First of all the character issue related to smoking has to do with non-msokers taking our rights away and forcing 20% of the populaiton to pay for programs that should be paid for by 100% of the population. My problem is you have Obamas sweetheart deal (we'll back you if you pass this anti-smoker bill) back door deal with Calif. legislatures that couldn't get a similar tax past there voters because the tax on cigarettes is already so animated. Tax bullets, tax swimming pool owners, tax tire and brake manufactures that per car pump 50 pounds of black carcinogens including asbestos, through our air and water sheds, quit blaming your lung ailments on smokers who produce less than 12000 mgs per year. Less than 2 pounds. Tax hairspray, cleaning solvent and pesticide buyers. Tax child porn.
3000 kids under 16 die a year in pools, 10 under 25 from lung cancer and despite what ACS tells you, it's not form 2nd or 1st hand smoke. Look to your wheels. A single tire truck tire takes 25 gals of petroleum to make, throws 25 pounds of dust and chunks into the air and after 3 sets of retreads they toss the other 75 pounds into the garbage. Truck brakes laded with asbestoes and ground ceramics and metals, weigh several pounds. That stuff is tossed into the wind just like the tire crap. Road workers, tire workers, tire and brake people and their families were the victims of the largest insurance fraud in history. Lost benefits becaused they smoked. Right behind them are the military victimis crawling thru black powder and rubbel loaded with asbestos and pulverized building dust, even Rosie the Riveter who sprayed asbestos had her problems blamed in smoking because the ACS never asked the right questions but focused on smoking not on exposures. People smoke to relieve the stress caused by crooked governments and pseduo greens that think higher fuel economy will reduce the amount of pollution thier cars are putting on the highway. The tires and brakes are killing us 5 times as bad as the carbons coming from the tail pipe which in reality are less than what a tree produces. Gupta and Obama. Where the heck is Curly Joe.

When are they going to link smoking to global warming?

Tony,
Did you know that there are currently more x-smokers than smokers? Therefore, I find it hard to believe that nicotine is the most addictive poison.

Relative to what?

If you meant to ask 'is it relevant?' then the answer is yes.

Smoking is evidence of a deeper character flaw, and with Obama there are too many red flags to ignore.

This is but another...

Why does Mr. Butthead in that print ad look like Jay Leno?

Smoking is now considered a "character trait"?

I've not seen to date any photo taken of the man smoking in public. So if some feel the need to call his character into question, at least has enough character to light up in total privacy. If his image pops up in a cigarette advertisement in Japan, THEN some people might have a beef about his character.

I consider the original question to be rather silly. Smoking cigarettes is a physical addiction, and any comparison to his ability to lead a nation is hardly relative. He obviously led a nation to elect him, despite those who refused to vote for him because he admitted to smoking cigarettes.

I have always found that the most critical of people who smoke, have never had the habit. They know nothing about the nature of the addiction, despite all the information there is out there on the subject.

Nicotine is absolutely the most addictive poison on the planet. To date, there has not been one magical solution brought to market that would help everyone addicted to nicotine break their habits.

I think that there are some people who just have too much time on their hands, and they think about things that really are a non-issue.

This is one of those issues.

Sorry, but I completely disagree with the point that if you can't quit smoking, you don't have the capability to be president. Demanding perfectability isn't reality-based.

It's an invalid point.

You're only making it because you're so militantly anti-smoking.

The fact is, Neal, that everybody has their own little foibles and eccentricities and quirks that do not necessarily interfere with their being able to do their jobs.

I haven't voted for a Democrat in nearly 3 decades, and particularly consider Obama to be ill-prepared for the position of presidency. But making smoking an issue is absurd.

Although I am for gun control, there is always this argument that the country will let you by cigaretes which are far more likely to kill you

Love you, Neal, but I don't think it's fair to say that Obama's cigarette habit makes him a bad role model. He's not smoking in public. It's the press that's trotting this out and making it public. They should just shut up about it.

I remember hearing and reading stories of how Obamy had quit smoking quite some time ago... I guess I missed the news that he took it back up...


I don't think people will take up smoking because Obamy smokes... those people that would already do smoke... trust me.. But they might take up cocaine the way he did... in High School... I did hear him talk about cocaine in High School - way to go BO!

Is this republic?
Is this democracy?
When people decide,
Who’re divorced from reality.
When Dems opine,
Open your mind and think.
I’m just a citizen, I need no sympathy.
‘Cause I’m working hard, earning dough,
I’m paying bills, as I go,
Anyway the polls go, only freedom matters to me,
To me
Obama, will tax all men,
With a bold stroke of his pen,
He’ll raise our rates again.
Obama, that was my money.
But now you’ve taken all of it away,
Obama ooooo
Why do you have to pry
My last nickel from my callused hands??
I’ll revolt! I’ll revolt! Cause only freedom matters

Socialist, they nominate
Sends shivers down my spine
If he wins, we’re in hard times
I’ll lose every freedom I used to know
Forced to give them all right up for greater good.
Obama, oooo (any way the polls go)
I don’t wanna pay
For someone that has never worked for a day!
I’m just a free individual of this land!
Democrats, Democrats, why must you micro-manage?
Mercury laden lighting very, very frightening me!
Global warming, global warming
Global warming, global warming
Scam that makes our taxes grow; makes em grow-ow-ow-ow,
I’m just a citizen, my family loves me.
He’s just a citizen raising his family,
Spare his wife and kids from your Socialist decree!
I work hard for my dough, will you tax me low?
O-bama! No! We will not tax you low! Tax me low!
O-bama! We will not tax you low! Tax me low!
O-bama! We will not tax you low! Tax me low!
Will not tax you low! Tax me low!
Will not tax you low! Tax me low!
No,no,no,no,no,no,no- low low low low low low low
Harry Reid, Harry Reid. Harry Reid won’t tax me low.
Pelosi-bub has a tax rate hike for me, for me, and YOU

So she thinks she can tax me at rates sky high??
So she thinks she can tell me which light bulb to buy??
Oh Nancy, can’t do this to me Nancy
Just gonna vote out, gonna vote you outta here

Only freedom matters.
Anyone can see,
Only freedom matters, only freedom matters to me.

Anyway the polls go...