did you know?

A fun fact about Barack Obama is that he is a long-time smoker. Did you know that? I find that interesting not because it somehow disqualifies him as President, but because most modern-day Democratic Presidential nominee wouldn't be caught dead being a smoker. They would rather be accused of "doing drugs once" in their past. Drugs sit better with the Democratic, anti-tobacco lobby, super-health conscience, vegetarian electorate at the base of the Democratic Party than cigarettes do.

Here is a clip from the news:
Obama told the Chicago Tribune in December 2005 that his smoking is "an ongoing battle," and his cigarette use was, in fact, known during his 2004 Senate campaign, when his wife told the Chicago Sun-Times that he smokes "about three Marlboros a day."

I think it adds a little humanity and earthiness to a candidate that is often making idealistic speeches.

I hope, however, that he quits before becoming President. I just don't like the idea of a smoker President who has to "step outside" of the oval office for cigarette breaks so that he doesn't make the White House smell like a chimney. I also hope he quits for the sake of his daughters who are bound to be affected by the second hand smoke.

Wouldn't it be great to see "President Obama" one day looking over the wreckage left from a hurricane with his sleeves rolled up revealing a "nicotine patch" on his upper arm. I would much rather see that then a stressed out "President Obama" puffing away on a needed cigarette after looking at the hurricane aftermath.

And I wonder how tough Obama can be as a Democratic President on the tobacco lobby when he gets withdrawal if he doesn't have his three Marlboros a day.