Letters to the Editor
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A smoker and a liar
Sounds to me like Obama lied. Jake Tapper says it isn't the first time. Here's about 70 other examples with links to sources
http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/?cat=21
1.) Selma Got Me Born - LIAR, your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965.
2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - LIAR, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.
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But CIGARS are alright, right Clintonites?
Personally, I'd prefer to have a president who isn't a dry drunk or a monk, but hey, that's just me.
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ya know...
I am sure it has been said, but a lot of other crap happened today...jeeeez what is this site becoming?
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President Bartlett smoked every now and then...
...oh, wait. Never mind.
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I don't think it will make a difference
People may say that they are less likely to vote for a smoker, but I doubt very much that they actually will follow through on this. Smoking is "dirty" in today's day and age, but it isn't taken that seriously.
I don't think that a Presidential campaign is a particularly good time to quit smoking. A few people can just stop and never look back, but if Obama was that type he would have quit a long time ago. As long as he is very careful to not be photographed smoking, I don't think this will hurt his reputation. Photographs of him smoking would hurt him, because they would diminish his clean-cut image. In today's media world, only weak people and bad guys smoke. But the mere fact that he still smokes would not be a negative.
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The State of the War Room, as I see it...
This column has become almost completely irrelevant and quite boring...please bring back Tim Grieve and his posse!
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Real issues
McCain's complete lack of any real values, his immoral lust for war, his pandering to the lowest elements of society, none of that is an issue for him, but Obama's having a puff here and there would????
Have you Americans all gone completely bonkers? (Don't answer that... I already know the answer: you DID vote Bush in twice).
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Why smoking might hurt a candidate:
1. First people are very health conscious these days. To wit, it helped Huckabee that he lost weight. Could he have been a viable candidate if was as heavy as he used to be? Many people will make the assumption that a person who doesn't take care of his health may not tend to other things or, doing something as obviously damaging as smoking, may have a certain amount of self-loathing.
2. Some people are acutely allegeric to cigarettes. I am. One of the first things I heard about Obama when he began his campaign was that he smoked. I remember wrinkling my nose.
3. Reactions of people to the words cigarette or cigarette smoke may not be within their control. Rather than being logical, there may be a visceral repulsion depending upon the traits of the individual. For instance, one of the reasons I don't watch television or buy women's magazines is the food commercials. I see chocolate brownies or blizzards or banana splits or shakes or malts and I begin to immediately salivate. I cannot control this reaction and science tells us that people like me have poor impulse control around certain foods -- chocolate, t-bone steaks, etc. Likewise when I see a cigarette -- even when someone just removes one from a package and hasn't yet lit up, my stomach actually clenches and it is hard for me not to walk away or take a wide berth of that person. This has nothing to do with Obama personally. If Hillary or Edwards smoked, I would have the same reaction.
For instance, I would never go out with a man who smoked. I would never get in a car with a smoker. I never go to bars.
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Which President would you rather have?...
a: A guy whose breath smells like cigarette smoke from the Marlboros he has been smoking?
or
b: A guy whose breath smells like shit from all the Bullshit he has been telling us?
[Jeopardy Music... Doo-doo-doo-doo... Doo-doo-doo...]
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Oh, fer cryin' out loud
I have never smoked. I cannot stand cigarette smoke. But, I would rather elect an admitted former smoker than a compulsive liar or some senile old coot.
We need issues, Alex, not self-righteousness. And I actually LIKE your posts most of the time.
There are probably 20-25% of Americans who still think the moon landing was a hoax. Probably even more believe in extraterrestrials that anal probe humans and dissect cows. When did the lunatic fringe become the voice of the electorate?
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One thing is clear...
More than one [friend] -- including one who's a smoker herself -- said it changed their opinion of him for the worse.
Alex Koppelman needs new friends.
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Yeah, I'd vote for a smoker.
Not so much for a cocaine-addled dry drunk, though.
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Not an issue
While I yield to know one in my dislike of smoking (to those smokers who think that makes me a smoke nazi, fuck you; I get around smoke, I can't breathe. I feel like I'm drowning) If Barack wants to take a smoke or two on his own time, fire away. He can't do it in my house, but that's not likely to be an issue anytime soon.
As long as Barack promises not to engage in the occasional war or two, and he knows the difference between the U.S. Constitution and a roll of toilet paper, he should be entitled to a cig or two. But yes, preferably not in front of the kids.
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Would you read a pathetically partisan, anti-Obama blog posting every day?
If you are coming to Salon, how can you avoid it?
Koppelman, I lost whatever tiny bit of respect I had left for you, as you clearly are Joan's flying monkey on this anti-Obama crusade.
Feh.
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Obama smoking again? It's not about experience -- it's about judgment!
I like Sen. Obama, have contributed to his campaign, and will be eager to vote for him if nominated for President, but I have to say I am one of that portion of the population who find it disappointing that he has ever been a smoker, and even more disappointing that he persists in smoking. Anyone born after 1950 or so would have to have been unimaginably unaware not to know of the proven risks and dangers of tobacco smoking prior to commencing this unnecessary, expensive, and downright stupid habit. So, Barack Obama is bound to have known about the dangers and addictive nature of smoking prior to taking up the habit, whenever that occurred. Even if one categorizes the choice to begin smoking as one governed by youthful indiscretion and therefore worthy of being excused, to have persisted in smoking over the years despite certain knowledge of the health risks to both him and his family demonstrates fundamentally poor judgment on Senator Obama's part. Sure, quitting smoking is hard and often requires several attempts but millions have done it successfully. We'll be much better able, as a nation, to provide and afford the health care for all that is desired, if we relentlessly work to discourage and minimize smoking among all segments of society. Sen. Obama tells us that he has superior judgment -- and I suspect he does indeed compared to either Clinton or McCain -- but if he really wants to demonstrate the full range of superior judgment he'll quit smoking now, stick with it, and very publicly set the proper example for the nation.