# Does Obama still smoke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311 "2008-07-21T22:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/1 "2008-07-21T22:21:16Z")
I recall that during the primary campaign the story was that he quit and then later in the campaign there was a story that he had started again just a little. That’s beena couple of months ago and I haven’t heard anything since. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/2 "2008-07-21T22:22:17Z")
Smoke _what_? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/3 "2008-07-21T22:30:58Z")
He was a Marlboro man, **Ludovic** , Marboro Reds. Major props to the guy if he was able to quit during these past few months. Talk about **stress**! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/4 "2008-07-21T22:36:26Z")
To the extent that there is a factual answer to this, I think it’s “no”. That’s his official stance, and unless someone’s got a picture of him smoking, we should take him at his word. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/5 "2008-07-22T00:00:30Z")
Actually, to the extent that there is a factual answer to this, I think it is [“yes”](http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/06/obama-admits-sm.html). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/6 "2008-07-22T02:04:20Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] To the extent that there is a factual answer to this, I think it’s “no”. That’s his official stance, and unless someone’s got a picture of him smoking, we should take him at his word. [/QUOTE] Are you saying it depends on the meaning of the word “smoke”? **Shodan** ’s link is what I had seen most recently. Apparently he quit to run for President but admitted to having fallen off the wagon a few times… the last being “months” before that story was written on 6/10/08. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/7 "2008-07-22T03:21:14Z")
I’ve been seeing [this](http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/596/obamasmokingpr5.jpg) photo for months and assuming it’s fake (it usually has the caption “Obama’s a bad mutha–” “shut yo mouth!”) A little search shows that Wonkette apparently has/had a reward for anyone who gets a photo of him smoking, but they also display this image without saying anything about whether it’s fake or not. Sooo, reckon it’s fake?? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/8 "2008-07-22T03:46:59Z")
If Obama smoked regularly and continued to do so throughout his campaign and while he was in office, I would vote for him. Because it would take major balls to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/9 "2008-07-22T03:50:47Z")
Who fucking cares? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/10 "2008-07-22T03:54:06Z")
As far as we know, he currently does not smoke. His admission to having fallen off the wagon a few times several months ago does not amount to proof that he smokes \*now[/i or even that he did it on any regular basis _then_. His campaign has said that he chews the gum. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/11 "2008-07-22T04:02:31Z")
Obama smokes(ed)?! I’m liking him more already! Nobody likes a quitter! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/12 "2008-07-22T04:08:55Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Who fucking cares? [/QUOTE] Uh, apparently enough people care that a thread was started on it, people posted in it, not to mention that it gets written about in the news and on blogs including a major political website. Your post is threadshitting. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/13 "2008-07-22T04:13:10Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Uh, apparently enough people care that a thread was started on it, people posted in it, not to mention that it gets written about in the news and on blogs including a major political website. Your post is threadshitting. [/QUOTE] Ok, why? Why do people care? What possible difference does it make? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/14 "2008-07-22T04:16:09Z")
Are you serious? Smoking is a polarizing issue. There are people who want to see it banned completely, and others who think you should be able to smoke freely wherever you want. Some of us condemn it vigorously for the health risks, while others speak defiantly of their enjoyment of cigarettes. Some people think it’s a sign of weakness and vulnerability (obviously, important things to consider when you’re talking about a presidential candidate.) Others would say that a president who smokes is providing a poor role model for children. I hope that answers your question. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/15 "2008-07-22T04:20:57Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Are you serious? Smoking is a polarizing issue. There are people who want to see it banned completely, and others who think you should be able to smoke freely wherever you want. Some of us condemn it vigorously for the health risks, while others speak defiantly of their enjoyment of cigarettes. Some people think it’s a sign of weakness and vulnerability (obviously, important things to consider when you’re talking about a presidential candidate.) Others would say that a president who smokes is providing a poor role model for children. I hope that answers your question. [/QUOTE] No, it doesn’t. I think it’s completely irrelevant whether Obama smokes or not. But I’ll bow out of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/16 "2008-07-22T04:23:18Z")
OK, YOU think it doesn’t matter, that’s fine. I feel the same way. What I’m trying to do is explain why other people might care about it, for various reasons. You’re being unnecessarily hard-headed here. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/17 "2008-07-22T04:29:49Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] OK, YOU think it doesn’t matter, that’s fine. I feel the same way. What I’m trying to do is explain why other people might care about it, for various reasons. You’re being unnecessarily hard-headed here. [/QUOTE] Maybe I am. That’s why I’m leaving this thread. Also, I forgot what forum this was. I suppose it is a factual question, albeit (IMO) a very trivial one. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/18 "2008-07-22T14:02:43Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Who fucking cares? [/QUOTE] Please note that you are posting in General Questions. The OP’s question is a factual one to whose answer this post does not contribute. Do not shit the threads. **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator ETA: I see you realized the error of your ways long before I posted this note. I’ll leave it as a reminder to others. ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/19 "2008-07-22T14:49:55Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Ok, why? Why do people care? What possible difference does it make? [/QUOTE] I think that question would be IMHO, or MPSIMS. Take it there. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311/20 "2008-07-22T15:13:15Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Are you saying it depends on the meaning of the word “smoke”? [/quote] No. I’m saying that it’s impossible to know for sure. > [@Shodan](#): > > ``` > Actually, to the extent that there is a factual answer to this, I think it is "yes". > > ``` Actually, your link does not verify that. It just says he fell off the wagon a few times months ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-still-smoke/457311.md?page=2)