THE GUARDIAN: Michelle Obama says husband has not had a cigarette in 12 months, though US president has yet to corroborate claimsPresident Barack Obama finally has kicked the smoking habit, Michelle Obama has revealed.
"Yes, he has," the first lady told reporters at the White House when asked whether her husband had finally done what millions of Americans cannot seem to do and quit smoking. "It's been almost a year."
She said she did not know exactly when he quit "because he never smoked a lot" and she never saw him light up. >>> Associated Press in Washington | Tuesday, February 08, 2011
My comment on this story:
First of all, what’s the big deal whether Obama still smokes or has given up? Personally, I couldn’t care less. I am no fan of Obama, but one thing I wouldn’t begrudge him is a few ciggies. If the president of a major country can’t enjoy a few puffs, then where are we?
I write as an ex-smoker, one who thinks that whilst smoking is not a healthy, good habit, there are far worse habits out there than puffing on a fag now and then. The world has gone slightly mad in its obsession with the evils of smoking. Smoking can be a very enjoyable habit, especially if one keeps it under control. I had years of pleasure from it, I willingly confess. And yes, as someone else has already stated, it can be cool, and it can be sexy too. (Sorry to all the health nuts and fascists out there. These are undeniable facts, I’m sorry.)
In my opinion, the world was a far better-run place when politicians puffed away, without paying any heed to the health freaks. In those days, politicians weren’t so obsessed by looks and image. They were far more interested in doing a damn good job in politics. As ex-Bundeskanzler Schmidt said recently, he wasn’t in politics to be a good rôle model for the young, but to do a fine job! I concur with the man’s assessment.
Obama is said to have struggled with his smoking habit for thirty years. This is mere hype. To start with, in the early years of his smoking habit, he is highly unlikely to have bothered about the habit itself or its effects. Then it has been stated that he only ever smoked three to five cigarettes a day. Oh yeh? Who is he trying to kid? If he only ever smoked so few cigarettes, he is highly unlikely ever to have “struggled” with his habit. Giving up for him would probably have been a cinch.
I have seen photos of Obama smoking in the early days (they now appear to have been expunged from the Web – were they from Der Spiegel, I wonder?), and I can assure you that a ‘chuffa train’ wouldn’t have belched out more smoke than Obama did in those photos. Hardly the mark of a light smoker!
Michelle obviously has a bee in her bonnet about smoking. And Obama is obviously under the thumb, if only ever so slightly. I can’t help but feel that this story is riddled with Michelle’s wishful thinking. If she isn’t trying to kid us, she’s certainly trying to kid herself and her two daughters.
My advice to Obama: If you want a few puffs now and then, don’t torture yourself, go for it! But be man enough and bold enough to admit it. You might even go up in my estimation (and others’?) for having the balls to tell everyone to go sit on it. – © Mark
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