CNN~ "Obama's smoking sets a bad example"

The bad example is reporting on someone's vice, and dissecting it on national TV

smoking in public.

CNN, on the other hand, sets a bad example for making it okay for the MSM to so fucking stupid.

Nobody wants to be under the spotlight with something like this. Having people watch her every move is what drove Kitty Dukakis to swilling down fingernail polish remover during the election.

Big tobacco--they are the only ones to gain from this frenzy of reporting.

:fistbump:

..... but I suspect CNN didn't report that.

He's the President, millions of kids look up to him. Hell, he shouldn't be setting the example for Malia and Sasha.

But I don't care that he isn't perfect, either. My kids will learn about the evils of smoking from me and I'm not put out that the Prez smokes - I just tell them "that's his stupid decision but that shouldn't be yours."

But it wouldn't be cigarettes.

Many of us (and I include myself among them) are quick to hold up President Obama and Michelle as role models for various facets of their lifestyles, including their parenting. I think his smoking is not a good model. Of course, he makes every effort to not smoke in public, so from a role model standpoint, you can argue whether he really is sending any kind of "smoking is alright" message.

of your problems- your people can no longer even agree on what is actually a fact- and what is fiction anymore.

How on earth do you think that you're ever going to solve (or even improve) any of the nation's problems- especially now that corrupt corporate interests have got carte blanche to buy up all the time on the airwaves?

The people need to read a wide variety of sources including foreign and if they do that they will have a better chance of getting an accurate picture of what's really going on. But it's not the government's place to step in and tell the media what it can and cannot say or do. And if someone is so lazy that all they do is plop themselves in front of Fox News all day rather than seeking out a variety of news sources, then IMO they deserve whatever they get.

almost to the extent that one might see in totalitarian states.

Worse than that- you've created a culture of lies that's not only dragging you inexorably toward third world status- but have effectively prevented yourselves from doing anything about it!

Your so called "free speech" absolutism has turned the US into a nation of frightened, babbling losers.

Many of us also have friends and colleagues who've come to the states and asked:

:wtf:

is this drech. Quite literally.

In addition, it's easier for some of us because we remember what is was like in America (for 50 years) when the nations actually HAD responsible media regulation- including, among other things, actual public interest standards for license renewal, the fairness doctrine(s), equal time provisions, limits on commercial time- and many other mechanisms for keeping these entities ethical and honest- or at least ensuring that some range of views had the opportunity to be heard.

:thumbsup:

Whether you deserve it or not.

They dont use public airwaves they are cable only. You might want to educate yourself before you talk.

since he gave it all up when he came to Jesus™.

display at the Beijing Olympics during his presidency? Tons of photos and I don't remember CNN polling that or even addressing it.

I can't stand that station.

Fucking assholes.

An alcoholic who never addressed his problem - who claimed his actions were those of "youthful indescretion" at age 40. That was not only a bad example, but dangerous as well.

God, I hate the MSM.

Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. * and Laura both too.
Oh my, where is the outrage over FDR's cigarette holder? I suppose his smoking was the cause of us losing WWII!

lot of other smoke. Does that mean they are not setting bad examples?

Had it not been for the dumb ass media, noone would be the wiser! I'm a teacher and I smoke. Do I smoke in my classroom? No! Do I smoke anywhere in school? No! So, I can't be setting a bad example.

hence he is setting a bad example - whether he is seen actually smoking or not. It leaves the impression that he finds the practice acceptable.

and eating red meat is acceptable by most standards.

condoning a habit like this is not acceptable in my opinion

objectivity. Smoking is not an "offense" that would warrant condoning.

before deciding it was setting a bad example to do so? Simply being out of site, when it is public knowledge, does not make it acceptable.

you don't hide it. I'm betting that you've never been a smoker; have you?

the fact that even though it is a perfectly legal practice, he chooses to not do it in public. This says that he knows it isn't acceptable. Unlike Bush's alleged drug use, which was illegal! It's tough to qut smoking. Especially when you are subjected to high stress situations. I'm guessing you have never been a smoker?

hence it can have an impact on whether others start to smoke or not.

Not sure what difference it makes as to whether I have ever been a smoker or not.

Sorry to rock your pure world.

who refuse to acknowledge any wrong of this President.

I am confident that, if asked, he would admit it is wrong. And that he is setting a bad example. As would Michelle.

it's not a moral issue. I seriously doubt he would address this issue in those terms. Unhealthy, not a good idea but never "Wrong."

I did not realize this was going to be a debate about semantics. But . . since when does "wrong" only apply to morals?

Can you not make a wrong turn? Are you not be wrong when stating 1 + 1 = 3?

Not sure I agree at all with your definition.

fact or truth," which does not apply here. I am apparently mistaken that you chose to use "smoking" in a moral context, as by it's very definition, cannot be used otherwise. Smoking, is neither fact, truth, correct nor incorrect. Thus, cannot be "wrong."

It is a legal act. Maybe you should just create some fictional pure man/woman if you are so desperate for a role model. I don't need to worship anyone so I am tolerant of people's personal habits.

People knew he smoked and they voted for him.

Other than to nit pick, why bring it up???

All of the great and glorious things that Obama is are brought up. He's a role model, and example to be emulated, a groundbreaker to be followed.

He's not just a politician elected by his peers for 4 years to preside over the executive functions of the federal government.

But if we bring up all his great and glorious points, it's only fair to bring up his drawbacks, his bad points. Otherwise we don't have a man as president, we have a perfect being--and that sets up people for disillusionment when he's unshod and his feet turn out to be of clay or when he finally fails at some endeavor because, well, he's not perfect.

If he has nits, I'm all for having them picked.

It is bullshit to assert that what elected officials do in private is of ANY concern if it has no effect on their job.

His "bad points" ... in his capacity of an elected official. Signing a bad bill, supporting or not supporting a particular policy...all these are fair game.

Private habits that have no affect on his public role? No.

problems????

Obama.

If smoking is the worse thing these two leaders do, I would
say they are pretty good men.


Nitpicking people's personal life is so annoying. CNN looks
like the neighborhood busy body.

I didn't know that.

I try to stay away from cigs but I can't avoid them when I drink a lot of alcohol.

I think a person who is struggling to quit is a great example to not start in the first place. Too many people think they will just do it for a while and then have no trouble quitting when it potentially becomes a problem for your health. The fact that Obama still smokes and has been trying to quit for over a year is a great example of how addictive the shit is and how you should stay away from it.

... :eyes:

"cured" of this terrible habit. He "falls off the wagon" once in a while and is still TRYING to quit. It's a disgusting habit. I made my husband quit before I'd even go out with him. He did it. Then again, he doesn't have the most stressful job in the WORLD. But for CNN to say his smoking sets a bad example when nobody ever SEES him do it is wrong IMO. It's not like he does it in front of people making it look "cool," afterall.

Asshats.

Where was that when Bush was in office?

I suppose it a good example to start 2 fucking wars and bankrupt the country with those tax cuts passed with that reconciliation thingy. Fuck them... BTW,did you know Obama is black???? Assholes!!!

...and if this is the best CNN can do, well, it's just ridiculous.

SANCHEZ: Some viewers can't believe we're talking about this, but, you know, it is the president of the United States. My goodness, given what is going on in his life if this is his only vice, then I guess -- are we to judge?

COHEN: I don't look at it as a judgment thing. I look at it as, OK, this guy is still smoking. What kind of example does that make? And so we actually had a bunch --

SANCHEZ: That's a fair point.

COHEN: You think so? OK.

SANCHEZ: Well, but before you even get to that, I have a brother-in-law who just had a heart attack, and he didn't smoke, and is a tri-athlete. He ran four miles a day, and looked like he was in perfect condition, better shape than I am. He had a massive heart attack.

So can we say he's in bad health because he smokes and this guy because he eats too many goobers?

COHEN: I think the bottom line is, yes, that can happen to people like your brother in law, but the bottom line is that smoking increases your chances by having a heart attack by a lot. It increases your chances of having cancer by a lot. No question about that. A heart attack can happen to anyone, but it's way more likely to happen to someone who smokes.

So let me read you what these folks had to say, because I thought this was sort of interesting. Mike wrote -- "Why is Obama still smoking? He doesn't believe all the medical evidence? This is the message he's sending to the youth of America."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/01/rlst.01.html

God, does anyone care that the man under the most pressure of anyone on earth sneaks out the back portico for a smoke once in a while to calm his nerves? Get a life, CNN, or anyone who agrees with them.

Blocking health care reform and unemployment benefits sets a million times worse example for children.

Surely, these days, SMOKING has to "rise to the level" of a high crime and misdemeanor. ;)

Get bent, MSM.

Might want to stop doing it all the time CNN

On that afternoon, Bandar met on the Truman balcony with President Bush and the two men lit up Cohiba cigars. At the time, the White House knew that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. It knew that Osama bin Laden was Saudi. And, as the 9/11 commission concluded, it knew that Saudi Arabia was "the primary source of money for al-Qaida", which was largely funded by wealthy Saudis via Islamist charities.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0911-20.htm

He'd given up cigarettes, but Laura never did.

1) we don't see him smoking in public.
2) At least the man is honest enough to make this information public. That sets a good example, showing honesty even with a bad habit-- one that he has been struggling to break.

Former smokers ought to know how hard this is.

Keep the FDA out of my business.

:sarcasm:

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Thanks to Frenchie.

just like I don't want my own husband to smoke, doing it regularly isn't healthy and sets a poor example for the children.

Be that as it may, I really don't care if he does it privately as long as he gets the job done while he's in office.

to roll a cigarette.

No comparison.

Obama has the good sense to keep his vices hidden - that's enough for me

for his and his family's sake.

People LIKE others to have a vice or two, and this humanizes him. Hell, I wouldn't want to put the poor guy through the trial of trying to kick at a stress-filled time like this, especially since nattering busybodies would be all over him about it and reading all sorts of idiotic implications into his success or lack of it.

I think this is the perfect vice for him; it's hardly the end of the world. It's a hell of a lot better than having a drunk at the helm.

:sarcasm:

...trumps Obama's smoking.