Obama: 'Former smoker,' not 'constant'

As a former heavy smoker, the day I decided to quit, I quit. I had the will-power and internal fortitude to never touch a cigarette again. It isn't really that hard unless you are too weak.

He is a little bit in denial about his smoking habits. Nicotine is physically addictive. Until the addiction is broken, one cannot be a “former” smoker. It’s the addiction and the resulting withdrawal that makes that next cigarette a likely occurrence.

How many times was the last president asked about his ties to the bin Laden family? Now compare that to how many times this president has been asked about smoking. Which issue is more important? Thanks, mainstream media.

Nicotine is physically addictive. Until the addiction is broken, one cannot be a “former” smoker. It’s the addiction and the resulting withdrawal that makes that next cigarette a likely occurrence.

Posted by: John W. | June 23, 2009 5:44 PM
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Funny how you never bothered to bring up Shrubby Jr's addiction to alcohol and how he appeared to be drinking many times throughout the last eight years.
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http://my2bucks.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/bush-drinking-with-merkel-and-blair-3.jpg

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Posted by: angry old white guy | June 23, 2009 7:36 PM
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Is it really funny? Why? I’ve only been posting here for the last two years. During those two years, Duh’bya’s problems with alcohol haven’t been mentioned that I can recall. As such, commenting on them would have been a-topical for the most part.
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In any event, I simply tried not to think of Duh’bya and hoped he would go away. It’s the angry people like you who won’t deprive Duh’bya of the attention he craves, or allow him to pass into the obscurity that he deserves. You are so obsessed with him, I wouldn’t doubt that your great, great grandchildren might dig up Duh’bya’s carcass just to compare him to whatever crook might hold the White House 120 years from now. (That, of course, is assuming that you could find someone else gullible enough with whom to procreate.)

In between fielding questions dealing with the unrest in Iran, the fate of the economy, and the perils of global warming, Obama admitted that he still smokes occasionally, and that it is an ongoing battle. "As a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it," said Obama. "Have I fallen off the wagon with it? Yes." Obama added, however, that he never smokes in front of his two young daughters and not on a daily basis. During the presidential campaign, Obama occasionally bummed cigarettes from aides, but was never photographed by the media and made sure to emphasize he was working on getting his habit under control. Today, Obama that he is "95% cured," after a reporter asked about his struggle kicking the habit. As to the legitimacy of the question, the president brushed it off, saying "I understand...It's an interesting human interest story." He didn't see however, how it was relevant to the new law, but, in order to satisfy the media's quest for instant gratification on the subject, he wasted time talking about his own struggles. The President talked for a while about his struggles with nicotine, but didn't explain where exactly he lights up. But since he doesn't do it in front of his family, and the media hasn't witnessed him smoking, it seems that the question asked of him was unnecessary. The sweeping new legislation passed yesterday giving the FDA authority to regulate tobacco was a major step in protecting children. Obama has said he got hooked on cigarettes as a teenager, and as he signed the bill in the White House Rose Garden yesterday, he said "The decades-long effort to protect our children from the harmful effects of tobacco has emerged victorious." That should be the story, not Obama's own struggle with nicotine. He is, after all, a role model for children. Why complicate the issue?

Obama's smoking is a hot topic. Should it be? What message are we sending to kids?

Great reading, but shouldn't the Swamp write an article highlighting the staged question between the Obama administration's press office and the Huffington Post before Tuesday's press conference? The Drudge and Politico have already jumped on the opportunity to highlight this and so should The Swamp.

A former smoker is not a former smoker until he or she quits smoking completely and permanently thereby allowing the nicotine in their system to deplete itself. This usually takes about 72 hours. Any introduction of nicotine into their system by way of nicotine patches, nicotine gum, cigarettes or chewing tobacco renews the nicotine addiction. It is that simple truth that nicotine addicts do not realize that causes them to have to continue their battle with nicotine. I applaud President Obama's efforts to quit smoking and his honesty in admitting his failures. What better example of the strong power that nicotine and tobacco use dictates than our own President's battle with it? President Obama's honesty about his struggles is admirable and should be disclosed to the public and especially the youth of our nation in order to expose the truth about the dangers of tobacco use. As a former smoker and a tobacco induced lung cancer survivor I can relate to his situation. Quitting smoking is a difficult task but with enough effort and education it can be done. The story of my own nicotine addiction and successful battle can be read at www.quitterscanbewinners.com. It is my sincere hope that President Obama wins his battle with nicotine and become a proud quitter.