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." (Z: The "rules" were set by Hillary, if a president's a smoker, can't he break them? And, of course, he won't answer the question but has "done a terrific job under the circumstances.." WHAT circumstances? Does he mean "For a smoker, I'm healthy"?)
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.
The 47-year-old president-elect, who takes office on January 20, works out daily at the gym and sometimes plays basketball. His doctor said in May he was in excellent health, often jogged 3 miles a day and was fit to serve as U.S. president.
Z: See where he says "FAIR ENOUGH?" .."FAIR ENOUGH?" Do you see what he does here? "I have stopped smoking......I haven't REALLY stopped smoking..." So, if he says he has but does smoke once in a while, any time a photographer catches him or someone sees him and reports that he's smoking it will be explained away by "....another one of those times when I've fallen off the wagon." He's SAFE! Get it? He covered all his bases. And, WHO CARES IF HE SMOKES? I don't! TELL THE TRUTH, Obama.....you're sure good at NOT telling the truth! FAIR ENOUGH, OBAMA?
About the picture above? Ya, he just HOPES he doesn't get caught.
z
45 comments:
youre so right Z..sheesh is all I can say!
Boy, this guy really makes our previous world champion in lying, Bill Clinton, look like a choir boy. Gives a new meaning to the word "slick". What a terrible mistake that whole undertaking is.
Mr.Z
I hope he quits, he's going to give us smokers a bad name.
Truth be told, smoking is probably the least harmful thing he'll do.
Pris
He was born to be a politician.
Who knows what else he's slithering around about.
BHO can't give a straight answer about anything.
I agree with Mr. Z, you would think Slick Willie would be hard to better but Obama may be a better liar.
Who cares?
Ya know, when it's all said and done and the last citizen of the world is standing on some hill overlooking the wreckage his last act is going to be to light up a Red and take one satisfying puff.
There's an image of satisfaction for ya.
Sheesh. If Obama wants to smoke he should just say, "Yeah, I'm a smoker. It's my choice to do so."
I can't believe that Brokaw actually called Obama on the bull crap! LOL!
like all children and chicago pols, he hates getting caught and called out. It'll get better
I was thinking all he had to have said was "I'm having a heck of a time quitting like so many do, and I'm sure working on it, believe me. I know it's not the best thing to do for my health and I'm hoping those periods where I can resist become longer and longer until I'm done with them."
OR just admit he doesn't want to quit.
Ducky, let's hope THE ONE doesn't lead us down the path to desctruction when "it's all said and done", huh?
Obob; that's my point: when we lie about little things.....and can't stand being called out...how much more?
If I were a journalist my question would be "Mr. Obama, how about the time you so obviously rubbed your middle finger against your face in speeches against Hillary and then, later, McCain? In effect, quite clearly giving them the finger, particularly obvious when one hears what you were saying at the time? Or the time you pretty much referred to Sarah Palin as a 'pig'? YOU can say you didn't, but you waited for applause from the audience on all those things!! WHY?....if you weren't intentional, if you had an itch on your cheek and only the mid finger COULD scratch it, or if you were just using a time-worn phrase, why'd you wait so long to get the laughter and applause which broke out when the crowd got it? Can Americans who found those things very disturbing, cheap and classess, can we expect you to stop that now, too?" Or if you do something awful like that again will you just say, again, you "fell off the wagon"?"
Ya. RIGHT. Somebody will ask that!
Frankly, I couldn't care less --- UNLESS he tries to act to like Mayor BLOOMBERG of NYC and become the wrist-slapping, commerce-stifling, joy-killing Diet Master and Health Habits Nanny to the Nation.
EEEEEEEEEUW!
Obama's wife, Michelle, has publicly admitted (on The View months ago) that he smokes, snores and frequently has bad breath.
Does anyone support Anti-Halitosis legislation?
I MIGHT, if I had to be a straphanger in crowded public transportation.
Hypocrisy and double standards are irksome, but BAD BREATH deserves SEVERE punishment --- don't you think?
};-)>
~ FreeThinke
PS: If people want to kill themselves by indulging in smoking, drinking or overeating, it is entirely THEIR business --- not ours.
DOWN with the NANNY STATE!
By the way, most of our presidents smoked like fiends. Many of them drank like fish too. And many of them had what-might-be-termed an excessive supply of testosterone as well.
Winston Churchill --- one of my very favorite characters of all time --- was overweight, didn't exercise very much if at all, slept late, conducted many important affairs of state while still in bed, and reportedly drank more than was good for him. So what? He was a GREAT man. - FT
PPS: Winston Churchill lived into his nineties.
I've seen his home, Chartwell, and examined many of the painting he did that still hang in his studio. Churchill in addition to being a daring, courageous and extremely clever politician, and a magnificent writer was also an extraordinarily gifted artist. I have to add, however, that he was a lousy bricklayer as the crooked, malproportioned walls he built in some of the garden areas at Chartwell attest.
~ FT
Well Ducky, I'm glad you finally have a clear vision where Liberal rule is going to lead us..glad we have the smokes around for that final day.
who was it rosevelt who had a sign on his desk, "walk softly but carry a big stick"? obama's sign on his desk, "smoke em if you got em'!!!
z, it goes back to his arrogance in thinking we are dumb and incapable of seeing what he can do. Remember watching him toss the flowers to the ground as McCain gently laid them down? He lacks true respect of what he is supposed to do.
I don't care if he smokes or not. Just man up. It's gonna get tougher hoss
Obama is an utterly dishonest and arrogant politician who can never admit that he is wrong without saving face through dishonesty.
From his former hate church, to the Fannie Mae debacle to the Surge.
Dead on Z. I don't care a bit about the smoking. Smoke 'em if ya' got 'em for all I care. But don't blow your smoke up our backsides. Tell the truth!!!
FT...absolutely right on "if people want to..." LET THEM!
Misfit; Scary point, but you are SO right. Yikes
OBOB! I didn't think many noticed that incident of the flowers at Ground Zero. I saw it live and couldn't BELIEVE that he had that little FEELING for what he was doing, where he was...no sensitivity! When you don't revere your country, her history, ALL of her people, you don't grieve like those who do, and you don't feel with the same depth. He just THREW the flowers...McCain, the older man, bent gingerly down (as did his wife) and laid the flowers gently in place. I thought that said an awful lot, too.
All great comments...WHY NOT JUST FESS UP!? Just TELL US. What more will this man lie about? the line's so long already.
Isn't there a saying about lying about little things leads to lying about big things. And, yes, it IS lying....
Papa Frank "Don't blow the smoke up our..." You wrapped up my blog piece and these excellent comments in just a few words...exactly the point; thanks.
He would identify with the common folk if he was honest about it.every body has vices
Probably the only thing I like about Obama is that he smokes.
I'm reminded of William F. Buckley pointing out the hypocrisy of the federal goverment funding campaigns to curb the use of the same tobaccco that the federal government subsidizes the growth of.
Sounds like a lot of my patients. "...yeah, I smoke, but only a little..." or, after calling them on their cigarette smoke smell about them, "...no, I don't smoke, just every once in a while...".
Also, Free Thinker, if people want to knowingly indulge in bad habits that's fine, just don't expect everyone else's tax dollars to pay for all your medical care down the road...
I am heartened to be in the company of conservatives, who are less likely to be politically correct.
And Ducky, while I don't know what kind of a smoke a Red is, I must say I do like the final scene in Escape From NY, where Kurt Russell in a final act of defiance, lights up. That's just the rebel in me speaking.
Pris
Beamish, I've had that thought, too!
SO WHAT if he smokes....??
That's SO not the point..of my blog, either.
Ya, Pris...Ducky doesn't address the lying (as usual, because he doesn't read the blog pieces, just the headlines, apparently), he just makes us aware, unwittingly, that he, too, is aware we're in GRAVE danger with THE ONE in charge, right?
Dr. John, with all due respect, when the healthcare industry excoriates patients who are, alcoholics, drug addicts, the obese, anorexics, the sedentary, motorcycle riders and others who engage in other risky behaviors etc, etc....... then we can talk.
Seniors all paid for medicare since it's inception, including smokers. Today, we need a supplement which Mr. Pris and I pay for. The idea that others pay for us is a bogus argument. We pay for others as well, including the non-insured, and illegal aliens.
Pris
Which translates to: "I'll tell you anything and what I say will stand -- UNLESS you 1. Challenge me on it and 2. Catch me in a proveable lie."
BZ
BZ: YOU BET.
Pris....VERY interesting conversation starting here! I hope Dr. John has time to come back.
Excellent points
Right Z, Obama should just say he smokes and be done with it.
Once he does, it'll be forgotten in his case. After all, he's "The One".
Pris
OK Z, boy you're quick on the trigger today. I answered your previous post while you were posting this one. Ha, Ha.
Yes it is interesting, this discussion. When we humans reach perfection I guess we'll be acceptable, except I don't know any perfect people, including doctors, BTW.
Pris
A Red is a Marlboro, Pris.
Pris...I am quicker than I ought to be...YOU know how busy I am right now!!! But, I can't walk by the office without LOOKING and WRITING!!
I just wrote another blog piece! I CAN'T HELP IT!>>
back to rehearsing, memorizing, practicing, wrapping, cooking, writing more cards, study homework...ARGH!
I'll probably write 2 more blogs today!
I've got another one up that Elbro's got to help publish; it's stuck and won't PRINT! (I need a CLAPPER!! HELP I WROTE IT AND I CAN"T PUBLISH!)
Thanks Ducky, for the clarification, my imagination was running wild. Ha, Ha.
Pris
I say appoint a special prosecutor, NOW !
This is big.
Z, I'm clapping, anything happen? (tee hee)
Pris
iT worked, Pris! Elbro fixed the piece and it's going up tonight...
FOOTBALL FOOD RECIPES!! I figured I was seeing lots of bloggers blogging football and I can't contribute except for FOOOOD!!!
Hey, Ducky? LYING IS HUGE.
You tell me why YOU think Obama wasn't truthful to Brokaw ( of all people, his cheerleader...MANY are getting disenchanted with their hero, notice that?) and still is dancing around it.
Why not "Ya, I smoke...I'm TRYING to stop" It might even be endearing.
Even to me.
naa. never mind.
I think BO doesn't know the difference, or worse yet doesn't care. If the MSM ever presses him he better be on his game. There'll be enought people who will light him up (pun intended) just for sport. That is of course, if the MSM calls him on anything.
Please excuse the language here, but WHO GIVES A FLYING FORNICATION IF OBAMA SMOKES?!!!!!! Z, this wasn't directed at you, I've heard the drivel about his smoking too, and if it helps him relax, who CARES? Gawd, have the idiots demonized smokers or what? I quit 8 years ago.
Morgan
MORGAN! WHO SAID I MINDED?
I said I DON"T MIND..I said WHO CARES?
it's the lie I care about...!!
Maybe this will spur new research on how to quit smoking.
It took me more tries than I can remember to stop. There were times when I thought I was done and I'd fall of the wagon. Personally I don't care if he smokes...and I don't think he's equivocating here...in my mind saying I had quit helped me to stay smoke free.
I agree. For me, it's not an issue of whether or not Obama smokes; it's about the ability to sit down, look someone in the eye and tell them the truth. Frankly, I don't care that Obama smokes. I don't smoke, but can't understand why Obama is not allowed to. If he's going to die from smoking, it will be long after his term as President.
There is another issue here. Nothing makes smokers more angry than telling them they cannot smoke. Imagine when Bill Clinton was President and hosting foreign leaders in the White House. Those foreign leaders want to have a smoke, but there is this very annoying lady (Hillary) telling them they cannot smoke. Again, this angers smokers. Now this woman is Secretary of State.
I don't care that BO smokes, I care that he lies about quitting. It's the character, stupid.
FYI: I don't care if anyone wants to smoke --- it's his business --- but at the same time it is strictly forbidden in my house. The STENCH lasts for a full week.
It's not a "moral" issue with me, and certainly has nothing to do with POLITICS. I just hate the smell of stale tobacco, and as a libertarian I reserve the right to set standards of conduct in my house.
That said, I have a large screened lanai, and anyone who can't live without a puff on the weed is welcome to smoke out there.
~ FreeThinke
..a puff on the weed, FT?
I had to read that twice.
;-)
Post a Comment