Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Obama's Smoking Is A Hot Topic

President Barack Obama yesterday signed the nation's strongest anti-smoking bill ever and praised it for providing critically needed protections for kids. At a White House news conference today, the President's own smoking was a hot topic. In between fielding questions dealing with the unrest in Iran, the fate of the economy, and the perils of global warming, Obama admitted that he still smokes occasionally, and that it is an ongoing battle. "As a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it," said Obama. "Have I fallen off the wagon with it? Yes." Obama added, however, that he never smokes in front of his two young daughters and not on a daily basis. During the presidential campaign, Obama occasionally bummed cigarettes from aides, but was never photographed by the media and made sure to emphasize he was working on getting his habit under control. Today, Obama that he is "95% cured," after a reporter asked about his struggle kicking the habit. As to the legitimacy of the question, the president brushed it off, saying "I understand...It's an interesting human interest story." He didn't see however, how it was relevant to the new law, but, in order to satisfy the media's quest for instant gratification on the subject, he wasted time talking about his own struggles. "There are times where I mess up...I get this question about once every month or so. And, you know, I don't know what to tell you, other than the fact that, you know, like folks who go to A.A., you know, once you've gone down this path, then it's something you continually struggle with, which is precisely why the legislation we signed was so important. Because what we don't want is kids going down that path in the first place." The President didn't explain where exactly he lights up, but since he doesn't do it in front of his family, and the media hasn't witnessed him smoking, it seems that the question asked of him was unnecessary. The sweeping new legislation passed yesterday giving the FDA authority to regulate tobacco was a major step in protecting children. Obama has said he got hooked on cigarettes as a teenager, and as he signed the bill in the White House Rose Garden yesterday, he said "The decades-long effort to protect our children from the harmful effects of tobacco has emerged victorious." That should be the story, not Obama's own struggle with nicotine. He is, after all, a role model for children. Why complicate the issue?

23 comments:

  1. "You know what a cigarette is, don't you? It's a fire on one end and a fool on the other" - Smorg's Mom

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  2. http://www.funnyjunk.com/youtube/5548/Obama+Dance+on+Ellen/

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  3. Typical Democrat... do as I say, not as I do.

    Ted Kennedy... supports assault weapons ban. Ted Kennedy owns an assault rifle. Senator Feinstein opposes handguns and CCW. Senator Feinstein has a CCW permit and owns handguns. Biden joins Obama and opposes the Iraq War. Biden's son goes to Iraq and Biden says we should stay until the job is finished so his grandkids don't have to go back and fight in Iraq. Obama is against tobacco. Obama smokes. Obama is against the rich. Obama is quite rich. Obama hates oil companies. Obama owns a lot of oil stocks. Etc...

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  4. and how many of them own large houses, cars, suvs, aircraft, and boats and have the gall to tell us to "reduce our lifestyle?"

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  5. "and how many of them own large houses, cars, suvs, aircraft, and boats and have the gall to tell us to "reduce our lifestyle?""

    ** raises hand ** - :-D

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  6. This shows you how hard it is to quit. President Obama is a good role model to kids, but I hope they don't think it's cool to smoke because he does (or did).

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  7. I didn't vote for the man but I give him credit for admitting that he smokes. I smoke, and wish that I had never picked up the first one but I did. I don't smoke or allow smoking in my house, I don't sit in smoking sections in restaurants because there is too much smoke for me and I hate the smell of them but I can't put them down. I have to applaud him for doing everything that he can to help kids not the take our path.

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  8. I walk on the earth and I hate gravity. Somebody stop me before something terrible happens.

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  9. Why is the media focusing on this?

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  10. This is not an issue that the President should need to address. There are other, more important issues that this country is facing at the moment, in addition to the images coming out of Iran. Kids don't need to hear that their President smokes cigarettes, and if he does it in private, why should anyone care?

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  11. As an ex-smoker I relate, man!

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  12. This story has gotten way more media coverage than it deserves. The reporter who asked the question should be ashamed. The Obama Administration has a lot to accomplish, and it doesn't need this distraction. Luckily, Obama takes it all in stride. No matter what, he's a good role model, and not just for kids. His analytical approach to solving problems is in direct contrast to the blithering idiots in the Bush Administration. So let the Obama have a smoke if he wants, but nobody has to know. It's not a big deal. Who cares?

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  13. Non-issue.

    If laws were passed to increase health inspections of slaughterhouses and poultry farms, would it matter whether or not the POTUS was a vegetarian?

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  14. It's only a "hot topic" to the media.

    The average American could not care less.

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  15. He is in the process of quitting. It is a difficult thing to do (I am 87 days without a smoke). His raising awareness to the issue is nothing but a positive thing and of course the mush mouths around here are going to turn everything he does into an issue to fuel their relentless hate. It must really hurt to be so spiteful so consistently. I hope y'all make it through the next 31/2 years without blowing a gasket. Good luck.

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  16. I love the Orwellian titles of the laws being passed of late...

    Ultimately, the measure to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes will INCREASE the number of cigarettes sold.

    The nicotine addict (been there - done that - hated getting over it) will continue to dose him/her self as needed (only those that REALLY want to quit will - regardless of legislative efforts to reduce smoking).

    If the government was truly concerned about the evils of nicotene and tar (and the temptations of Eve), there would be a ban on tobacco.

    This new "anti-smoking" measure is really a 'revenue enhancement bill' - there will be more cigarettes sold if the nicotene levels are reduced thus increasing the taxes brought in by sales of cigarettes.

    One almost has to admire how insidious our government has become - in a Dr. Evil sort of way...

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  17. yes making laws YOU do not obey is usually like that

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  18. Obama gave the female reporter a put down for asking about his smoking, but he answered. After 30 years of smoking, Obama is not going to help himself much by quitting, IMO.

    Since the man has his finger on the button, I hope Obama does relax with a smoke to think things over.

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  19. It's all about making the best of your health. Here is a web site that help, for smokers.www.simplystopsmoking.net
    That is a small problem for Obama compared to what he is really handling but cigarettes is the hottest drug on the streets here in Chicago people will pay $1 for 1 cigarette thats hot!!

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  20. I heard a whole bit on this on NPR this morning, and most people didn't seem to mind, I mean he's only human. Of course he has weaknesses, but at least he can be upfront about it, better than the media getting a picture of him smoking and whole "controversy" happening.

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  21. This is a tricky gray area, as George Michael Bluth might say. Honestly, that's the most high pressure job in existence and no matter how awful cigarettes are for you, they do take the edge off. If his vice is sneaking a cigarette now and then -- away from his children and anyone else for that matter -- then so be it. As far as political vices go, it's pretty harmless.

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  22. This subject seems to be a very popular issue for discussion. It just seems there's more important things to talk about than Obama's smoking habit. But I guess that's the story, right?

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