Obama And Cigarettes: No Smoking Violations In The White House (VIDEO)

Obama sought to reassure the nation that while he occasionally sneaked a cigarette during the rigorous presidential campaign, he won't succumb to such temptations in the White House:

Obama was asked -- as he occasionally is, most recently by ABC's Barbara Walters -- whether he still sneaks a cigarette now and then. He suggested he does, but said he won't at his new address.

"What I said was that there were times where I have fallen off the wagon," Obama said. "What I would say is that I have done a terrific job under the circumstances of making myself much healthier, and I think that you will not see any violations of these rules in the White House."

Watch Obama's full interview with Tom Brokaw on "Meet the Press" here.

Comments

[Ramirez]

I smoked a pack a day for forty years (btw, cigarettes once cost 25 cents a pack).. Quit last December and I'm coming up on one year as a non-smoker. I used Chantix. A mirage drug, if you ask me.

I quit and I'm not even a superman like the O. If it worked for me it would work for him.

[indypete]

Yeah, but you weren't trying to haul an entire nation out of the titanic mess caused by cheney and his pet monkey.

[Ramirez]

There is always a good reason not to quit.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

hey Barrack, I'm running to the store, you want a pack of ports and some juicy fruits?

If I was president now, I would smoke too, its some tough s*it going down

[ckfan]

Oh, that's cruel. Just cruel.

[hrhkat29]

smoking is nasty and disgusting­....he better quit, i thought he was smarter than that......­i guess we all know how he stays so thin...

[indypete]

Not sure we should be telling him what to do when it comes to something legal like having a drag, he's over 18, has his own income and.... there was something else.... what was it now?..... Oh yeah..... Leader of the freakin' free world!

[ckfan]

Ok, this wins for the most stupid comment of the day. First, he works out almost 2 hours every day and he eats healthy food. That's why he's so thin. Second, even smart people make a mistake. Which means you've never made a mistake.

it's ok. I know you don't get it. Take your time. Re-read the last sentence in my first paragraph. It's ok. I know you need to read it again. . . . and again . . . and again. Still don't get it, do you?

[sunny555]

Starting smoking is the mistake he made. Once you start, it's extremely difficult to stop. The behavior itself becomes incorporated into your daily routine, and the body fights hard against giving it up.

None of us are perfect. Give him a break, please!~

[luvobama]

That's right. People who smoke aren't fat. Wanna bet? There are more fat people than there are smokers, i will grant you that. I do believe the cost on our health care system is more to treat the side effects of obesity.

[missjabez]

I don't care if Obama smokes; I don't think sneaking a cigarette now and then is going to impact his job performance. Besides, FDR smoked like a chimney, and I consider him the 20th century's best president.

[Jacqueline3]

Who cares, if he wants to smoke let him.

[MAXIE19]

We do. We need him around for a long time.

[indypete]

I think he'll make it.... he seems to be healthy as a butcher's dog.

[kellygrrrl]

one of the things I like most about the Obamas is that they set such a fine example as parents and spouses. So many young people look up to Barack. I'd hate for anyone to get the idea that smoking is cool.

[indypete]

But Kelly, it IS cool.... Look at me (koff, koff) I'm really (hak, hak, choke) cool!

[YouDisgustMe]

many care....sm­oking kills

[Judyisacutie]

"You won't see any violations of these rules in the White House" because he'll be sneaking cigs in the bathroom, accepting cigars on his foreign visits, stashing cigarette packs in non-disclosed locations, etc. But don't worry. Michelle will pop in on him in the bathroom. The protocol people won't let him smoke the cigars given to him on his state visits and the new dog will sniff out and destroy every hidden pack in the house.

[soot]

Best of luck to everybody making the effort to quit! Its a terrible habit and a waste of good money.

[indypete]

I've got 2 weeks and 2 days behind me on my latest effort.... Right now I'd sell my sister to pirates for a pack of Marlboro though. Good luck to all my fellow addicts.

[ZoraBee]

Guess it's time for me to weigh in. From americanheart.org: "Nicotine is an addictive drug. It causes changes in the brain that make people want to use it more and more. In addition, addictive drugs cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The good feelings that result when an addictive drug is present — and the bad feelings when it's absent — make breaking any addiction very difficult. Nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to break." I wish Barack Obama a lot of luck. Speaking as a smoker who's quit many times, I know the difficulty of staying off. I rue the day I ever started, and I can say, as someone who works out, is a vegetarian and generally careful about what I allow into my life, the nicotine addiction and I have been locked in a mortal battle, but I haven't given up. I'm sure he must have been banned to the outdoors even before being elected, because Malia has asthma. No way he can smoke around the family. So, I don't judge him harshly because I know what the battle is.

[Jazzcomedian]

I subscribe to the nothing in excess, everything in moderation school. It's the extremists with addictive personalities that have the serious problems in everything. They can't modeate, so they have to do complete abstinence. I smoke a pipe with a mild aromatic blend. Not often but a few times a week after work. It cools me out, helps me think. But even though I enjoy it, smoking it compulsively would take most of the pleasure out of it. I have the distinct feeling that President-elect Obama even if he smokes is probably pretty moderate about it. And lord knows he's got a lot to think about. If it helps him chill out a bit, what's the harm?

[ArmyCentrist]

I hope he can stop permanently, and SOON!

[hellifiknow]

He dodged that like he was playing dodge ball....wh­at are the regulations in the presidential limo, where I have a feeling he'll be sneaking a smoke. My father was a smoker and he didn't stop until the end. I've dated a few smokers (yeah, okay, daddy issues LOL) and you can best believe, becoming the POTUS is not the time for anyone to totally quit.

Now for a much more important issue.....­for those still wondering how "black" he is...does he smoke Newports or a non-menthol cigarettes. The answer is there.

(For all you trolls, it's a joke, but try it amongst yourselves, it is quite the accurate litmus test)

[ArmyCentrist]

Black people love Newports (I'm Black, calm down...)

[hellifiknow]

Anyone can try it - bum a cigarette off a white person, they will nine out of ten times hand you a Marlboro Light or non-menthol cigarette. Ask a black person and nine out of ten times they will hand you a Newport or menthol cigarette. Sadly, it was because of targeted advertising in the black community that got black smokers hooked on the apparently more lethal and addictive menthol cigarettes. So Barack....­what ya smokin' homie?

LOl

[tam39]

I think it's actually sort of cool that he smokes!

[MAXIE19]

What about the health implications, i.e. lung cancer, emphysema.­..........­He has young children and a history of cancer in his family. He needs to be careful.

[YouDisgustMe]

lol i'll pretend i didn't just read that...wha­t are you like 13 yrs old??

it's NOT cool! it's dangerous and unhealthy!

[majorteddy]

Well, at least he won't be drunk with power like Bushie.

[darthdarcy]

Any insider knows the smoking goes on up on the roof of The White House, and not just tobacco has been smoked up there either...

I know...

[canucklivinginUSA]

So, you're an insider now??

[YouDisgustMe]

LOL

[darthdarcy]

Remember the Blue Jean Ball after Clinton was Inaugurate­d...?

[local21]

I've been butt free for 9 years .

All you smokers out there keep lighting up....we need the tax revenue :)

[mishka123]

He will quit when he is good and ready. I smoked form teen years to about 42 and I quit instantly when my then 6 year old asked me who was going to take me to the doctor if I got sick. Those words coming from one so young hit me like a ton of brick. I give thanks for him every day.

[MightyMeno]

I hear ya. I quit after marrying a guy with heart disease ... like he needed my second-hand smoke! That was 18 years ago and I don't miss it a bit.