Obama Says He Won't Be Smoking In White House

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/Reuters: Obama Says He Won't Be Smoking In White House
By REUTERS
Published: December 7, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama failed to give a straight answer when asked on a U.S. talkshow on Sunday whether he had managed to quit smoking.

In a country where cigarettes are responsible for one in five deaths and smoking costs tens of billions of dollars in health care, Obama has been under pressure to set an example by giving up his reported two-decade-old habit.

Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" program, interviewer Tom Brokaw told Obama he had ducked answering the question during an interview last month with ABC's Barbara Walters. Noting that the White House was a no-smoking zone, Brokaw asked Obama, "Have you stopped smoking?"

"I have," Obama replied, smiling broadly. "What I said was that there are times where I have fallen off the wagon."

"Wait a minute," Brokaw interjected, "that means you haven't stopped."

"Fair enough," Obama said. "What I would say is that I have done a terrific job under the circumstances of making myself much healthier. You will not see any violations of these rules in the White House."

Obama was often observed on the presidential campaign trail chewing Nicorette gum, which helps ease the craving for nicotine. He has tried several times to quit....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-us-usa-obama-smoking.html

[Cha]

1. I feel bad for Obama that

he can't quit cold turkey but he has to stop. For his health and to set an example for those who are trying.

I swear this just doesn't jell with all that Obama has and will accomplish.

Btw, I stopped after two years in the '70s.

[BuyingThyme]

2. Congratulations.

:applause:

[snowbear]

3. Wonder if he'll sneak out on the balcony for an occassional puff?

.
.

[Cha]

4. Yeah, he left

that open.

[Alcibiades]

5. It's his right

He wants to smoke, it's his right. It's not as if he were cheating on his wife or something--it's just cigarettes!

[Top Cat]

6. Let's give our President -elect some support

It is very hard to quit.

[Upton]

7. This has always troubled me about Obama

for I consider anyone who continues smoking, even while knowing the health risks involved, to be exhibiting a character flaw. Hopefully Obama will quit for good, and in doing so will be leading by example.

[JoePhilly]

9. My mother struggles to quite ....and she's had Cancer ...

Its not a character flaw ... its an addiction ... regardless of party affiliation.

I hope he fights it ... and remains public about his efforts, and miss-steps ... I think that would help many people.

[beachmom]

11. Not me. I don't feel comfortable with a leader unless he has at least one vice.

Plus cigarettes are more addictive than cocaine. The point is that he has made a concerted effort to quit, and will continue to do so in the future.

[Maven]

16. "It has been my experience that those with no vices have very few virtues." -- Abraham Lincoln

Ain't it the truth. ;)

[stillcool]

12. ooh man...I must be..

morally bankrupt. Nicotine, caffeine, and sugar are my major food groups. I don't drink or do other legal or illegal drugs, but I think maybe I should re-think that. It seems they are more socially acceptable than bumming a cigarette every now and then.

[Maven]

14. Well, you should reexamine your views. I think you're being overly judgmental.

Have you ever smoked? Or been addicted to another substance? It's a chemical dependency that requires the right environment and a lot of will power to overcome.

As someone who quit smoking, I empathize with Obama's difficulty quitting.

[Upton]

17. Literally millions have quit smoking over the years

many of them cold turkey, including myself. The fact that Obama seems unable to clear this hurdle is somewhat troubling.

[AllentownJake]

19. Yes keeps me up at night

:rofl:

I'm more worried about the supposed rehabbed drunks and pre-emptive war personally.

[mwei924]

27. Oh no, he smokes. Let's impeach him.

[AllentownJake]

18. If his only Character Flaw is smoking

I can live with that. There isn't a person on the planet that doesn't have a Character Flaw.

[BreweryYardRat]

22. Oh, piss off.

I forget which had which, but FDR and Winston Churchill had serious drug (opium or cocaine, I think) and alcohol dependencies, and Kennedy was a sex fiend. They still made magnificent achievements.

I'm not too worried by Obama's smoking habit.

[grace0418]

23. My best friend in the whole world smoked for years. And while I find the habit revolting,

I never would judge her like that. No one is perfect, and the smoking addiction is a powerful one.

[rvablue]

24. .....

:boring:..........not even close ro character flaws of the Shrub...please.

[mwei924]

26. Smoking is the least destructive flaw compared to his predecessors.

[brianna69]

8. He said he fell off the wagon a few times. That in no

way means he is smoking again. Sometimes before you fully quit you fall of the wagon but then you get right back on it and go again.

[Maven]

10. The stress of the campaign wasn't exactly the right environment to quit smoking.

Good thing he has a stress-free job to look forward to. ;)

[Captain Hilts]

13. I wish him well and hope that others join him in quitting. nt

[QC]

15. Quitting smoking is the hardest thing I have ever done.

I do not begrudge Obama the occasional fall from the wagon.

When the time is right for him, he will succeed at quitting.

[Jennicut]

20. Quitting smoking while running a stressful campaign to be president is not easy

I think he will do better once he is more settled at the White House. Besides, Michelle will kick his butt if he doesn't quit. Hang in there, Mr. President-elect!

[Colobo]

21. He'll do it. It's a struggle, but he will make it.

[FloridaJudy]

25. Oh noes!

He's been known to smoke! He can't possibly do a good job as President!



Kinda like this guy.

[davidpdx]

28. I've never been a smoker

but I've seen people struggle with the issue of smoking. Both of my parents were smokers, both quit (my mom quit, but unfortunately it killed my father). I hope he stops for the sake of his two daughters.