primitives question reporter questioning Pa Kettle in the White House

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5907999

Oh my.

devilgrrl  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-23-09 06:17 PM
Original message
 
Obama's Smoking Questioned By Reporter, Again

I'm saddened that Obama sometimes smokes. Why isn't he guzzling booze & popping oxycontin?

The arc of the Washington press corps is long. But let's face it, it bends toward occasionally asking some stupid questions. Like about Alex Rodriguez. And about stuff that "humbles" and "enchants" President Barack Obama about being the President, and living in a "white" "house" with an "oval" "office" and Joe Biden. And today, the prize for "Are You Really Going To Use Your One Chance To Ask The President A Question On THAT Topic" goes to McClatchy Newspapers, for this exchange:

MCCLATCHY: Thank you, Mr. President. As a former smoker, I understand the frustration and the fear that comes with quitting, but with the new law that you signed yesterday regulating the tobacco industry, I would like to ask you a few questions, how many cigarettes a day --

OBAMA: A few questions?

MCCLATCHY: Well -- how many cigarettes a day do you smoke? Do you smoke alone or in the presence of other people? And do you believe the new law would help you to quit and why?

First of all, I love the "as a former smoker" construction of the question. "You know, we are just two ex-smokers talking here, Mr. President!" UHM, NO! Raise your hand if you are a former smoker who often finds himself jonesing for a cigarette on those stressful occasions where say, the economy might collapse, or North Korea might point a missile at Hawaii, or a dangerous regime goes TOTAL WIGFLIP BALLKNOCKERS with unrest because of an illegitimate election -- on your watch? Sort of not the same league.

Anyway, I think Obama more or less decodes this correctly, as not being something that has anything to do with the new tobacco law:

OBAMA: Well, first of all the new law that was put in place is not about me, it's about the next generation of kids coming up. So I think it's fair, Margaret, to just say that you just think it's neat to ask me about my smoking as opposed to if -- being relevant to my new law. But that's fine. I understand. It's an interesting human interest story.

Look. I've said before that as a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it. Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes. Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No. I don't do it in front of my kids. I don't do it in front of my family. You know, I would say that I am 95 percent cured, but there are times where -- there are times when I mess up.

And I've said this before. I get this question about once every month or so. And I don't know what to tell you other than the fact that, you know, like folks who go to AA, you know, once you've gone down this path, then it's something you continually struggle with. Which is precisely why the legislation we signed was so important. Because what we don't want is kids going down that path in the first place. Okay?

From the standpoint of extemporaneous speaking, that's a pretty good job of bending this exchange back to something more substantive. But it doesn't explain why the press continues to obsess with Obama's smoking. I get that it likely has to do with serving as a role model. If Obama smokes, won't everybody? Won't it be totally cool to smoke because Obama is totally cool and now doesn't everybody want to hang out with Larry Summers and smoke cigarettes and eat Dijon mustard?

I have to imagine that if I were to ask this reporter why she felt the question was important, I'd likely get some version of this "role model" song and dance.

more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/23/obamas-smoking...

MichiganVote  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jun-23-09 06:20 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. Good for him. I'm so sick of the gotcha anti-smoking crowd.

ejpoeta  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-23-09 06:42 PM
Response to Reply #2
 
7. my thinking is... for crying out loud!! look at the crap heap bush left for him.

can't say as i would friggin blame him right now. but is it really anyone's damned business!! i mean, is it really the thing everyone wants to know!!! healthcare.... iran.... economy.... oil cost..... but no, the thing we all need to know is if obama is smoking.

The baby-talking warped primitive, who's probably envious that the rich spoiled kid the grazing primitive is chasing the Rita Hayworth primitive instead of her, in the cooking and baking forum:

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-23-09 06:23 PM
Response to Original message
 
4. Anybody who asks about it again should be banned from the press corps for sheer incompetence.

To focus on jackass trivia like this while the country is in crisis is criminal.

RagAss  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-23-09 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
 
6. Leave him the hell alone !!!!

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)      Tue Jun 23rd 2009, 06:47 PM
Response to Original message

Obama's Brother In Kenya

Obama's Brother Lives In A Shack
Read This Story Here!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jun-23-09 06:23 PM
Response to Original message
 
4. Anybody who asks about it again should be banned from the press corps for sheer incompetence.

To focus on jackass trivia like this while the country is in crisis is criminal.

Yet harpies of your ilk were PRAYING that someone would ask President Bush if he was drinking or using cocaine when there was absolutely NO EVIDENCE that he was.

Hypocrites, as usual.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

SCHIP uses tobacco taxes to pay for children's healthcare.

Obama hates poor children.

[crockspot]

Hmmm... Do the DUmmies have anything to say about the now admitted to be  pre-solicited and planted question that Obama was asked by the Huffington Post reporter, who was called on second at the press conference?

Two words: Jeff Gannon

One more word: Hypocrites.

[Carl]

MichiganVote  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jun-23-09 06:20 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. Good for him. I'm so sick of the gotcha anti-smoking crowd.

Guess none of them voted for Bubba and Gore in 1996 when they made it into a major campaign attack on Dole.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Hmmm... Do the DUmmies have anything to say about the now admitted to be  pre-solicited and planted question that Obama was asked by the Huffington Post reporter, who was called on second at the press conference?

Two words: Jeff Gannon

One more word: Hypocrites.

What did the HuffPo jagoff ask?  "How much of a God are you?"

[crockspot]

What did the HuffPo jagoff ask?  "How much of a God are you?"

from Drudge: POLITICO: OBAMA-HUFFPO CONSPIRE ON STAGED 'IRAN' QUESTION...