'I Won't Smoke in White House,' Obama Vows

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»

(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»

President-elect's struggle with nicotine could help others kick the habit

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is about to become the nation's smoker-in-chief, and anti-smoking advocates are hopeful he'll become a powerful example for other smokers if he finally manages to kick the habit. He has quit several times but so far has always gone back to smoking up to eight cigarettes a day, reports the New York Times. More»

Obama's trouble with cigs proves he's fallible, after all

(NEWSER) - Snooty media-types are giving Barack Obama a hard time for his dodges and weaves about trying to quit smoking. But we should all leave the poor addict alone, writes Ron Rosenbaum in Slate. Do we really want a nervous, edgy president dying for a cigarette while he's got his finger on the nuclear button? Sure, secondhand smoke is bad, but what about "secondhand radioactive plutonium?" More»

Obama probably still smokes—and we should be OK with that

(NEWSER) - America has elected a member of a hated minority as president. That’s right, Barack Obama is a smoker. Oh, sure, he claims to have quit, but Michael Kinsley of the Washington Post isn’t convinced. Obama admitted falling off the wagon in June, yet no reporter has asked him about it since. It’s disgusting and it sets a bad example, but Kinsley thinks maybe we should let it slide. More»