The Smoking Gun.

Feb 15, 2007 at 10:08 AM
39 comments

I mean really...

I don't like it, actually I really hate it. But is it enough to make me reconsider my election vote? Not likely. I usually don't speak about what I see or hear or read in the news, because most of what's considered top news just makes me roll my eyes.

But the whole Barack smokes thing? Enough already. God Bless him for trying to quit smoking during a insanely stressful time in his life. He's preparing a presidency run, he's got the eyes of an entire country on him, he's being scrutinized for every thought he's ever dared express out loud...and he picks NOW as the time to stop? Just because the media says, "it's not proper for you to do so."

Ummm...

It's also not "proper" to cheat on your spouse, lie, manipulate, drink excessively, abuse medications, squirrel away funds, break a promise, insult another person's beliefs or kill...but somehow we manage to just accept some of these things as typical fare in politics.

Is it a hazardous habit? Surely. Does he know that? Surely. Has his habit infringed on his ability to be an intelligent and savvy political mind? Not yet. Will his ability or inability to cease smoking give us an indicator of his ability to lead a nation? Let's look at our track record.

George couldn't eat pretzels without choking and he still can't pronounce "nuclear." Ronnie was an actor, and sometimes forgot what he was talking about mid-sentence. Bill (don't get me wrong, I dug Bill) couldn't keep himself from the Value meals at Mickey D's, not to mention that difficult problem he had with schtupping women after his marriage to Hil. Surely, if we could look beyond those little issues with ease...we can get past a cigarette. It stuns me how we get so caught up in appearances about what our president should and shouldn't do...when we are a nation filled to the brim with hypocrisy and absurd double standards. I say, who gives a damn if he smokes? There's a lot more going on behind the walls of the American home every day that someone, somewhere else might be "ashamed of."

Is this REALLY an issue?

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[this is good]

Jeez-o-pete. I'm going to take this as a positive sign. If this is the worst thing they can come up with to attack him on, he's gotta be pretty clean. I mean, they've got to be desperate if they're nagging on this. Hell, the Republicans may not smoke, but I bet they all take money from big tobacco. I'd like to see Obama make a comment about that.

Oh, and then I heard them trying to make a big deal over the fact that he's the freshman senator who spent the most on foreign trips in his first year. Only at the end did they mention that there are other freshman senators who accepted trips from lobbyists, which Obama won't do.

[this is good]

Well said.

Oh, and then I heard them trying to make a big deal over the fact that he's the freshman senator who spent the most on foreign trips in his first year. Only at the end did they mention that there are other freshman senators who accepted trips from lobbyists, which Obama won't do.

Isn't it absurd? I was watching the press hounding Pelosi last week about the whole issue with her travel preferences and the expense associated with it. It's all so completely banal. I love when they add a tiny addendum at the end that's significant enough for you to ask.."so..why was this news?" It's high school politics.

Haha good point Redz...if that's the worst they can find...

Schtupping is a great word.

Smoking is bad but he knows that so that's up to him. I'd rather have him be a smart smoker than a dumbass frat boy that says nucular and wipes his glasses on unsuspecting women's sweaters.

There are worse things he could be doing than smoking. I wish the media didn't make such a big deal about it.

[this is good]

This is what happens when we have 24 hour news services....they run out of things to report. I'm not a smoker, never will be a smoker and I hate the smell of it but I agree with you on this. This is just another way of the media to take focus off of this fiasco of a situation that is going on in Iraq. Speaking of that...now they(Republicans) realize it's a "civil war" that is going on over there.

Media...look for "real" issues about this gentleman. Man o Man...Media...you gotta love 'em.

I think, as RedZ mentiomed, its a lack of having much else to chew on. Sad, isn't it? We gotta have something to crucify people about...

[ciò è buono]

now watch, next week there's gonna be a big controversy because either he prefers boxers over briefs, somehow missed the pepsi challenge or can actually eat just one of lays brand potato chips.

just you wait...

and remember you read it here first! *giggle*

I thought, when smoking was mentioned, it was gonna be that reefer stuff. Gosh, even Bill got away with that one!

But no - not the I didn't inhale crap, just cigarettes. Gosh.

Cannabis jumped to mind cos the British Media are onto Cameron to admit he smoked cannabis at University, to which his reply is Politicians deserve some private life. Piss off. Which at least makes me like him a little more.

In an interview, he said his wife, Michelle, made quitting smoking part of the deal of him running. The stress is bad enough for his health. She looked at the camera and said "america, if you catch him smoking, call me." which i found very funny.

[this is good]

It's still amazing to me how the so-called "liberal media" finds a way to call out every freakin' little misstep, every most minor flaw, silly faux paus or contradiction of a Democratic candidate for this office and let's Republican of every stripe get away with everything from racism and intellectual bankruptcy to felonious lies, outright murder and genocide.

There is no liberal media, hell..there are few people anymore who even know what the job of the media is supposed to be, let alone "news" organizations that fulfill that role with integrity and purpose! It really pisses me off. Yes, there is a 24/7 news hole to fill, but there are survival-significant, life-altering, moral, ethical and political issues that never seem to find their way into it! Arrgghhhh......

Great post by the way!

I know, I watched that, and I could appreciate her concern, and her challenge to America...but I remember CNN analysts actually discussing it as it was something that could hurt him as a viable candidate. I want to believe it was tongue in cheek, but I fell out of my chair nonetheless.

[this is good]

Let's not get too excited folks. This is not the worst - it is just the first. There will be more. I would call this time the amuse bouche portion of the menu (the stuff you eat to keep you busy before you eat). Fox "News" is still hard at work on the rest of the menu.

Is it ridiculous? Of course. And frankly I'm so jaded now that I wouldn't be surprised if the AMA decided that the press shouldn't show Obama's videos on the news for fear of setting a negative example for the kiddies.

And don't get me started on being articulate or being black enough or I might just go "nukular" on you. ;-)

[this is good]

Excellent post!

If it wasn't this, it would be something else.

....I hate people!

I think it is ridiculous as well, but I'm not sure the Democrats didn’t bring this on themselves. Democrats are the ones that have made smoking a political issue and come across strongly as anti-smoking/anti-tobacco, and they know they have people in their on party doing it. All it means to me is they need to stop making smoking a political issue and leave smokers alone. Focus on things that matter. Besides, I find Democrats inconsistent as hell on this one. They want to let people have the right to die and not be hooked up to a thousand machines (which is good, I am with them on this), but God forbid they let people kill themselves by smoking or eating something they enjoy. I guess you have to be on your death bed before you gain that freedom.

[this is good]

Great post and great comments by all. I'm sad to say that I think Karen is right. There will be more to come. But, it is nice that their first shot is a weak one. Perhaps that is their strategy, though, like bull fighting. They don't want him out completely this early. So they just take a few stabs to weaken him and then take him out later. Hang in there, Obama (did anyone else just get a mental picture of a poster with a cat hanging on a tree limb? I need some caffeine).

No, it's not an issue. And since I've already commented elsewhere on this particular thing, I'll just link you to my comment, so if you're interested, you can read it.

Hahahahah...no shit.

I heard him on an interview with his wife - I thought he was trying to quit because she wanted him to! Good for him, but you know - from my personal experience, you can only quit when you're damned good and ready and doing it for yourself. I hope he's ready, but him being a smoker won't change MY vote! In fact, the only thing about his smoking or non-smoking that might would be if he turns into one of those obnoxious, rabid, hateful EX-smokers who plays holier-than-thou with everyone else on the planet who still smokes. Stay human, Obama, and you've got my vote - smoker or not.

Sheesh.

I read a poll on NaNoWriMo.org a while back that scared the crap out of me. A fairly high percentage of people would rather be married to a convicted felon than to a smoker. Where the @#$% are your priorities, people??? I'd rather be surrounded by a perpetual cloud of stale and nasty smoke than to live in a society of morons.

I'd say it all depends on what the felony was. ;o) Smoking kills people, as do murderers. I wouldn't marry a convicted murderer, but maybe a non-violent felony conviction would still be preferable to a smoker. I'm just biased, because I already have so many felons in my family. When half your family's been in prison, it's easy to think, "Gosh, I wish they'd give up smoking."

LOL!! If you were here, Redz, I'd smack you with something. Just on general principles. But that'd probably only be a misdemeanor...

I didn't smoke in my own home, so I couldn't be accused of killing anyone except maybe me - and damnably slowly, at that.

Okay, you two are just KILLING ME. lololol. Now Holly, I gotta say...if I had to choose between a convicted felon and the smoker, I would have to ask what the felony was.

I've got family members who are smokers (and yes I do pitch a bitch about it), and I have loved a felon (another story, another day)...and if I had my rathers? I'd rather deal with the felony. Hell, I know the smoking has got to the hardest habit to kick. Six to ten in a metal can might make you think twice about screwing up again. Now I know statistics might say both are pretty hard to come back from.

But...having grown up in the stale cloud of smoke all my life to now having a choice...you couldn't pay me to live in that environment again.

RPM replied to electric firefly’s comment:
Feb 15, 2007
Reply

Electric, to you and Karen's point...it's the reason I keep stepping lightly. Waiting for the real punches to start. Remember the big hullabaloo about his grade school affiliations with controversial muslim curriculum? GRADE SCHOOL??!?!?!

Piss off, indeed. Ironic that with politics, these folks are expected to have never even considered the things that the rest of the world does. They are not supposed to be human until we elect them into office, I suppose.

You said it all, sister.

PS...Matt: I agree, it is a horrific double standard...but is the Democratic party really responsible for pushing the Obama smoking nonsense, or are you saying it's a case of the chickens coming home to roost? Either way, you bring a great perspective to the discussion.

Ack. Last I checked, it was still legal to smoke, at least in some places. Who the hell cares if he smokes?! Other than those who have to put up with it in person. I don't smoke. I don't really like it when people smoke near me. But, for pete's sake, what the hell does this have to do with the election? Besides, there are other types of sanctioned air pollution and poisoning of our environment that worry me more. But I digress. I have to echo those who have commented that it's pretty lame if this is the worst dirt they can dig up.

You might want to check again.

"The Belmont City Council voted unanimously last night to pursue a strict law that will prohibit smoking anywhere in the city except for single-family detached residences. Smoking on the street, in a park and even in one’s car will become illegal and police would have the option of handing out tickets if they catch someone."

Which means, of course, that you can't smoke in apartment buildings.

Very much the chicken coming home to roost. I think Obama is their golden boy, and they are being bitten because they haven't told that fringe part of their party that hates smoking to shut up and live with it. It is a free country and we have a little thing called FREEDOM. It is the same reason I oppose the Republican Party’s position on gay marriage and their anti-gay agenda. It isn’t the government’s business who people sleep with. It isn’t the government’s business what I smoke.

[this is good]

I'll take a president who smokes as opposed to just being plain ol' stupid *cough cough* Bush *cough cough* any day.

[this is good]

This is exactly why I can't watch CNN anymore without shoving a cork screw in my ear and turning it 15 times (i mean i have to becareful, right? i don't want to end up with brain dama -- I LIKE WOODEN!!!).

I think there is a prevailing concept dictating all news producers that "bad news" is good news. I even heard a CNN anchor reply about a "story we've been spinning for the past hour."

Was that a slip on her part? I was under the impression that to "spin" was to interprete in context with reporting. Guess what? I don't want Wolf Blitzer's opinion on Barack's life style, I want the facts of where he stands and what HIS opinions on the state of the union are.

Oh well, I just need to stop watching soo much tv... now where was I? ahhh yes, 12....13.....14......

LOL@Nikki. Exactly!

Matt - I hear you loud and clear. I figured it was chickens/roost. The parties have lost a sense of what they should be protecting and why. Thanks. :)

Karen:

I just read the link. Wow. I am not a smoker, but again...I think it's getting out of hand. I like to be in smoke free environments as much as the next non-smoker, but this is feeling way too big brotherly for me....

You know Ben...it's getting to the point now where no news is good news. It's all touched/tainted/indelibly scarred by spin. Glad to see you man!!!! I'm headed your way in less than a week. :)))

YES YOU ARE!!!! Okay, so I've played it cool until now but I am SOOOOO excited to seeee you!!! I say, like 4 times a day, "When does she get here???"

Same here. It's gonna be magically voxalicious.

Hey, I just read your comment Aine, brilliant!

*curtsies* Thank you. :)
It's what they like me for over there. hehe

Honestly, the more people make a deal of it, the more likely I am to vote for him because he smokes. Damn, I might even take up smoking just as a sign of support. Well, not quite, but the media just always have to pick on the most irrelevant issue and run it into the ground. I'm pretty sure somewhere there is an evil cabal of white men who decided Obama cannot be our next president and so have to smear him with whatever they can find...and is smoking all there is? If he has no more serious skeletons, I'm ready to vote for him right now.

[this is good]

finally a non-white person with half a chance of getting into a significant national position of power... thank God all they have to nit pick about is that he smokes.

The Smoking Gun.

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