First Lady: President Obama Has Quit Smoking
- Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:29pm by
Scott Baker
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama finally has kicked the habit, Michelle Obama said Tuesday.
“Yes, he has,” the first lady told reporters at the White House when asked whether her husband had finally done what millions of Americans can’t seem to do and quit smoking. “It’s been almost a year.”
She said she didn’t know exactly when he quit “because he never smoked a lot” and she never saw him light up.
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The issue of Obama’s smoking last surfaced in December, when press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about it and said he hadn’t seen Obama smoke in nine months. That would have put Obama’s final puffs somewhere in March.
At the time, Gibbs stopped short of asserting that the president had quit outright. But the president’s wife was a bit more direct Tuesday.
“He’s always wanted to stop,” the first lady said, explaining that daughters Malia, 12, and Sasha, 9, are getting to an age where he wants to be able to look them in the face and deny it should they decide to ask him whether he smokes.
Mrs. Obama said the process of quitting has been a “personal challenge” for the president who, when questioned about it in June 2009, acknowledged that he often sneaked an occasional puff.
“I constantly struggle with it,” Obama said. “Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes. Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No.”
Obama said he didn’t smoke in front of his kids or his family, and had declared himself “95 percent cured.“ But he acknowledged then that there still were times ”where I mess up.”
“Once you’ve gone down this path, then it’s something you continually struggle with,” he said.
Mrs. Obama said Tuesday that she was very proud of her husband, but that she hasn’t pressed him for details.
“I haven’t really poked and prodded him on this,” she said. “When somebody‘s doing the right thing you don’t mess with them.”
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Comments (207)
Harry Palm
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:04pmThis is so awesome…now he has time to work on his other bad habits, like being a habitual liar.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:02pmGuess the wimp finds it easier to send michie out to lie rather them him do it. he hasn’t smoked in a year?
Report Post »Waltermelon
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:02pmI do not believe a single word that passes through that woman’s lips.
Report Post »tinydd
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:02pmWell if Clinton can get BJ without Hillary knowing, I’m sure Barry can step outside to light up. But if he did really quit, then good for him as he has enough problems without smelling like an ashtray.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:55pmQuestions were submitted to the WH “insider”…check out the next to the last question that he answered…Sooooooo….Who’s telling the truth and who is lying? Interesting that he’s so afraid of the 2012 Election…Is this just another PR move to help prop up his ratings? (Personally, I can’t believe that his ratings are as high as they are)…Some “sheeple” really believe he’s doing good for the country…
http://newsflavor.com/politics/world-politics/white-house-insider-obama-celebrates-shortly-after-delivering-tucson-memorial-speech/
Report Post »jackact
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:54pmRight, and he’s not a marxist any longer?
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:54pmI quit smoking in the year of 1998 and that was it. I quit for my daughter because she said it made her sick from the smoke smell, also, it is a terrible witness of the Lord. If our God is not strong enough to deliver us from smoking then why bother to have him as a God? He delivered me and I didn’t even have any withdrawl, cold turkey. That is because Jesus did it.
Report Post »Beware of Romans
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:53pmNow all he has to do is
*Quit Lying
*Quit Deceiving
*Quit Favouring his Union Buddies
*Quit Feeding his Bank of America, JP Morgan & Fannie/Freddie Cronies
*Quit Kissing his Freemason ‘Euro-Buddies’ Butts
Too much to ask?
Report Post »*Quit trying to turn USA into a Communist Dictatorship
Waltermelon
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:07pmNo offense friend, but the first two items are the same…
Report Post »DUMBASPELOSI
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:12pmYou don’t get it. Obama will never actually do something that is crucial to the wellbeing of the American tradition or its people.
Your hopes are held by many of us on both sides of the aisle . . . . which is a major waste of emotion.
Report Post »Beware of Romans
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:50pmObama was always known for falling for peer preasure. Ask his corrupt communist & socialist buddies in Chicago.This only proves it.
Report Post »Super Mario
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 4:35pmYes, quitting smoking = falling to peer pressure.
Ever think that maybe he wants to live longer?
Report Post »rdk
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:50pmNow if the big MO can give up french fries!
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:49pmNow he smokes crack?
Report Post »taebaggranny
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 7:24pm@ SMOKEY_BOJANGLES No, still..He says so in his own book…
Report Post »lillianrose
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:45amMaybe a new policy should be enacted- manditory drug testing.
Report Post »Helldogger
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:48pmYo Pres, when you get 5 years between you & your last cigarette then you are a non-smoker. Not until. Until then you’ve just started smoking less. Take it from experience. I’ll have my 10 yrs Oct 15,2011.
Report Post »mcpbob
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:47pmi have a friend, he quit smoking every january…. for the last 30 years i know him,… lasted a week, i give Obama a week
Report Post »BBReggie
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:43pmHmm … why is it that the wife is always the last to know?
Report Post »Falcon11
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:40pmShe lies about as much as he does.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:18pmhahaha maybe more …
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:40pmThe death panels must have gotten to him.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:39pmThat’s the first thing he has done good since he has been in office.
Report Post »Waltermelon
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:09pmIf he quit, why is he still trying to blow smoke up our arse?
Report Post »OBAMA IS INELIGIBLE TO BE PRESIDENT
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:37pmThis NEW WEB SITE is HILARIOUS!!!!
http://www.wix.com/demandthetruth2/obamajokescatalog
“The Official Obama & Washington, D.C. Political Parody Joke & Gift Catalog”
By Ima Leevin & Willy Depart
FUNNY!!!!
Report Post »SafeguardOurLiberty
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:36pmHe will probably start again when he starts campaigning and sees he has no chance to be elected.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:35pmsure………………dont poke and prod……………………dont make him lie more than he does already
how much you want to bet someone leaks him with a cigarette within the next 6 mo. ?
Report Post »Waltermelon
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:08pmI bet it doesn’t take that long Bro!
Report Post »stinkybisquit
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:33pmI quit too, every time I put down a cigarette.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:33pmHe must realize that he needs to quit because healthcare ain’t what it used to be.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
cheezwhiz
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:32pmQuit smoking WHAT ?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:36pmDefinitly the seat of his pants, or his excellencies royal tushie have not quit smoking; neither have his ears from all the lies he has told.
Report Post »missionarydad
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:38pm“Quitting smoking is easy I done it thousands of times”-Mark Twain. So I can believe that he really did quit and then started right back up again, lol!
Report Post »exdem
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 7:01amHe should quit lying
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:32pmCan‘t wait to hear Palin’s response..something like “I knew he was a quitter”
Report Post »DUMBASPELOSI
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:10pmI think what they’ll do now is challenge Boehner to do the same. “Be a good example.”
What Boehner should say – “Obama quit smoking, and I’ve quit ignoring the American people.”
Report Post »thebertmanlives
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 8:41pmtakes one to know one.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 9:03pmOh, that was GOOD!
Report Post »(Maybe 1/2 term smoker?)
ares338
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:32pmDarn!
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:35pmThe question I have for Mrs Obama is this – Why in the world should I believe you or him?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:35pmShe said she didn’t know exactly when he quit “because he never smoked a lot” and she never saw him light up.
Report Post »———–
So hes not getting any
DashRipRock
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:38pm…….weed
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:40pmYou beat me to it!
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:42pmAnd my butt is getting smaller…
Report Post »ANTISOCIAL-IST
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:45pmthere goes that option. he’s still drinking though, right? skydiving? swimming with sharks? russian roulette? gotta be something….
Report Post »Kurty C Wipe
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:48pmJust when Marlboro was giving a free Nobel Peace Prize with every purchase.
Report Post »12 gauge
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:49pmbut is BigEars still drinking like a fish? and maybe he took up cigars like sick Willy… agree with @Snow, I don’t believe a word they say…
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:50pmyes the crystal Meth was hard on his teeth .
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:51pmI applaud him for trying to give up the pipe!
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:52pmAntisocialist
If at first you dont succeed
Report Post »well then skydiving isnt for you….
cheezwhiz
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 5:55pmthere goes that option. he’s still drinking though, right? skydiving? swimming with sharks? russian roulette? gotta be something….
Report Post »————–
Oh no…he has substituted smoking with something even more riskier than skydiving and more dangerous than swimming with sharks.
Now he is Reagan
cheezwhiz
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:02pmDashRipRock
…….weed
Report Post »——-
garden ………….
grandmaof5
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:05pmI guess that means the “right thing” according to her, because she is sure still sticking her nose in other family’s business as often as she can. And if she never saw him light up before, why would we believe her that he has quit now? His lips are still moving aren’t they?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:07pmWake me upwhen he quits being a lying islamomarxist
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:07pmObama looks like a dork chomping on his gum during formal engagements, absolutely unpresidential.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:08pmthats funny
cheezwiz
Report Post »Curator_JDR
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:12pmI’d rather have John Boehner who says “its a legal substance and none of your business”. Time to cut the PC smoking crap. That was one way the Left was able to gain control, by making everyone who smokes “bad and evil” – like they should be ashamed. Learn the control mechanisms: – watch part 2 first http://www.marcrubin.com/dada2.ivnu
Also, here is an internationally renowned artist destroying his presidential portrait of Obama on video (with humor and irony) in response to the NEA fiasco in 2009. http://www.marcrubin.com/obama.ivnu
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:14pmIt‘s the spending habit that’s hard to kick.
Obama: “Come Michelle, just one million, can I spend just one more million, I got to do it Baby”
Report Post »P C BE DAMNED
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:26pmI don’t give a damn what this man does. He is anathama to me. I am just bored with TV.
Report Post »My Sacred Honor
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:48pmI call “BS on this. I am a smoker, and my job is cooking in a resteraunt. The simple stress of THAT job makes me wanna pull my hair out (fellow cook, ‘like’ this post if you agree!” Are you gonna sit there and tell me POTUS, who is a smoker, has kicked the habit while in THIS White House??
Are you KIDDING me????
I believe this is a dig at Boehner, who has admitted to being a heavy smoker, so Michelle can say “See?? See how STRONG my husband is?”
Semper Fi and BS. Try to sell me a NYC bridge next time, Fat Kid Czar.
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:51pmHe may quit cigarettes but he’ll never stop blowing smoke.
Report Post »STUBBYK
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 7:08pmNow to get him to give up the nose candy.
Report Post »My Sacred Honor
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 7:10pmXcori8r
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 6:51pm
He may quit cigarettes but he’ll never stop blowing smoke
Epic Post!
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 8:08pmThey said just last summer he was still smoking. He is using a nicotine gum/patch so he is still hooked. The only way you are quit is if you no longer use nicotine in any form.
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 8:17pmBig Woop…..
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 8:29pmOh please .. these people always say one thing and do another .. I call bull on this!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 8:58pmIt’s easy to stop smoking. The hard part is not picking up the next cigarette.
Why SHOULD Obama quit smoking? Itr something he enjoys. Does he give a rat’s rosterium what anyone else wants. I don’t believe so.
Besides, I don’t care if he smokes or not. I’m not buying his cigarettes. What I’m concerned about is the liquor bill for Pelosi, the White House, the former Ambassador to Luxembourg, etc., etc., etc.
Report Post »free2bme1961
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 8:59pmNow that she blabbed this about him, he‘ll really have sneak a butt when he’s having a rough moment!
Report Post »Something tells me he could be really good at doing this…
Right All The Time
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 9:19pmInteresting how this news comes out as she’s taking criticism for the hypocritical menu at the White House for the Super Bowl. Coincidence? I think not.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 9:26pmshe never saw him light up…what is he a closet smoker…and how long they been married?
Report Post »Blazergirl
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 9:41pmPaleeeeeeze give me a break. I seriously doubt he quit smoking. I’m an off again on again smoker. Every time I‘ve quit smoking I’ve put on some weight. He doesn’t seem to have put on any weight except maybe after that awsome White House Super Bowl Party. Stress has always been a trigger for me to light one up. He has to be under an enormous amount of stress. It’s very stressful trying to play both sides of the political fence. It’s very stressful trying to be everthing to everyone. It‘s very stressful trying to be someone you’re not (2008 Abraham Lincoln and 2011 Ronald Reagan). Nawww he’s lying to Mrs. Obama. The wife is always the last to know………
Report Post »exdem
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 9:44pmNow if he would only quit his job before he completely ruins America…
Report Post »free2bme1961
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 10:15pmI forgot to add; that it’s like telling somebody you just started a diet. Next thing you know, they’re offering you dessert….or everyone starts asking, “how are you doing on your diet”? What happens next? The biggest pigout session you’ve ever experienced!
Report Post »If there is a shortage in the near future, of cigarettes in the D.C. area, someone needs to report it!
Remember, if you see something or suspect something, say something for Pete’s sake!
Dessert anyone?
Jovan2
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 11:05pmSince stated he never smoked around her or the kids, and she never had discussed it with him.
Report Post »Trust me she would know, to a non-smoker; you can smell the fumes all the way across the room.
Maybe she can‘t cause she’s a closet smoker too?????
I find it hard to believe that she’s never discussed it with him, I mean she is the queen of health and all that. Since she has such a desire that all our children, and us are living such healthy lives, just seems a little toooooooo much for me to swallow. After all who cares if he smokes or not, it’s his business, the same way; what we put down our throats is our business, considering we are all of an accountable age, and are accountable parents, and don’t need someone to tell us every move to make. If she doesn’t believe in hounding him then, respectfully, SHE NEEDS TO MIND HER OWN BUSINESS AND STAY OUR OF OUR FOOD!!
912828Buckeye
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 11:28pmI got some …….ocean front property in Arrrrriizzoonnaa.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:38amIn front of her. I’d bet the Secret Service could tell some tales. If he really has, then good for him. Let’s see how long he can last, with this stressful job. Not that parties and golf all week and vacations every other week is stressful.
Report Post »I CHOOSE THE RED PILL MR PRESIDENT
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:43amYeah, sure… And he’s a centerist now too… What do you mean redistribution of wealth? pffft… And he’s not a Muslim sympathizer, appeaser and capitulator, heck no… And he’s pro-business, sure…
Report Post »One1
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:50amWho cares if he smokes. If he wants a cig, have a cig. Good Grief!
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 7:08amHey bama, no one likes a quiter……
Report Post »Ditto Head
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 10:58amThe inability to quit smoking is a trait of a weak-minded person. I don’t believe for one minute that Bammy has kicked the habit. He’s the weak-minded type.
Report Post »VApatriot2
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 11:32amPick a lie, any lie. You believe this one or the last one? She never saw him light up? Damn, woman, if your nose works, you wouldn’t have to SEE it. What else do you think the flock should believe coming out of that house on the hill? Pure crap!
Report Post »natstew
Posted on February 10, 2011 at 11:54amyeah, right, it’s not the quitting, he does that after every smoke, it’s the starting that he needs to quit.
Report Post »