Obama Admits Smoking Cigarettes in Last Few Months

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Senator Barack Obama told reporters in St. Louis today that he has fallen off the wagon and smoked cigarettes in the last few months.

The presumptive Democratic nominee has been open about his smoking past: Once a heavy smoker, he publicly gave up the habit, per his wife’s request, to run for president.

Since quitting, Obama has indicated in the past that he has “fallen off the wagon” but before today was not specific about how recent his smoking was.

“Months,” Obama said of the last time he has smoked.



Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/06/obama-admits-sm.html

---

Ok, now he's unelectable! Horrors! :sarcasm:

In a way I can't blame him after the fun of getting battered by Rev Wright loops, bittergate, running against Hillary, yada, yada, yada.

How many hours will the MSM waste on this rest of the week?

[Name removed]

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[leftofcool]

2. So does half the Congress

But the MSM is gonna waste our time with this shit.

[Kermit77]

17. So does Laura Bush.

She is a secret smoker too. Have you ever checked her upper lip? She has mad wrinkles on it. You can see she puckers up a lot and I don't think it is to kiss George.
:smoke:

[leftofcool]

30. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW

Must you conjue up those visuals? Kissing GWB....... gag a maggot

[eowyn_of_rohan]

133. Lol - don't be so sure upper lip wrinkles are caused by smoking

one of my non-smoking friends has them worse than any of my smoking friends. It is more determined by aging and genes.

[chat_noir]

140. Laura is indeed a smoker

rightwinger in Yahoo chat bragged about smoking with her

[tammywammy]

3. Quitting smoking isn't easy

Considering the stress he's under, it doesn't surprise me that he's slipped a bit.

:shrug:

[RamboLiberal]

4. Yeah - wonder if we'll ever find out for sure if Bush

has been drinking or doing some drugs while in WH. I'd bet he has.

[BadgerKid]

9. The Slovenia pics seem suspect

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3415889

[Cal Carpenter]

31. I can smell the whiskey

just looking at those!

[LiberalFighter]

20. Guess I wasn't looking close enough when I saw "doing some dogs"

I wonder if Barney hides from Bush.

[JeanGrey]

117. Look at Bill Clinton! He has that huge red nose and reminded

me of my alcoholic grandfather..................

[mithnanthy]

59. He wouldn't be "human" if he DIDN'T slip up....

....I quit a year ago...cold turkey. I slipped up too but FINALLY beat it after one year...where I don't cheat anymore. Quitting must have been absolute HELL on him, with all that he has been though..(stress? need cigarette!)...more power to him...he can continue to quit and eventually won't need to slip up. It's a continuing struggle that finally gets accomplished with enough desire to do so.........usually,to PLEASE a family member or friend,which came before my concern about health issues. It was a horrible addiction to beat, let me tell ya!

[tammywammy]

80. I quit for 3 months last year

I was doing so good, no cheating even. Then I had a ton of stress placed upon me (a friend went missing). Yeah I was totally back to smoking again.

I'm working up the strength to give quitting another go around.

[Leeny]

124. tootsie pops

Try tootsie pops. Worked for me. 24 years and only slipped once. Good luck. It ain't easy!:bounce:

[jus_the_facts]

5. What the fuck ever....

....he's a grown man and it's legal...get the fuck over it already. :nopity:

[Trillo]

84. I read this as one of those human interest stories.

It makes him more like the rest of us imperfect ones who smoke. I'd love to be able to quit, but so far have only been able to make what appear to be permanent reductions in the rate of consumption. If I use a nicotine gum, I won't smoke while I have it on hand and use it, but then the gum becomes the replacement.

I always tell younger folks to not start, and if I see them smoking, I briefly share with them how I'd love to quit and haven't been able to. When I was a child, most of the characters in movies smoked, including those playing the parts of doctors. I suspect that was something that made it appear it was something 'that normal adults do'. Fortunately, that is no longer the case.

Hey, Barak, it's okay with me, I understand.

[jus_the_facts]

85. Indeed...another factoid...if second hand smoke kills....well.....

...I shouldn't have made it out of the womb...much less to age 40...after becoming a smoker myself in my teens....I've breathed second hand smoke since conception and here I still am...smokin' like a freight train...guess I'm just some freak of nature according to the current science on smoking. :hi:

[CreekDog]

94. that you survived it unscathed doesn't make it safe

:think:

[jus_the_facts]

105. Where did I say it was safe?

:think:

[CreekDog]

106. you said:

"...if second hand smoke kills....well.....
...I shouldn't have made it out of the womb...much less to age 40...after becoming a smoker myself in my teens....I've breathed second hand smoke since conception and here I still am...smokin' like a freight train...guess I'm just some freak of nature according to the current science on smoking."

you didn't say it was safe, but i can't tell if you were saying that you are just lucky despite the science you are okay or whether you are doubting the science that says secondhand smoke kills.

and i didn't say anything incorrect in pointing out to anybody that your current health doesn't invalidate the science or mitigate the dangers --they are still there.

people survive plane crashes too, doesn't mean they don't kill! :rofl: :hi:

i'm not sure we even need to argue, perhaps we agree, i'm just putting in my two cents.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

134. Life isn't safe. n/t

[CreekDog]

141. oh really?

well that changes everything!!! :eyes:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

142. should at least make you snap out of it

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

-- Helen Keller

[CreekDog]

143. i had no idea life was unsafe

:sarcasm:

i mean, up until now, i thought everything in life was unsafe, except for smoking.

what a revelation! :eyes: :rofl:

[minnesota_liberal]

129. Smoking since conception?

Wow! I didn't know that was possible.

Anyway, here's to your continued good health!
:toast:

[jus_the_facts]

135. If you include second hand smoke....

...both my parents smoked and everyone else on both sides of the family too....so yeah. Thanks. :hi:

[JeanGrey]

118. When he's President I am going to start lobbying and

bombarding him for money for LUNG CANCER EARLY DETECTION and research..... it is so needed!!

[Leeny]

125. Thank you

Thank you. Can we move on now?
:boring:

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Um...did it kill thousands in Iraq?

Will there be sanctions against him now as a "smoking gun" of WMD?


Or, will McSame rule the day today by stating he is free of that demon, and that attacking Iran and a hundred year war in Iraq is just the peachy-keen cat's pajamas, and all should believe him to be a good man?

News????? I could give a flying fuck about Obama smoking.
At least he does ot want to continue the "stay the course" bullshit killer mentality.


Hey, Laura Bush! Where are you smoking these days????

[Name removed]

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[candice]

7. MSM loves Obama! They sold us Bush twice and Iraq, too....

...I'm voting for the one the media does NOT choose in November.

[Mrs. Overall]

14. Make the best of it--you have a few hours left to tell us you aren't voting for Obama....

[Name removed]

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[Mrs. Overall]

35. Bye....

[sharp_stick]

39. Something tells me you won't be here long with that shit

For fucks sake just go away already, this limpballs driven bullshit is nauseating. Even in the dark days of GDP I don't think this drivel is tolerated that much.

[IsItJustMe]

120. bye bye.

[frazzled]

8. My alderman told me that last month

I was sneaking off to have a well-deserved few puffs after contributing several hours on my hands and knees pulling skanky weeds and sweeping up garbage in my neighborhood on cleanup day. I tried not to be seen indulging in this reprehensible habit, especially as our clean-cut alderman had dropped by. But he spotted me. And then he pulled out a cig and lit up himself. We laughed as a third person did also. And the subject of Obama came up. Alderman X said he was still smoking. No, we protested! Yes, he said.

So I knew this.

It makes me kind of like him.

[ErinBerin84]

10. it's pretty disgusting that ABC is making this a story

Remember Jake Tapper's "I smelt cigarette smoke on Obama in August!"story? So desperate.

[closeupready]

11. This is not a big deal.

Quitting smoking is the hardest thing to do.

[LTR]

36. It's a real bitch

Tough habit to break.

And it appears Obama has done well in cutting down, or so I've heard.

Maybe he should switch to jellybeans like Reagan did to quit smoking.

[KittyWampus]

112. FYI, those jellybeans were a prompt for Reagan who was in early stages of Alzheimers

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. As a smoker myself, I say kudos to him for even trying at a time like this.

I would have fallen off the wagon on Day 2, because that's been my previous pattern. In good times it's hard enough, but undergoing the stress of a seemingly neverending campaign, I don't think I would even have tried.

[MJJP21]

13. Be Serious

Be serious. Are we actually going to entertain this topic as being relevent to the presidency? So what if he fell off the wagon. So what if he lied about smoking. No one out there is perfect and Barack is as good as it gets.

[JDPriestly]

57. Yes. Obama has to quit. He is setting a bad example for kids.

But no one expects him to have an easy time of it.

He should not break his promises. That is a bad sign. But it is good that he is being honest about falling off the wagon. I wish him luck as he continues to try to stay away from cigarettes. I think that Michelle wants him to quit. It is for his health. She loves him and knows what is good for him. If she wants him to quit, we should all support his effort to quit.

[davidinalameda]

107. let's talk about the example that Bill Clinton set for the kids

[JeanGrey]

119. Let's not.

[complain jane]

115. and the repukes

could say that if he can't handle this pressure, how will he handle being president.

Which is crap of course, just sayin'.

[bdamomma]

15. oh big effing deal, does not compare with all this

http://www.35articles.com

[nolabels]

77. Why would corporate media report on something they were complicite with?

Don't get your hopes up about anything, they will figure out a way to steal it away from you do :argh:




COVER-UP at Google NEWS hides BUSH impeachment statistics
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3419015

[Iwillnevergiveup]

16. We can only wish

Barack the best in overcoming a horribly, horribly addicting habit. I know 2 people who quit smoking years ago, but are STILL chewing lots of Nicorette.

[JDPriestly]

58. I'm with you, Iwillnevergiveup.

[Petrushka]

79. All those people did was to trade one nicotine delivery system for another!

Tell 'em to check out the following URL:

http://www.quitsmokingonline.com

It has been at least two years since I even had the urge to reach for a cigarette.* After being a smoker for over 50 years**, it wasn't difficult to quit . . . not after I found that website . . . three years ago.





________________________________
*That "urge" for a cigarette hit me on the same sunny day we had new tires put on our olde station wagon, shopped for a week's worth of groceries, went speeding home on the Interstate and, about a mile after our exit where late-afternoon traffic was moving at a snail's pace through the stink of new asphalt and diesel fumes on the hottest day of the year with ice cream sure to melt before we reached home--when . . . ?? . . . oh, please, God, no! Why now? But, why not? Yep! If there had been one of 'em anywhere near me that day, I could have used a cigarette: The right-front wheel fell off the Pontiac!

**Obama is how old, did ya say? ;-)

[DeeDeeNY]

18. Oh my. A "smoking gun".

[orleans]

51. lol. n/t

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Indenturedebtor]

29. A responsible voter is an informed voter - so you're wrong

Obama has a pretty extensive voting record, and has put forward and passed some very important legislation. Most recently the HEART act.

He also has more legislative experience than HRC did, and has done a better job at connecting with voters than either HRC or McBush (psst he's gotten more votes than either of them, and leads in the polls).

So unless you're here to make shit up in support of McBush, then I really don't know what the hell you're talking about? :shrug:

[LTR]

37. Inexperienced?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6321939

One of the biggest attacks against Barack Obama is his supposed lack of experience. Some say he's not qualified to be president. Here's a little historical perspective.

One of our former presidents served for seven years in the Illinois General Assembly, then one two year term in the U.S. House of Representatives prior to being elected.

His name was Abraham Lincoln, and he did a fairly decent job.

Another former president was Governor of New Jersey for only two years. Prior to that, the closest to public legislative experience he got was as president of Princeton University.

That man was Woodrow Wilson, our president during World War I.

Then there was the former president who served two years in the New York State Senate, was Assistant Secretary of the Navy for eight years and served one four year term as Governor of New York before being elected President.

Many can attest to the fact that Franklin Delano Roosevelt did a pretty good job.

Another president held no elective office at all prior to being elected as Vice President, less than a year afterward ascending to the presidency. He was a product of patronage, and was appointed to lucrative positions thanks to his ties to a powerful political machine.

Chester Arthur, while not a great president, was instrumental in reforming the very civil service system that he was the beneficiary of, eliminating a great deal of government corruption. He also won praise for vetoing blatant pork barrel legislation from Congress.

Other presidents were previously cabinet members or appointed officials who had never held an elective office, such as Herbert Hoover and William Taft.

Then there was the guy who served only a two year term as a local sheriff, followed by a year as mayor of Buffalo, NY, followed by two years as Governor.

That was Grover Cleveland, the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Others that rose to the presidency from state governership backgrounds, with no national experience, include Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

In between the two Cleveland terms was Benjamin Harrison. His only elected government experience was one term in the U.S. Senate.

Theodore Roosevelt served two years as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, followed by two years as Governor of New York, prior to becoming Vice President and later ascending to the presidency.

Many military leaders with little or no political experience have run for and won the presidency, including George Washington, Andrew Jackson, William Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes and Dwight Eisenhower.

Granted, there were some not-so-good presidents in there with thin experience. Men such as Warren Harding, Herbert Hoover and Millard Fillmore. But there were also underwhelming presidents with long and vast backgrounds and loads of experience, such as Richard Nixon, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson, James Buchanan, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush.

All in all, it's about the person, not the resume. And Obama's experience is adequate.

[treestar]

40. This is great. Lincoln was a Senator too, wasn't he?

Which only makes him more similar.

[LTR]

43. No Senate

Only a two year term in the U.S. House.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. I am so glad to hear that, for personal reasons...

I hope he manages to quite eventually, it is very hard to do. I am a smoker as well, and frankly, this gives me some hope! When he said he was stopping at the top of the campaign I thought he was insane! All that pressure, smoke now, stop later! And he's always so relaxed and seemingly unflappable...if he's fallen off the wagon, I feel much better about my own attempts and failures. The idea that he stopped smoothly while running for President was too much for me to digest! Knowing he's had some glitches is a good thing for me!
This is not a political thought but a smoker's thought. I almost got to ask him a question this cycle and what I wanted to ask was ' If you quite tell me how, and if you are still fighting with it please share that as well'...of course I'd not have put him in that spot, but that was what I wanted to know ...deep in my lungs that was my question for the candidate.
Seriously, his smoking is something I relate to, those who might be upset by it are not people I understand. A nicotine addict I understand.
To me this is a plus, a humanizing element. I know some think smoking is the worst thing on Earth, but not me! Bad habit, but my habit. I have some Committ lozenges...soon to try again...
I certainly wish our nominee strength if he wishes to stop, but if he does not let him smoke in peace!

[Winterblues]

23. Guess he is not as smart as so many here believe he is..

Or do those same people feel smoking is a smart thing to do?

[slackmaster]

25. Stopping smoking is smart

And better late than never.

[aquart]

28. If Obama does it, it's a GOOD thing.

Get with the program. They'll sell it as a charming foible. Look how human he is.

Just make sure he is regularly checked for hypertension. It's not like the presidency is a low stress job.

[RadiationTherapy]

55. I am a robot. I only do 'smart' things. Give it a break with your fake bs. nt

[JDPriestly]

70. Some of us were smart enough to never start to smoke.

Almost all of my friends smoked in high school. I didn't. I'm glad I didn't. I'd be dead by now had I smoked that early.

[RadiationTherapy]

88. So what? Different choices for different people. Whether someone smokes or not

is no indication of intelligence or anything else.

[mac56]

130. How's the view from that high horse?

And no, I don't smoke. But there but for the grace of God go I.

[LanternWaste]

66. Has to do with addiction, not intelligence.

Quitting has to do with addiction, not intelligence-- or do you feel that the two are synonymous?


Since I am both a smoker and someone who supported Clinton to the butter end, I think I can detect feigned indignation and faux-righteous rage when presented with it (or, as Shakespeare wrote, "I can see a church by daylight").

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

76. I feel your argument is the opposite of smart.

I'd a higher opinion of you if you took up smoking.

[JNelson6563]

95. Ignorance, wear it as a badge of honor!

Dumbass.

[Zhade]

108. How dare he be human and not impervious to addiction!

:sarcasm:

[slackmaster]

24. Maybe that's what's on his birth certificate that he doesn't want people to see

"Born addicted to nicotine."

[Zhade]

109. LOL!

Nice.

[Drum]

26. Same here...only makes me empathise more w/him.

Quitting is tough!

Of course, my struggles with it don't make Late Breaking News....

[rox63]

27. Running for president is extremely stressful

So I can understand how he might have slipped up on this. It's a matter between him and his family. He doesn't smoke in public, so it's not like he's setting a bad example for kids out there.

[Petrushka]

82. "...between him and his family. He doesn't smoke in public...not...setting a bad example for kids

out there."??

B-But . . . :dilemma: . . . hm-m??



I mean: Like: Aren't his daughters "kids" as well as "family"?







:hide:

[southerncrone]

32. Well, we all have our vices. I prefer his to cocaine & heavy boozing.

The next thing you know we'll find out he uses too much nose spray, too! (I'm talking Afrin here.):sarcasm:

[MotorCityMan]

33. Why in the hell is this a headline?

Well, he lost my vote! If he can't stay off of cigarettes, how can you trust him to run the country? My god, next he'll be chewing gum!!! I don't want to have a beer with him anymore!

:sarcasm:

[Upton]

34. I wish he'd stop smoking for good

not only is it a nasty habit, but I consider it one of the few character flaws he has exhibited.

[Mojorabbit]

69. Smoking is a character flaw!

What an ignorant comment. Seriously.

[Upton]

72. Yep

considering the documented health risks, both to the smoker and to the smoker's loved ones that smoking poses, the inability to quit such a habit is IMO a character flaw. Hopefully, Obama will remedy this situation as he goes forward.

[Mojorabbit]

97. I consider

your sanctimonious pronouncements that quitting something which is harder than heroin to kick especially during a stressful time, a character flaw. But that is just me. I am sure you are perfect.

[LanternWaste]

73. Addiction does not speak to character

Addiction does not speak to character.

But yeah, I wish both he and I would kick the addiction...

[pleah]

38. OMFG!

The smoke nazis will probably want to flog him in public for this! :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :smoke:

[PSPS]

41. Oh! The horror! Well, that's it! I'm voting McCain!

Is this really important? I guess this is just another way for the media to subtly promote the "scary black man" idea. Maybe to placate the "morals squad" he should just have a cigar once in a while. Those seem to be somehow less objectionable and also helps keep the cigarette cravings at bay.

[Carnea]

42. Did he Inhale???? NT

[boomerbust]

44. He's smoking

but he doesn't inhale!!!!

[BayjanDem]

45. He's done

It's over, he's done.

[tomg]

46. One of the things I really enjoyed about

West Wing was when Bartlett used to go outside and grab a cigarette because he couldn't smoke in the White House. I quit twenty years ago, but every know and then ( like once every month or so)I would still bum one ( haven't done that in four years). When I see stuff like this,it really makes me like the guy even more.

[JDPriestly]

71. Read the psychological profiles of people who smoke.

The cigarette companies know exactly who they are aiming their ads at. They studied the psychology of smokers.

Here goes an excerpt from Philip Morris's report:

To the extent that smokers' personalities and life styles differ from those of nonsmokers, Dunn (1973) has pointed out that smokers are independent, antisocial, active and energetic, extraverted, impulsive, etc., and that they have more accidents, have poorer academic records, are more often male, etc.

The consequence of many of these descriptors for the two groups -- smoking adults and hyperactive children-- immediately suggests that the hyperctives may grow up to become cigarette smokers, and that the principal reason cigarette smokers appear to differ from non-smokers is that the smoking group contains most of the country's formerly hyperactive children, still showing many of the same characteristics they showed in childhood. It is furthermore tempting to suggest that in the past hyperactives adventitiously discovered that the stimulant characteristics of nicotine enables them to control some of their behavioral problems just as Ritalin does for today's children. Whether or not the nicotine suggestion is correct, the possiblity exists of accounting for some of the smoker-nonsmoker differences in terms of a hyperactive subgroup of smokers. Therefore we have been seeking a data source to provide us with a large sample of hyperactives who, at the time of their diagnosis, were too young to be smokers. We would then track these children until they reached smoking age, and compare the proportion of smokers among them with the proportion among a control group.

http://tobaccodocuments.org/landman/1000369089-9121.html

I wouldn't brag about smoking if I were you.

[jus_the_facts]

87. Oh so now you believe Phillip Morris and their *studies*....

:rofl:

[LeftishBrit]

131. Apart from the fact that this came out in 1977...

so is hardly up-to-date research, such studies generally refer to small but statistically significant differences between large groups. They cannot be reliably applied to individuals.

Most people who smoke started in childhood or early adolescence, when it seemed like a 'grown up' thing to do; and then found it hard to kick the habit. It's said to be more addictive than heroin.

While it would undoubtedly be better for Obama's health if he could give up completely, it really doesn't say much about him as a person.

[tomg]

132. Actually, possible the point of my post

wasn't clear. I smoked for almost twenty years - heavy smoker. Stopped cold one day twenty years ago. In my post, I simply said that on rare occasions I slipped and bummed one. Also said I haven't done that in quite some time - four years.

I was simply saying that Obama in his comments reminded me of Martin Sheen's character from West Wing. As an ex-smoker who recognizes how hard it is not only to quit but to stay quit, Obama's admitting that further humanized him for me. I think we demand far too much psuedo-perfection in our candidates' personal lives in the small issues (slips up on cigarettes, smoked pot in college, etc) and not enough in the major issues (violations of public trust, outright theft, warmongering). To say "it is tough to quit and stay quit" is not to give license to it.

I hope I was far from bragging about smoking. It is right up there with one of the three stupidest things I ever started. Still, thank you for the information regarding hyperactivity. Despite it being dated, I would have to say that it is highly likely that I was hyperactive. As to the rest, it is a pretty mixed bag.

[DuaneBidoux]

47. This shouldn't impact me but it does....

I'm sure that if he smoked a pipe everyone would feel differently: you know, a pipe sitting in a corner with a scotch and talking to colleagues about important global issues--of course that is okay.

But I do, unfairly I am sure, associate smoking cigarettes with a certain kind of mentality which is out of touch with the reality of what smoking does to the body. I also associate it with a certain inability or unwillingness to control ones actions. Ironically, I was a smoker for the early part of my adult life, although never heavy.

Don't worry, I'll still vote for him.

[OhioChick]

48. OMG....This is series1!1

:sarcasm:

[Sam Ervin jret]

49. He needs to switch to fancy cigars or a pipe. Then he'll be ok.

I think the pharmaceuticals in the nation's drinking water have gotten' to people if they really think this is an issue.

[jakefrep]

137. NO! Pipes are too elitist.

nt

[Teaser]

50. That's our press corps!

.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

52. poor guy. its hard to quit. besides its none of our business.

[woo me with science]

53. OMG, what about the CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!

Personally I think a cig. will look cool with the black coat and cowboy hat.

[silverlib]

54. Does this mean

that he is not Jesus and I am not in a cult?

[skooooo]

56. OMG I'm voting McCain!!

not!

[mtnester]

60. I feel for him, I really do

the timing for quitting was horrid...it is a recipe to fail.

Speaking as a person who on Saturday the 14th will be officially 10 months smoke free and also facing the anniversary of the death of her mother...it will be a bad day and a hard day, because lemmee tell you, there is not, so far, a week that goes by that I have not wanted to smoke just one more cigarette. I am still officialy in the danger zone (under two years). I can STILL stand outside or near a smoking area and close my eyes and inhale....I can identify a smoker who is smoking MY BRAND immediately...sigh.

Horrid addiction that I wish I had never started all those years ago, and fear will still call me back even now. I can empathize how hard it is to leave it behind, and he tried/is trying to do it during an incredibly stressful time...not good for success.

[KellyW]

65. Smoke free since 12-31-07

It took the right set of circumstances for me to succeed in quiting this time.
A horrible lung infection and 4 solid days in airports and on airplanes.

I am still addicted to nicotine. But my deliver system of choice is now Commit lozenges instead of burning leaves. Which work way better than any other "replacement system".

[mtnester]

90. I did it cold turkey

right before I was going to have some minor surgery...may as well quit while I feel shitty.

:hug:

[pokercat999]

61. I don't care what he smokes.

I'm much more concerned about his religion and how that will affect decisions he will make as Prez.

By the way I used to smoke 3 packs a day. One of the hardest things I ever did was quit. That was 26 years ago. I smoked from the time I was 12 till I was about 31.

[LanternWaste]

67. I care neither about his smoking, nor his religion,,,

I'll go you one further. I care neither about his smoking, nor his religion.

That he makes sound judgments once in office is my only concern. And I'm pretty optimistic about that one as well...

[pokercat999]

91. My concern was how his religion impacts his decisions.

Hopefully it will have a positive impact but I don't see that as a good bet. I'd say 4 to 1 any impact will be negative for non-christians. I do hope I'm wrong.

[LanternWaste]

93. For example...?

"I'd say 4 to 1 any impact will be negative for non-christians."

For example...?

Has his Senate record been negatively impacted by previous ties to his church and local religious leaders?

[pokercat999]

99. No, but that was always a "group vote" and I am pleased

with most of his votes. But you must certainly recognize that being the President has a special kind of public persona that carries a very different pressure than being 1 of 100. Like I said, put me down as hopeful but nervous. It's not his "church" I worry about it's his religion.....big difference. When listening to the entire(or most of it) Rev. Wright sermon I agree with most of what he says, just take out the "God is Great" bullshit. The politics of Rev. Wright I'm open to discuss in a positive light, his religion, that's another matter.

[Zhade]

110. I agree with your concerns, but am not worried.

Yet. : )

[Kool Kitty]

122. You're kidding, right?

[truthisfreedom]

62. I started smoking again April, when my ex-gf's ex-hubby died suddenly in eastern Europe.

Her kids were shattered, and she was smoking again, and just hanging out with her was enough to trigger.

I'll quit again, because I have to. I hate it. I wish Obama all the luck in the world trying to quit again.

[Throd]

63. Perhaps he enjoys smoking. What is the next non-issue?

[Carnea]

64. Honestly there are people around here who feel affairs are a private matter but smoking?

[poppysgal]

68. who cares?

I thought we had left the "cigar" type sabatoge in the past? May we move ahead now and support our candidate?:bounce:

[Bigmack]

74. There's only ONE vital response to this report -

There needs to be a MASSIVE number of emails - requests - BEGGING him to quit FOR GOOD! I've lost WAY too many of those I loved to cancer caused by smoking, including BOTH parents, and I DO NOT want to add to that list the first presidential candidate in forty years who has genuinely inspired in me a measure of confidence and hope. Ms Bigmack

[Marrah_G]

78. It makes him more human- We all have flaws

[David__77]

81. So he's human! Hurrah!

People loved Bill Clinton for eating McDonald's, and liked LBJ's vulgarity. I think a few cigarettes from someone who's trying to quit is more than acceptable.

[ChazII]

83. Sorry but I don't really care

if he smokes or not. No big deal.

[The Stranger]

86. How many Presidents going back from Eisenhower smoked?

[ramapo]

89. Michelle will make him sleep on the couch n/t

[Gemini Cat]

92. Oh well hell, that settles it. I'm voting for McSame.

This has GOT to be the single most important issue facing the U.S. today. Obama sneaking a smoke. Nothing is as important!!!!! Not the war, not a lack of health care, not the infrastructure eroding, big oil, KATRINA, global warming and any and all other issues that we face today.
Smoking!

:sarcasm: :banghead:

Where the hell are my cigarettes!?

[cyr330]

98. So fucking what?

At least he hasn't gotten anybody killed. . . .

[Doctor_J]

100. "This is viewed as horrific by those who don't care that the current resident is a crack-head"

Repeat after me - lying, cowardly hypocrites.

[SergeyDovlatov]

101. That is really important story to report... Not the impending Iran war, not ...

how media was instrumental in running propaganda campaign to get into the Iraq war.

No. What is important is to talk about superficial "safe" topics.

[az chela]

102. And this hurts his election How????

[superconnected]

103. If that's the best they can do they don't stand a chance in this election.

Why not concede now.

There's no other reason to not elect Obama... However Mcnasty has all kinds of crap on him.

[katerinasmommy]

104. I quit five years ago and sometimes I STILL want one

I stopped when I found out that I was pregnant. I just wanted to make sure that my daughter never got the idea that it was OK. But DAMN it was hard. I sympathize with the Senator and wish him well.

[liberal renegade]

111. smoke em if you got em.

[FloridaJudy]

113. Obama smokes?

Oh noes! That means he can't be a good President!



(do I really need this? ----> :sarcasm:)

[Blaq Dem]

114. No one noticed the funny smell???

At least he's being honest. No one wants to mention Cindy McCain's drug habit.

[Endangered Specie]

116. At least he doesn't drink excessively...

to the point that hes choking on pretzels

[Kool Kitty]

123. And falls off the sofa. Or the mountain bike.

Or drops the dog on it's head.

[Fumesucker]

121. Strange...

Obama does not think pot should be legal and is in favor of forced "treatment" for pot smokers, the great majority of whom are not addicted to pot.

And yet he is an admitted addict.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/25/479649.aspx

When a voter asked Obama if he was for the legalization of medical marijuana, Obama said that he wasn't in favor of legalization without scientific evidence and tight controls. Citing his mother who died from cancer young, Obama compared marijuana to morphine saying there was little difference between the two.

"My attitude is if the science and the doctors suggest that the best palliative care and the way to relieve pain and suffering is medical marijuana then that's something I'm open to because there's no difference between that and morphine when it comes to just giving people relief from pain,” Obama said. “But I want to do it under strict guidelines. I want it prescribed in the same way that other painkillers or palliative drugs are prescribed.”

But he added that he was concerned that the reasons for the use of marijuana would grow and create a "slippery slope."

"I was feeling really tense, so I needed a joint," Obama joked with the crowd of those who might try and undermine that type of system.

I know I'm going to get attacked for this, but I think that Obama is a major hypocrite on the subject of recreational drugs.

What is tobacco if not a recreational drug?

[jespwrs]

126. Another reason

To vote Obama!
I am enjoying a cigarette as I write. Ahhhhhh...Flavor country...

[Fumesucker]

128. Vote for Obama because he is a hypocrite?

Obama is a Christian, it's a little known fact that the sin the Christ most often and vociferously denounced was that of hypocrisy.

[MrSlayer]

127. I hadn't heard anything about it until now.

It's another non-issue.

[Citizen_Penn]

136. Anybody ever actually read Obama's book?

He was raised by what sounds like fairly heavy smokers - his grandparents.

Fact is, smokers raise smokers.

Hard to break that chain.

Big deal anyway, this primary season had me lighting up, too.

[Taverner]

138. To be honest, I'm surprised he lasted this long

Having quit smoking myself, I would have given in two weeks into the campaign.

[Dulcinea]

139. I'd smoke too if I were in his shoes.

Can you imagine the stress he's under every day? This is a non-issue. Personally, I'll take a "stress smoker" over the closet drunk now occupying the Oval Office.

Dulcinea
Stress & social smoker