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Obama explains his smoking goal to Tom Brokaw
(AP Photo/Meet The Press, Alex Wong)
We have seen President-elect Obama set a great example with regard to fitness and exercise. Barack and soon to be first lady Michelle are regularly involved in workout sessions everyday. But how can one set an example for fitness and health for this nation while continuing to smoke?
Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" program, interviewer Tom Brokaw asked Obama, "Have you stopped smoking?"
"I have," Obama replied, "What I said was that there are times where I have fallen off the wagon."
Brokaw replied with "Wait a minute, 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."
We can only hope Obama continues to walk his talk and quits smoking for good. 20% of all deaths are smoking related and if he is serious about reducing healthcare costs, he needs to not contribute his own dollars towards the tobacco industry.
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Comments
If this does not directly relate to how effectively Obama can/will run the country, it seems to me to be nobody's business.
Are we really that starved for news in this country? Aren't there more important things we could be focusing on given the state of things?
I am the first person to speak out against the ill effects of smoking on the smoker and on society in general. But poor Barack - give him a break! Here he finds himself suddenly seated in what is probably the hottest "hot seat" in the whole world, his entire life and that of his family thrown into irrevocable chaos. Granted, he asked for this, and there is much to be said in favor of our leaders setting a good health example for the nation, but now is not the time to demand he quit smoking!
I agree he needs to quit smoking. But having struggled with the nicotine addiction for many years now I understand how hard it is. According to the American Lung Association, most people quit several times before being successful quit permanently. Kudos to Obama for continuing to try to quit.
How can they be called the most fit couple in the white house if he still smokes and she is obviously overweight?
When he was asked if he had quit smoking, the first words out of his mouth was a lie. "I have", he replied, then had to correct the lie with an explaination.
When he was asked if he had quit smoking, the first words out of his mouth was a lie. "I have", he replied, then had to correct the lie with an explaination.
90% of criminals are smokers. 90% of suicides are smokers. 90% of alcoholics are smokers. (More info at h t t p:// medicolegal.tripod.com/effects.htm)
Smoking and other uses of the tobacco drug represents a DRUG ADDICTION, not a mere habit. Smokers and other tobacco users are mentally ill from this drug use. Smoking and tobacco must be banned and the tobacco pushers must be posecuted for the murder and genocide of the human race.
Smokers tend to lie a lot, too.
One of many more lies to come.
Smoking is one of the most difficult habits to kick - I have a grad degree and run a company and I smoke - So I guess Obama and I are in the 10% that you talk about Vaughan...you know what, I enjoy it.
Lets not forget about the horrible food that is sold at our American grocery stores and fast food/chain restaurants that make 1 in 2 Americans obese...
Here we go again, distracted by his actions. It isn't important that he smokes, what is important is how readily he lies. I'm much more concerned over his relationship with Rev. Wright than I am about his smoking. The media focuses on trivial matters such as his smoking, but gives him a free pass on his relationship with Rev. Wright. 20 years of exposure to a racist, anti-American pastor, and only after Wright is exposed as such, does Obama denounce his views, reluctantly at best. What else is this man hiding?
It is harder to quit smoking than to get off heroin. Science says so.
I can't believe someone said Michelle Obama is obviously overweight. No she's not. Oprah and I are obviously overweight. Give Michelle a break.
now that he's the Prezz to be, he's certainly the Man who can have anything he wants. so might as well replace smoking with a fine *** White Woman. Ask Willie the ex-mayaa of s.f. Make a move on that Groove Thang.
Your interrogation of this outstanding citizen and role model is nauseating. If Obama privately wants to smoke like many of the "good ole boys" with their fat cuban cigars then that's his business. I'm a nurse and I don't give a rats behind whether he smokes or not. Fix the damn economy and bring our boys home from Iraq. Focus on that. Obama and Michelle gave out turkeys for thanksgiving and that didn't make any headlines. Brokow and other nay sayers about a man who hasn't even taken office remind me how racist or stupid the media and the public in general can really be. Always focusing on the negative. No body is perfect so lets stick to the issues that matter. No one has seen Obama smoking I wouldn't know if this hadn't made my Yahoo headlines. What a waste of time.
You have the power of the media and you write this crap. You don't deserve your job.
This obviously is a sensitive subject to some. Smoking does not make Obama or anybody else a good or bad person. However, as the next president many of us hope Obama will be, a servant leader the likes of Ghandi, MLK, and Mother Teresa, I would hope he kicks the habit and sets a great example for our country. Change we can hope for.
is this true i think you r lie
The fact that he smokes is unimportant. Some of the best people I've ever known have been smokers.
Lying, well, that's another issue.
The fact that he smokes is unimportant. Some of the best people I've ever known have been smokers.
Lying, well, that's another issue.
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one with a couple of nasty people leaving comments. I so agree with you. My daughter worked for ACS for two years and was instrumental in getting our town smoke free. Now all of MA is. We don't let people drive drunk why should we let people kill us with their 2nd hand smoke..Jo stepping off her soapbox!
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