To puff or not to puff
Doug is right.
The president-elect should light up if he wants to.
But for the sake of his own health and his family's, I hope he'll choose to kick the habit once and for all .
As for the role model thing, it's a good point. He is one of the most powerful and resonant role models to come along in at least a generation. If he'd stick to his desire to quit, successfully, he'd encourage a lot of others, either to stop, or never to start in the first place.
I remember a Sports Illustrated cover in the 1970s depicting White Sox slugger Dick Allen juggling baseballs and puffing happily on a cigarette.
I was a only teen-ager. And 40 years later, I still remember.
Comments (7)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Mr. Johnson, this post has nothing to do with Obama's smoking habits, sorry to interrupt. There is a problem using Typepad on the Letters to Editor blog. It repeatedly kicks the user off upon attempting to post and requires them to sign back in. I've counted up to 14 attempts before a post finally took. Many others are having the same problem.
We appreciate the fact that the N&R provides this forum at no charge to it's users, however this problem is ruining the blog. The number of posts has significantly dropped, indicating that many cannot use the system or are unwilling to hassle with the system as it exists.
Are there any alternatives to Typepad and/or do you guys have any sway with the owners of this system? Any help would greatly be appreciated.
Posted on December 9, 2008 5:27 PM
My third-grader asked me today how she had to be before she could smoke. She said she wanted to be like President Obama and Dick Allen (to whom she still refers as "Richie"). It's a sad thing to have to explain to an idealistic young girl that, despite being leader of the free world, Obama is still a slave to Demon Nicotine.
Personally, I'd like to see him install a hookah in the oval office for group smokes with visiting dignitaries.
And Dan's right. I tried to post a mean-spirited response to the girl who wanted to give away $3 trillion for Chevys (complaining about middle school math skills, the belated Santa Claus syndrome, irresponsible parents and editors who encourage kids to be stupid in public, etc.), and the system wouldn't let me.
Posted on December 10, 2008 4:27 AM
Dan and Brian:
I'm sorry you've had technical problems. I've passed your notes on to the appropriate people.
Posted on December 10, 2008 9:10 AM
That said, Brian, I can't say I'm too disappointed that your comment post on the little girl's letter didn't go through.
Posted on December 10, 2008 9:13 AM
She's not a little girl; she's in middle school, and ought to be old enough to multiply $10,000 times 300 million Americans and realize the utterly preposterous nature of her scheme.
Certainly you realize it, as did everyone else who read the letter, but since, officially speaking, kids are full of innocent wisdom and creativity, we're supposed to marvel at the cleverness involved. So instead of growing up and confronting the reality principle, these kids inhabit an infantilizing cocoon where they're all above average and they're always right. This is why Johnny lives in mom's basement at 30 playing World of Warcraft all day. It's a vicious cycle.
If, instead, we crack down on them while they're young, there's a chance for them to become productive citizens.
Posted on December 10, 2008 11:51 AM
How many kids do you have again?
Posted on December 10, 2008 11:54 AM
Two delightful girls, both intimately acquainted with the reality principle (from being cracked down upon for their own good and because I don't want them living in the basement when they're 30).
Posted on December 11, 2008 12:18 AM