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Would You Vote for a Smoker for President?

by 54

I have been following Barack Obama's quest to quit smoking and so far, so good (apparently Nicorette is working for him). While I am sure his decision to quit had a lot to do with his health, I am also sure there was a good portion of the decision that came from wanting to improve his image for the elections in 2008.

This got me to thinking—would you vote for a smoker for President?

Source

PollQuitting SmokingSmokingBarack ObamaPresidental Election

54 Comments

kh61582 kh61582
Wow what a shallow question! Is this what this country is coming to? "Oh he supports the political agenda I like but he's a smoker so sorry can't vote for him" We have so many important issues hanging in the balance and you're concerned about whether the president smokes or not?
nikodarling nikodarling
Since when is smoking a sign of whether someone is capable of running a country or not. I think it is a disgusting dirty habit, it's gross but I don't really care if the leader of my country smokes or not. I care about policy and leadership not gross personal habits. Why not make the question would you vote for someone who picks their nose, or someone who cracks their knuckles.Considering the last 7 years of leadership in America I think you have way bigger problems than whether you elect a smoker or not.
nikodarling nikodarling
Since when is smoking a sign of whether someone is capable of running a country or not. I think it is a disgusting dirty habit, it's gross but I don't really care if the leader of my country smokes or not. I care about policy and leadership not gross personal habits. Why not make the question would you vote for someone who picks their nose, or someone who cracks their knuckles. Considering the last 7 years of leadership in America I think you have way bigger problems than whether you elect a smoker or not.
Soniabonya Soniabonya
To answer the question, I could give a flying rats ass to whether the pres smoked or not. Yeah sure it's bad, but if that's his only vice, then it's fine by me. As long as s/he's not screwing the country over, throwing us into unnecessary wars, refusing to do anything about the enviroment, ignoring the internal problems of our country such as poverty, sit idly by as our education system crumbles, or whatever else this current administration is doing to us . . . . then heck I'll pull out my lighter and light one up for the pres!
Soniabonya Soniabonya
To answer the question, I could give a flying rats ass to whether the pres smoked or not. Yeah sure it's bad, but if that's his only vice, then it's fine by me. As long as s/he's not screwing the country over, throwing us into unnecessary wars, refusing to do anything about the enviroment, ignoring the internal problems of our country such as poverty, sit idly by as our education system crumbles, or whatever else this current administration is doing to us . . . . then heck I'll pull out my lighter and light one up for the pres!
Kelly O Kelly O
Whether or not someone smokes has zero to do with how they would run our country. Seriously, things like this just prove to me that so many Americans don't even understand the political process, or they're so out of touch they make decisions about our leadership based on whether or not the person smokes, or has hair, or good teeth or whatever. I'm much more concerned about his position on health care, the environment, the war on terrorism, and global policy than whether or not he smokes, or has a cigar now and then, or even drinks.
Kelly O Kelly O
Whether or not someone smokes has zero to do with how they would run our country. Seriously, things like this just prove to me that so many Americans don't even understand the political process, or they're so out of touch they make decisions about our leadership based on whether or not the person smokes, or has hair, or good teeth or whatever. I'm much more concerned about his position on health care, the environment, the war on terrorism, and global policy than whether or not he smokes, or has a cigar now and then, or even drinks.
terryt18 terryt18
Most people are immoral.Who decides morality?Each one of usImmoral hypocritesPointing fingersShame shame shameAt least I'm notI don'tI didn'tI wouldn'tI couldn'tWe shouldn't play thatgame to feelbetter about our ownfallible errant ignorantmortalselves.Immoral selves.
terryt18 terryt18
Most people are immoral. Who decides morality? Each one of us Immoral hypocrites Pointing fingers Shame shame shame At least I'm not I don't I didn't I wouldn't I couldn't We shouldn't play that game to feel better about our own fallible errant ignorant mortal selves. Immoral selves.
muchacha muchacha
Is it common sense or rather scientific fact that smoking is bad for you? Based on rationality and science we have determined smoking to bad for one's health, and economic measurements have shown complications from smoking drain our scare healthcare resources.There is a difference between addition, habit and disease. Many physicians are now refering to smoking as a disease.. there are plenty of schools of thought on this topic. This said I also know how hard it is stop smoking, as I did so eight months ago, and I also know how hard it is to watch someone you love die from lung cancer caused by years of smoking. So, as the feminists would have it - the political is personal.
muchacha muchacha
Is it common sense or rather scientific fact that smoking is bad for you? Based on rationality and science we have determined smoking to bad for one's health, and economic measurements have shown complications from smoking drain our scare healthcare resources. There is a difference between addition, habit and disease. Many physicians are now refering to smoking as a disease.. there are plenty of schools of thought on this topic. This said I also know how hard it is stop smoking, as I did so eight months ago, and I also know how hard it is to watch someone you love die from lung cancer caused by years of smoking. So, as the feminists would have it - the political is personal.
MandyJoBo MandyJoBo
Smoking has nothing to do with intelligence. It's common sense that smoking is BAD for you. It's not a question of whether or not it's healthful. It is an addiction--be glad you've never had to deal with an addiction, but at least try to have a little more empathy and a lot less self-righteous judgment. Politicians aren't super-human; they are just like YOU and ME. They are not more intelligent, more enlightened or more capable of kicking a nasty habit. Sheesh! They are simply in a different profession. With that said, I smoked for 9 years, and I quit cold turkey over a year ago. :)
MandyJoBo MandyJoBo
Smoking has nothing to do with intelligence. It's common sense that smoking is BAD for you. It's not a question of whether or not it's healthful. It is an addiction--be glad you've never had to deal with an addiction, but at least try to have a little more empathy and a lot less self-righteous judgment. Politicians aren't super-human; they are just like YOU and ME. They are not more intelligent, more enlightened or more capable of kicking a nasty habit. Sheesh! They are simply in a different profession. With that said, I smoked for 9 years, and I quit cold turkey over a year ago. :)
muchacha muchacha
I was seeing the subject of immorality rather on a continuum, rather than simply as one of black or white, so let me clarify. I do think that the decision to smoke is an immoral one, and as such leads one to an immoral lifestyle - but does that make an individual immoral? Not necessarily. I was thinking about this some more yesterday evening, and like you say freegrace, no one is perfect. But I do expect our politicians to be aiming at the closest thing to gd that they can achieve. They should be the ones at the end of the spectrum closest to pure morality. Of course the goal of pure morality will never be achieved because we are after all, human - but I think if you want to represent an entire nation of people you'd better be trying damn hard to be the best moral representative possible. In my opinion, smoking should be the first thing to go on the path to a moral lifestyle.As a side note, I am remind that after the bridge collapse in Minnesota, Obama made a mistake of saying 10,000 people died instead of the correct figure. Afterwards, he apologized, saying he was 'tired'. I wondered what would be his excuse in the future if he made another big mistake but one of larger importance..Don't get me wrong - I realize I have focused on negatives of Obama's character, I am sure he does possess many virtuous qualities, and so at the end of the day you have to take the good with the bad of a person's character in today's political reality. Also, I do agree that it would be something different if all our politicians came from the same stock. I need to ask you, freegrace, why you think it's unacceptable to judge personal choices when choosing a political representative.I wouldn't be so quick to devalue a person's lifestyle choices from the things to take into account when choosing your representative. I think it's only one aspect of many to consider.
muchacha muchacha
I was seeing the subject of immorality rather on a continuum, rather than simply as one of black or white, so let me clarify. I do think that the decision to smoke is an immoral one, and as such leads one to an immoral lifestyle - but does that make an individual immoral? Not necessarily. I was thinking about this some more yesterday evening, and like you say freegrace, no one is perfect. But I do expect our politicians to be aiming at the closest thing to gd that they can achieve. They should be the ones at the end of the spectrum closest to pure morality. Of course the goal of pure morality will never be achieved because we are after all, human - but I think if you want to represent an entire nation of people you'd better be trying damn hard to be the best moral representative possible. In my opinion, smoking should be the first thing to go on the path to a moral lifestyle. As a side note, I am remind that after the bridge collapse in Minnesota, Obama made a mistake of saying 10,000 people died instead of the correct figure. Afterwards, he apologized, saying he was 'tired'. I wondered what would be his excuse in the future if he made another big mistake but one of larger importance.. Don't get me wrong - I realize I have focused on negatives of Obama's character, I am sure he does possess many virtuous qualities, and so at the end of the day you have to take the good with the bad of a person's character in today's political reality. Also, I do agree that it would be something different if all our politicians came from the same stock. I need to ask you, freegrace, why you think it's unacceptable to judge personal choices when choosing a political representative. I wouldn't be so quick to devalue a person's lifestyle choices from the things to take into account when choosing your representative. I think it's only one aspect of many to consider.
vinnie vinnie
I'm willing to take the bad with the good, as long as I was sure that the person was the best choice.I saw his wife on 60 Minutes months ago. She said that when he came to her about running she said she would be ok with being subjected to the lifestyle of a candidates wife if he gave up smoking. He's keeping up his end of the bargain.
vinnie vinnie
I'm willing to take the bad with the good, as long as I was sure that the person was the best choice. I saw his wife on 60 Minutes months ago. She said that when he came to her about running she said she would be ok with being subjected to the lifestyle of a candidates wife if he gave up smoking. He's keeping up his end of the bargain.
freegracefrom freegracefrom
muchacha, you are jumping to many conclusions there. If you are saying that it follows that Obama is an "immoral" person because of his decision to smoke, then heaven help us all. Because I think we might all be doomed to fall into the same category under your book in one way or another. Do I want my future president, the role model for younger generations, to be overweight? To be a liar? To be a bad dresser, even? Of course not! But unfortunately, we don't have a pantheon of perfect gods/goddesses to choose from for our leadership - we just have regular old fallible human beings with flaws & weaknesses, just like the rest of us. If ALL candidates were exactly alike, (including their experience, their stance on issues, their proposals and perspective for the future and these same things from the minds they will be surrounding themselves with)... then and ONLY then do I think it's acceptable to judge their body and their personal choices. But the chances are extremely unlikely we'll ever get a pool of people that are that similar and likeminded, thankfully.
AmyLizK AmyLizK
Wow. Since when is whether or not you're a smoker part of one's platform??? Barack has been catching way too much flack lately.Let the man smoke his cigs, as long as he knows what's important, which he does - certainly more so than GWB
AmyLizK AmyLizK
Wow. Since when is whether or not you're a smoker part of one's platform??? Barack has been catching way too much flack lately. Let the man smoke his cigs, as long as he knows what's important, which he does - certainly more so than GWB
muchacha muchacha
in the spirit of Plato and Aristotle (I'm taking a class), I do think our politicians should be the most virtuous and the most moral, I don't think that politics and morality are mutally exclusive. Unfortunately, in democracy you hardly ever see politicians who are virtuous and moral.I digress - in North American society, smoking is seen as a vice and is certainly a bad example to show to our children. I think you have to ask yourselves - do you want the president, who inherently acts as a role model for the younger generation, to be a smoker? By voting for a politician who smokes, you are essentially voting for an immorality.Furthermore, a young smoker in today's society - Obama does qualify as a young smoker - is clearly a) someone who does not value their health to the best of their abilities, b) nor do they value the precious nature of health care resources, so how can they be expected to create policy on that most vital of issues?P.S. I hope Obama does quit, he is young enough to see many health benefits.
muchacha muchacha
in the spirit of Plato and Aristotle (I'm taking a class), I do think our politicians should be the most virtuous and the most moral, I don't think that politics and morality are mutally exclusive. Unfortunately, in democracy you hardly ever see politicians who are virtuous and moral. I digress - in North American society, smoking is seen as a vice and is certainly a bad example to show to our children. I think you have to ask yourselves - do you want the president, who inherently acts as a role model for the younger generation, to be a smoker? By voting for a politician who smokes, you are essentially voting for an immorality. Furthermore, a young smoker in today's society - Obama does qualify as a young smoker - is clearly a) someone who does not value their health to the best of their abilities, b) nor do they value the precious nature of health care resources, so how can they be expected to create policy on that most vital of issues? P.S. I hope Obama does quit, he is young enough to see many health benefits.
nauQ1 nauQ1
Depends on his political views on certain issues. Smoking would not be the only factor on whether or not I'd vote for a candidate.
Spectra Spectra
That's like asking "Would you vote for a president that never works out?" or "Would you vote for a president that eats trans fats?" Smoking is a bad habit and a nasty vice, but I think it's Obama's personal problem and it shouldn't affect how he governs the nation. Just because he smokes doesn't mean he's going to try to convert the nation to smoking...he IS trying to quit, after all. And yeah, I think a lot of past presidents have been smokers.
Allytta Allytta
who voted no*
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