Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jan 2016
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Joe Warmington
Page: 3

ROFO: DID I SMOKE CRACK???

Former mayor says he's not totally sure, wants to see the video

Saying he knows his critics "are never going to leave it alone,"
Councillor Rob Ford put a wrinkle into the perceived fact that he
smoked crack cocaine.

Toronto's former mayor said on Wednesday he's not sure.

"I don't know what it was," the Ward 2 councillor said while in
chemotherapy at Mount Sinai Hospital. "This is why I want to see the
videos to see for sure. People who have seen them say I was completely
out of it. As embarrassed as I am, I have no idea what I did."

And, Ford said, the haze he was in applies to when - as mayor in 2013
- - he gave in to media pressure and admitted smoking crack.

He said he doesn't have a recollection either way.

His addictions were so out of control, common sense was not ruling the
day. He said that in his altered thinking, he actually thought the
media would leave him alone if he told reporters what they wanted to
hear. They still don't. "I have been without drugs or alcohol for
almost two years but I did not do drugs or drink today and that is my
focus."

Yet no matter how well he's doing in recovery, it does not get covered
that way.

"I am doing better now," he said. "I am trying."

So when it comes to Liberal MP Seamus O'Regan going into rehab, Ford
hopes "the media gives him the space he needs" because "it's not easy."

Ford said he hopes O'Regan receives better treatment.

"I know he went after me on Twitter but that's water under the
bridge," said Ford. "My heart just goes out to him."

Ford said his focus now is on beating cancer. A fighter, Ford turned
to social media on Wednesday to battle his foes.

CityNews had tweeted out "hey  did you know there's a
medical weed strain named after you? Any comment?"

He replied, "sure how about Hey  did you know that 'City' and
'News' are 2 separate words? or how's it feel to have 1/4 the
followers of Already having a "tough day" with the chemo, Ford said he felt putting
such a question on social media was designed to embarrass him.

He felt the same way about the Toronto Sun's Tuesday front page with
the headline "Crack a smile," next to a smiling Ford with cleaned-up
teeth.

"I am not a fan of the media," said Ford. "I have not taken any drugs
or drank for almost two years but they couldn't resist the shot. I
have been doing well and I am actually proud of myself."

When challenged if he was actually tweeting, his response was to tweet
a picture of himself holding up the front page of the National Post as
mocking proof. "I wasn't going to hold up the Sun, which treated me
like dirt."

He said he "ran my teeth through the car wash" and somehow that was
licence to bring the "crack" references. But was it crack? So the
media can be sure, Ford said he wants "everybody to see the videos" to
help find out.

At this point, he said, "I just don't know."
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MAP posted-by: Matt