Penn Jillette Weighs in on Marijuana, Big Gov't & Hypocrisy: 'Obama Giggles About Dope Smoking & Doing Cocaine, But...

Author, illusionist and actor Penn Jillette has a fascinating background. As you may know, he's an atheist libertarian who is known for sharing his unfiltered social and political views at will. Naturally, as a result of this dynamic, Jillette attracts a wide ideological variety of supporters and fans. While many secularists simply love his message, as do a fair number of religious conservatives who also find him intriguing.

In a recent interview with writer Kevin Kelly that was published in The Washington Times Communities section, the famed comedian was candid about his views on a second term for President Barack Obama, marijuana laws, the creation of a new peace-driven political movement and plenty of other pertinent subjects. As a new presidential cycle is about to launch for the Democratic president, Jillette is hopeful that more "social freedom" will be advanced.

Penn Jillette attends the 'Celebrity Apprentice All Stars' Season 13 Press Conference at Jack Studios on October 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

While he is pleased, to a degree, with Obama's take on various social issues, he's hoping to see the president advance this agenda even further in a second term. Of particular note, Jillette said that he wishes Obama "would be more respectful to people who want to smoke marijuana"; he also said he wishes the president would more readily embrace states' rights.

"Obama giggles about dope smoking and doing cocaine, but still seems thrilled to send people to prison for that," the entertainer said. "I hasten to add that I have never had a sip of alcohol in my life and never a puff of marijuana, but I do believe that freedom matters and that should be everyone’s right."

Jillette also spoke out against the Patriot Act, the existence of so-called "kill lists" and other related national security issues. Additionally, he called for a new "peace movement" in America -- one that advocates "killing many, many, many fewer people." Clearly, the illusionist is speaking about the need for a candidate who more readily embraces international peace, as he noted that he views Obama and Republican Mitt Romney as virtually identical on matters of foreign policy.

Castmembers illusionist/magician Penn Jillette and singer Dee Snider attend the 'Celebrity Apprentice All Stars' Season 13 Bus Tour at on October 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

On the fiscal front, his ideas are equally fascinating. While he embraces a right-of-center worldview, he does so with some caveats:

"People still seem to think that they should vote themselves money. They seem to think there is stuff which they think is the government’s job, when it’s really the individual’s job. You have to be careful as a libertarian because you can sound very Republican. I don’t want people who are in poverty, in pain, or suffering, to suffer because it’s for their own good and they can pull themselves up by their bootstraps. I want to help them. I want us all to help them. I just don’t want to use guns to do it.”

Certainly, some conservatives would embrace many of the aforementioned ideals, while others would reject them -- but that's what makes Jillette so unique; he appeals, as stated, to a diverse subset of the American public.

Read the entire interview over on The Washington Times Communities section. And for more about Jillette and his atheist worldview, be sure to read TheBlaze's exclusive interview with the illusionist.

(H/T: Washington Times)

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