And that seems to be a “bullying tactic” if you ask me. Best way to respond to bullies is to ignore them. Also for people who have been around “druggies”, you know darn well they do not typically run for president - or even have a job for that matter! Rather they don’t work, are typically thieves, and are on food stamps. So this is just another ridiculous comment. And the only people who would believe this claptrap are Trump supporters (also believe this conspiracy nonsense), so no loss if she just ignores this suggestion. If she wanted to be sneaky, she could get a test but not announce it. Then let Trump prance around the stage and and make accusations. Then toward the end of the debate, pull out a piece of paper with her clean drug test on it. Of course Trump would then say the test was not valid - was done by medical people in the conspiracy. So probably no point. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/22 "2016-10-16T16:19:34Z")
1. If we’re going to start drug testing politicians, I don’t see any reason to limit it to presidential candidates. 2. Given Trump’s pathological projection skills, I think we can only assume that this is his way of admitting that he was on drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/23 "2016-10-16T16:36:46Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > …Given Trump’s pathological projection skills, I think we can only assume that this is his way of admitting that he was on drugs. Yes, good point! ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/24 "2016-10-16T22:47:25Z")
As there was speculation that Trump’s sniffles during the debate were a symptom of drug use this call to drug test does not surprise me. I think perhaps in Trump’s fervent imagination he thinks he could prove he is “clean” but catch HRC out on using some prescription drug she has not already disclosed, thus proving she has some disqualifying health condition. Suppose arguendo (with absolutely no proof) that Trump did use cocaine prior to the earlier debates. If so its common metabolites would be flushed from his system by now (assuming he is not a frequent heavy user) so a clean test would not prove lack of use prior to earlier debates. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/25 "2016-10-16T23:53:15Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Yes it’s unthinkable. Who exactly is going to order the President and Commander in Chief to pee in a cup? Nobody should order anyone to pee in a cup, but if an employer makes it a condition of employment I see nothing wrong with it. Presidents need to be taken down a peg. Too much reverence and “respecting the office”. I don’t thinks it’s debatable that Clinton was on drugs for the first debate, but I think they lowered her dosage for the second debate because she had to interact with real humans. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/26 "2016-10-16T23:59:08Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > This is almost as bad idea as those Facebook memes we all know that go “If I have to get drug tested to work, they (meaning blacks) should have to get drug tested to collect welfare”. Yeah, right. Tell little Johnny he can’t eat because mommy smoked a joint. > > No, we can’t impose requirements on presidents beyond the constitution and this would be one of the sillier ones. I think with all the meds that JFK and FDR were on, this might have been tough for them. I’d like to see an end to drug tests altogether except for pilots and the like. No, any requirement can be imposed on presidential debate participants. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/27 "2016-10-17T00:31:29Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > I don’t thinks it’s debatable that Clinton was on drugs for the first debate, but I think they lowered her dosage for the second debate because she had to interact with real humans. I don’t think you watched the same debates as the rest of us did. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641/28 "2016-10-17T02:31:43Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > It would, however, be constitutional to make it a ballot-access requirement; states have a rather wide range of discretion there. [Not even for state level offices, apparently](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandler_v._Miller). > [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > This would never happen, but: > > The Commission on Presidential Debates, plus all the major news networks that hosted the Primary Debates, could require a piss test before letting any candidate up on stage. > [@WillFarnaby](#): > > No, any requirement can be imposed on presidential debate participants. The Commission and the networks however are not vested with authority to compel, the candidates are not their employees. _“They cannot be compelled but they won’t dare refuse for fear of political opinion”_ is weak in the final consideration: a Trump type would be just the one to tell them what they can do with their podiums AND keep his base’s support. > [@Randolph](#): > > **And the solution is to get rid of the piss tests for the [Joe] Blows**. I’m with you on that part. As with the _Chandler v. Miller_ case I linked to earlier, _if there is reasonable cause to worry about drug use or impaired performance_ it is justified. Not to “make a point”. That the courts found so in the cases about elected officials, but not with regular employees/contractors is infuriating but that’s where we stand now. > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > All the talk about drug testing is very misleading. What we are really talking about is testing for marijuana use. Almost all of the other commonly used illegal drugs are out of your system in 1 to 4 days. > […] > But all companies that have contracts with or do business with the Federal government have to comply with the 1988 Workplace Free Drug Act. And all this testing has created another “necessary” industry that cannot be abandoned. Yep, that’s why Joe Blow who does NOT handle any form of dangerous machinery or sensitive knowledge ever still has to fill the cup or else. Add to it: You can get drunk to the point of oblivion Friday and Saturday nights, and drink to the point of not being qualified to drive other weekday evenings, and as long as you show up upright and coherent at next morning open of business you are good as gold. And THAT is an addiction that does far more damage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-test-for-presidential-candidates/767641.md?page=1)