Obama and Smoking

**Milk3** · December 8th, 2008, 04:56 AM

"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."

Looks like he dodges answering questions about everything these days. At least he's setting a great example for the country [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif[/img]

**Shooter** · December 8th, 2008, 05:54 PM

I dont think I have ever heard him give a straight answer on anything. He's tries to hard to be a people pleaser. He wants everyone to love him so his answers are always vague and covering all points of view....

"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."

In other words...I want people to think I have stopped, but I'm going to lock myself in the White House shitter and puff away.

I mean honestly, why is he so worried about it? Why not just say "No, I havent been able to kick the habit. It's a horrible habit that is bad for my health, and one of the hardest things I know of to try and quit. I don't want kids out there to look up to me and think smoking is cool, I want them to look at me and see they should never take the first puff because they may not be able to stop, and could destroy their own health."

**R13** · December 8th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Is this even an issue? If it was somewhat of a significance, then it might be something to gripe about.

**Shooter** · December 8th, 2008, 06:23 PM

Again, r13 to the GREAT ONE's rescue.

I think you absolutely made the point we are trying to make. Why is HE making it an issue? Why not just say what I said above? But no, he has to do like every other issue, give vague answers so that noone really knows whats going on....even on such a non issue.

**R13** · December 8th, 2008, 06:27 PM

Brokaw asked Obama, "Have you stopped smoking?"

"I have," Obama replied.

Then said he has fallen off the wagon and Brokaw keeps asking about the same dumb thing...How is HE making it an issue?

**pvfan** · December 8th, 2008, 06:28 PM

You guys are arguing over whether or not a grown man smokes??????????

**Shooter** · December 8th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Actually, no. I could give a rats ass if he smokes or not. What we are pointing out is, Obama can't even give a straight answer on such a small thing.

**duckmeat** · December 8th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Exactly. This really is a non issue. I smoke, you guys gonna grill me about it?

**duckmeat** · December 8th, 2008, 06:31 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Actually, no. I could give a rats ass if he smokes or not. What we are pointing out is, Obama can't even give a straight answer on such a small thing. </div></div>

If he was up to a pack a day or something, and now only occasionally smokes one then I would consider that quitting. It's a damn hard thing to do, I know I can't.