Obama with a cigarette?? smoking??

Hey! take a look at this picture. This is Barack Obama, the presidential candidate and the future president of the United States of America. what do you think about this picture?

[RFL1986]

Is that Photoshopped? Either way, I've always maintained that what a President does (aside from running the nation) could really matter less to me. If Obama needs a cigarette to relax then that's his own decision.

[mollyL]

Obama does indeed smoke; several months ago it was said he's trying to quit. Having been a smoker for many years, and then quitting, I know how hard it is to do. He's also great strain with non-stop campaigning, traveling, etc.

[justontime]

My first instinct was to think that the photo had been edited to make him look bad. As far as I know smoking is still legal in USA so there is no reason why he shouldn't smoke (except the obvious health reasons). I hope he would try to discourage others from starting to smoke and admit that he is trying to give up. None of us are perfect so I don't see why we should expect perfection from a potential president. Personally I would rather have honesty than apparent perfection.

[Serenity]

Originally Posted by justontime

My first instinct was to think that the photo had been edited to make him look bad. As far as I know smoking is still legal in USA so there is no reason why he shouldn't smoke (except the obvious health reasons). I hope he would try to discourage others from starting to smoke and admit that he is trying to give up. None of us are perfect so I don't see why we should expect perfection from a potential president. Personally I would rather have honesty than apparent perfection.

I'm with you, justontime. As an ex-smoker myself, I'm the last person that will condemn anyone for it. Any politician that's squeaky clean and seems too good to be true usually is, in my opinion. I don't see anything wrong with that - it's a personal choice he's made.

[mollyL]

You know, that's a pretty cool picture. Barack looks like a blues musician! Wonder how he is with a guitar?

[justjoy]

I personally, would rather see Obama with cigarette in hand than have him presenting himself as squeeky clean. I'd rather see the honesty and like others, hope that he'll discourage others from starting to smoke and admit that he is a smoker trying to quit.

[GlobalWarrior]

justjoy makes a good point. Having a 'squeeky clean' president almost makes me distrust them more because they're probably just more careful about hiding their bad habits. Smoking is a lot better than a lot of things a world leader could be doing!

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by GlobalWarrior

justjoy makes a good point. Having a 'squeeky clean' president almost makes me distrust them more because they're probably just more careful about hiding their bad habits. Smoking is a lot better than a lot of things a world leader could be doing!

you are right GlobalWarrior! .. I was just wondering.. do you prefer Obama with a cigarrette to Obama without a cigarrette?

Originally Posted by justjoy

I personally, would rather see Obama with cigarette in hand than have him presenting himself as squeeky clean. I'd rather see the honesty and like others, hope that he'll discourage others from starting to smoke and admit that he is a smoker trying to quit.

I am not saying that Obama is not good but let's face the facts.
1. Smoking is not good. smoking kills.
2. Good leaders set good examples.
3. Smoking is a bad example
4. Our leader smokes
5. therefore Our leader is... ?

[EviesEarth]

I do not think it is good for his image at all. Think of how many children look up to the President. It does not seem to be a good thing for a role model.

[tater03]

Good leaders set good examples. Are we talking about politicians? As for Obama smoking I just feel that there are so many worse things that he could be doing. I hope he does quit though if that is what he wants.

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by BBen

I am not saying that Obama is not good but let's face the facts.
1. Smoking is not good. smoking kills.
2. Good leaders set good examples.
3. Smoking is a bad example
4. Our leader smokes
5. therefore Our leader is... ?

great! .. that's a very challenging one there! ..

[ladyfaith]

This picture looks a little fixed to me. If it is real, I don't think this is a good example for him to be setting, but we cannot base what he will do for our country on whether or not he smokes. I'm sure we have had plenty of presidents who have also been smokers; some have been good and some haven't. While I am not a huge Obama fan, I certainly won't be letting this determine whether I do or do not vote for him come November.

[maryelser]

How many of our presidents or officials drink? I think that is worse than smoking (I'm not a smoker or drinker either). However, why should he stop smoking because he is running for president? That would make me dislike him even more for trying to be something he isn't just to make himself look better so might win the race. For his health and everyone else's health, they all need to quit smoking. My husband dips, so what can I say? :p

[suvan]

What's wrong with this picture of Mr.Obama !It's his life style & if he enjoys smoking cigarettes,then it's his rights & nobody can stop him.Being a president doesn't mean that he'll stop enjoying his life.

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by suvan

What's wrong with this picture of Mr.Obama !It's his life style & if he enjoys smoking cigarettes,then it's his rights & nobody can stop him.Being a president doesn't mean that he'll stop enjoying his life.

yes you are very right suvan.. he has the right to smoke but what BBen is trying to say is that.. good leaders are supposed to be setting good examples and as we all know smoking is a bad example.. it is his lifestyle and yes he has the right to smoke.. if that is the case then i think that gay people also have the right to do whatever they want.. women also have to right to abortion.. and so on.. what do you think?..

[cristlegirl]

The photo does look doctored to me, but even if he does smoke and is as someone is saying trying to quit isn't that setting a good example to children and adults?

Children will see that even the president thinks smoking is bad and quit doing it (once he does)

Adults will have a roll model to look up to to help them quit.

Personally that is his choice and I don't think it's going to matter when it comes to running the country. There really are more important matters to deal with, such as the economy and the war.

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by cristlegirl

The photo does look doctored to me, but even if he does smoke and is as someone is saying trying to quit isn't that setting a good example to children and adults?

Children will see that even the president thinks smoking is bad and quit doing it (once he does)

Adults will have a roll model to look up to to help them quit.

Personally that is his choice and I don't think it's going to matter when it comes to running the country. There really are more important matters to deal with, such as the economy and the war.

yes you are right. in fact, many people think it is impossible to quit smoking hence If Obama does quit smoking, then that can be a great example.. smoking kills and
i think it will be a very good idea to kill smoking before it kills him.. besides the physical consequences, I think smoking also goes against the Holy Bible and the Holy Korean.. smoking destroys the body which is the temple of God or Allah..

well, i don't know why but most people keep on protecting Obama over this smoking issue. we all know for sure that smoking is not good.. Obama knows that smoking is not good yet he smokes.. this is just addiction.. drug abuse.. Obama is a Christian and he is supposed to know far better than this.. in short, i think smoking is very bad. Obama smokes and therefore Obama should stop smoking before he turns bad..

[Simplyme]

I really do not care if he smokes or not. The photo looks messed with typically there is a lot more smoke coming from an idle cigarette like that but either way no big deal to me. Honestly, if watching a hundreds+ a day smoking don't push my kids into smoking then watching a President do it will not either.

[skats]

So what if he smokes? This society is getting out of hand. Condemning a person because he smokes is crazy. Smoking is legal and if what Obama does isn't illegal what difference does it make?

Stop putting judging people because they might do something that you don't consider morally right. It's no one's business.

By the way, I don't smoke and I do not support Obama.

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by skats

So what if he smokes? This society is getting out of hand. Condemning a person because he smokes is crazy. Smoking is legal and if what Obama does isn't illegal what difference does it make?

Stop putting judging people because they might do something that you don't consider morally right. It's no one's business.

By the way, I don't smoke and I do not support Obama.

smoking is legal and everybody has the right to smoke.. most people on the streets smoke because most of these people don't even know they are hurting themselves.. the major problem in Obama's case as BBen puts it is that Obama knows that smoking is not good yet he smokes which sounds rather confusing.. putting these aside, Obama is a Christian and smoking goes against the Bible.. smoking destroys the body which is the temple of God.

[DianaR]

Originally Posted by BBen

Hey! take a look at this picture. This is Barack Obama, the presidential candidate and the future president of the United States of America. what do you think about this picture?

This picture brings me a great deal of comfort. He is human and, apparently, a healthy smoker. I bet there are more people who are healthy smokers.

[BellaDC]

I don't think the fact that Obama smokes can determine if he will be a good president. We should be looking for other things that may affect our country instead of nitpicking about this. If he can make a change and improve things for the better, then let him smoke!

[Kofi]

I never knew that Barack Obama smokes. Maybe smoking is not bad in America or maybe it is considered a normal thing in America however, smoking is a taboo in Africa. smoking is a great sin and your father can dis-own you if you smoke. Not that people do not smoke in Africa but those people are always considered irresponsible or indecent. Since Obama happens to be a Kenyan, i don't think Africans will be happy to see Obama smoke. Most Africans don't know that Obama smokes and I think that if he stops smoking right now that will be a very good idea.

[Brandbla8]

Smoking does not make him a bad person or even a bad president for that matter. It is however not a good example to be setting for our youth. I hope he can quit even though I know it is a hard habit to break.

[Sundae]

Well it's easy to do that in Photoshop. But if he's really smoking well it's not that bad because some people smoke for a reason but not of vices. Maybe it'll relax him with the stress he have. All above that reason is it don't matter as long as he will be a good President in the future.

[loverspot]

Originally Posted by BBen

Hey! take a look at this picture. This is Barack Obama, the presidential candidate and the future president of the United States of America. what do you think about this picture?

I can assure this is photoshoped, i had been working on photoshop for years, and even photoshoping kids can see, this is fake. This photograph is faked by an idiot who needs us to make a negative impression on obama. The original is posted:

NB: He will be the first Afro-American president (hopefully he win it) and lets hope it will be helpful for us who had been completely betrayed by Bush. Anyway lets wait and see.

I am not saying that this photo is genuine. it can be fake but the fact still remains and that is Barack Obama smokes. what i am trying to bring out here is the idea that Barack Obama is a smoker. there is no doubt that Barack Obama smokes and in fact he admits smoking.