The 'pot controversy'? 
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Or the pot shouldn't call the kettle black.
Or those who throw mud usually end up with some of it on themselves.
The list of old sayings that fit the latest round of politicking by Indiana Democrats could go on and on. But it shouldn't. We've heard enough already.
Apparently thinking they had an important issue, four Democrats called a news conference to make certain that everyone knew and to ask questions that had already been answered about Republican candidate Mitch Daniels' 1970 conviction of possessing marijuana.
Within a few hours two of the four and Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan had admitted that they also used marijuana when they were young.
The only difference between the three and Daniels is that they didn't get caught.
For the record, while a student at Princeton University Daniels was indicted on charges of possession of marijuana and maintaining a nuisance after drugs were found and a roommate reportedly sold drugs. Daniels spent two nights in jail and eventually pleaded guilty to reduced disorderly persons charge of using marijuana and paid a $350 fine.
Fellow students have backed up Daniels' claim that he was a minor user and did not sell drugs. He has not hidden the record from employers through the years.
Kernan's campaign admitted that the governor used "marijuana a few times in his young years, in his 20s."
The leader of the news conference, state Rep. Ed Mahern, D-Indianapolis, admitted when questioned by reporters that he smoked marijuana "on three occasions after college."
Indianapolis City-County Council Vice President Joanne Sanders, also part of the news conference, said in answer to questions, "I did, in college, smoke marijuana."
Meanwhile, the Libertarian candidate for governor, Kenn Gividen, couldn't resist a little publicity. He said he never used the drug. In fact he said he also never tried tobacco or alcohol. Let's hope the latter comments don't start another round of meaningless confessions.
It's interesting that Gividen found it necessary to comment on his habits when he was young, but he didn't mention that his party wants drug laws eliminated.
There are real issues in this campaign. The candidates have ideas about how to lead Indiana in the next four years.
The use of drugs when young would be an issue only if the candidates lied about it. It appears they didn't so let's get on with the task of deciding which of these men will be governor next year.
