Someone Get the President- Elect a Cigarette

Obama working to stay on the wagon

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama promised the nation yesterday that he won't be sneaking smokes at the White House. The president-elect, who has been trying to kick his habit, told Meet the Press that he'll respect the mansion's smoke-free policy. He admits having "fallen off the wagon" in the past, but seemed confident that he can follow house rules, reports the New York Daily News. More»

President congratulates those trying to quit

(NEWSER) - President Obama congratulated those who are making plans to quit smoking today as part of the Great American Smokeout, wryly acknowledging that “quitting smoking is hard—believe me, I know.” He also slammed Big Tobacco for attempting to block new cigarette warning labels “because they don’t want to be honest about the consequences of using their products. Unfortunately, this isn’t surprising.” Click for more on a smoke-free Obama's health . More»

White House Flickr photo seems to indicate that he is

(NEWSER) - Did the debt ceiling debate drive President Obama back to the arms of ... Nicorette? Politico's sharp-eyed Josh Gerstein spotted what appears to be a piece of the nicotine gum in a photo recently posted on the official White House Flickr stream. In the picture, Obama is having a phone conversation about the debt limit with Nancy Pelosi as Joe Biden and others watch. "It's tough to blame the guy, what with the Tea Party nonsense and all," writes Joe Coscarelli in New York . "But at this point, Obama's image might actually benefit if he just went straight for the Marlboro Reds." Click to see the photo , with the suspected piece of gum conveniently highlighted. More»

(NEWSER) - He wasn't all that happy to be asked about it—again—but President Obama admitted during his news conference today that, yes, he still lights up the occasional cigarette, reports ABC News. “Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes.” Obama said he’s not a “daily smoker, a constant smoker,” and added, “I don’t do it in front of my kids. … I would say that I am 95% cured.” More»

Mad turns satirical eye on new president

(NEWSER) - Crises at home and abroad seem to be taking a toll on President Obama already—at least through the lens of Mad Magazine’s cartoonists. The current issue depicts a stressed-out president—ashtray full, antacid flowing—poring over screaming headlines and classified reports. “The only thing the artist missed,” Frank James writes in the Chicago Tribune, “was the chance to take a swipe at the president for those Alfred E. Newman ears of his.” More»