Fox News Poll: Do You Think Obama Is Still Smoking?

For those convinced that Barack Obama could not possibly have given up smoking cigarettes in the midst of a presidential campaign, a historic presidency, a Great Depression-like economic crisis, and multiple wars, take solace, you're not alone in your skepticism.

Fox News Opinion Dynamics, as is their custom, asked a few generally out-there questions at the end of its latest survey, released on Thursday. Among them:

Barack Obama says he quit smoking cigarettes. Do you think Obama is still sneaking cigarettes at the White House or do you think he has completely quit smoking?

The response was remarkably consistent. Virtually the same percentage of Democrats, Republicans and Independent voters are convinced that Obama still sneaks a smoke or two.

* 37 percent of Democrats believe he is still sneaking; 37 percent believe he completely quit. * 38 percent of Republicans believe he is still sneaking; 27 percent believe he completely quit. * 38 percent of Independents believe he is still sneaking; 25 percent believe he completely quit.

This was not, to be sure, the only bizarre question Fox News included in its survey. The respondents were also asked who they would most like to meet and have their picture taken: Obama, The Pope, Tiger Woods or Hannah Montana.

The president faired well on this front; he was the preferred photo-op for 68 percent of Democrats and 38 percent of Independents respectively. Republicans, however, preferred both his eminence (31 percent) and the world's best golfer (34 percent) over the commander in chief (18 percent), when it came to getting their pictures taken. Hannah Montana, alas, was the least preferred of the bunch, regardless of the respondents' ideological leaning.

Comments

[mmgbizgirl]

10:37 AM on 06/12/2009

No.

[nubret2008]

09:49 AM on 06/12/2009

I remember the Republican senators and congressman rushing for photo-ops with Obama in the first days...

[BlueFloyd]

07:22 AM on 06/12/2009

at least he doesnt need a mirror like w.

[Gidster]

02:45 AM on 06/12/2009

This is about as relevant to the running of America as the color of his tie!

Hey Fox, focus on why your commentators lie and doctored video footage!!!

[InfosolutionWiz]

03:39 AM on 06/12/2009

EXACTLY! Well Said!

[merger]

02:00 AM on 06/12/2009

He probably is and so what.

[dspencer3491]

12:40 AM on 06/12/2009

As long as the President continues to do his job well he can smoke whatever he wants.

[mlaiuppa]

12:33 AM on 06/12/2009

Was there a category for "I don't care"?

[SN365]

12:26 AM on 06/12/2009

They forgot to include one more question in their survey: Do you think Fox News is behind hate crimes?

[illusionpainter]

12:42 AM on 06/12/2009

I vote YES for that one....

[illusionpainter]

12:22 AM on 06/12/2009

I say who cares. In my opinion, because of the job he has to do he deserves to smoke more than cigarettes if he chooses to....

[martiniandabotoxchaser]

11:55 PM on 06/11/2009

I think it is an important question as smoking has a huge impact on our collective health care spending. It is hard to state that well care and teaching healthy lifestyles is a major leg of the new health savings initiative, if the leader of the effort is doing something that is counter to what he is advocating for the rest of us. Mr. President...if you are still smoking, as a example for the rest of the nation, it is time to kick the habit.

[Dee AZ]

11:53 PM on 06/11/2009

Wow, in retrospect I'm rather perplexed why Fox News never thought to ask the public over the last eight years if they ever thought George W. Bush was sneaking alcoholic drinks on the slide.

[Lilly-G]

12:28 AM on 06/12/2009

He might have made a better president if he had. I would think yes he did.

[LeftLeanWing]

12:43 AM on 06/12/2009

Bush was drinking.... here's proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHSiqQpg7Uc

[adamsmith3]

11:32 PM on 06/11/2009

While it was a ridiculous question to ask, I'd suggest they take a cue from HP and ask a more serious-minded question such as: Michelle Obama's fashion, love it or lose it?

[kozy]

10:52 PM on 06/11/2009

He may have quit, or may not have, but the red herring question to divert attention from important matters is, well, FOX "news." A more important question, from, say, a six-year old, would be is Obama smart enough to figue out the clever and insidious campaign by insurance companies to derail ANY and ALL health reform by ordering their congressional puppets to pretend a compromise, and later another compromise, and then a final health care reform -- which actually eliminates 10 percent from current health care. I believe Obama, smoker or not, is up to the task.

[Obinna]

10:51 PM on 06/11/2009

Sometimes certain aspects of our political process make me laugh. In the midst of this economic recession along with other grave matters like global and homegrown terrorism, global pandemics, general loss of homes etc people apparently have the time to bother themselves with considerations about whether Obama still sneaks in a cigarette or not.

And of course, someone counters by suggesting that during Bush's tenure, we ought to have carried out polls to determine if he was still drinking or not. LOL, I wonder what the next 'obsession' with the president's habits we might be forced to give an up or down vote on.

[Raiseup151z]

10:48 PM on 06/11/2009

Fox News is just stupid.

[dst1]

11:48 PM on 06/11/2009

It is no business of anyones whether President Obama is or is not still smoking. Just another Faux Noise red herring question.