# Obama Smoking in the White House **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2008, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314 "2008-11-12T06:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/81 "2008-11-14T16:49:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And let’s not forget all those presidential couples having SEX on the BEDS there-THAT’S ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!! I think I’d prefer forgetting. Ack. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/82 "2008-11-14T17:38:29Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > This reminded me of something I read the other day, that has nothing to do with this stirring debate but I thought I’d share. [From The Mirror.](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/11/09/barack-obama-what-life-will-be-like-for-new-us-president-115875-20881650/) > > Maybe the Obamas should think about giving up wild sex. For security reasons. I really don’t get this. How would the SS guys hear a tiny model falling over? How would it make enough sound for them to respond? Was it made out of metal or a bell? Wouldn’t it just be easier for the President to yell? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/83 "2008-11-14T17:49:45Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > I really don’t get this. How would the SS guys hear a tiny model falling over? How would it make enough sound for them to respond? Was it made out of metal or a bell? Wouldn’t it just be easier for the President to yell? Hmm. I was assuming it had a pressure switch on the bottom so that if it fell it triggered an alarm. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/84 "2010-03-01T14:29:04Z")
The latest on the President’s unfortunate smoking habit (towards the bottom of the article): [News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines - AOL.com](http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/obamas-physical-fit-for-duty-but-still-a-smoker/19376818) ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/85 "2010-03-01T15:05:52Z")
If the President of the United States can’t smoke a butt in his own frikken house then I dispair for America. I hate cigs as much as anybody but cripes. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/86 "2010-03-01T15:12:35Z")
And it is not against the law to smoke in residential portions of Federal buildings – only the workspaces. [Cite.](http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/08/1997-08-09-executive-order-13058-on-smoking-in-federal-workplaces.html) > [@](#): > > Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the executive branch to establish a smoke-free environment for Federal employees and members of the public visiting or using Federal facilities. The smoking of tobacco products is thus prohibited in all interior space owned, rented, or leased by the executive branch of the Federal Government, and in any outdoor areas under executive branch control in front of air intake ducts. … > (b) The order does not extend to any residential accommodation for persons voluntarily or involuntarily residing, on a temporary or long-term basis, in a building owned, leased, or rented by the Federal Government. … > (e) The head of any agency may establish limited and narrow exceptions that are necessary to accomplish agency missions. Such exception shall be in writing, approved by the agency head, and to the fullest extent possible provide protection of nonsmokers from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Authority to establish such exceptions may not be delegated. So the executive order (not a law!) doesn’t apply to the residence in the White House, and the President can make narrow exceptions to the executive order without revising the whole thing anyway. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/87 "2010-03-01T15:15:35Z")
He’s the President of the United States. Has about half a billion things on his mind. Legal, illegal, it doesn’t matter. If the guy wants a butt, fire one up. For God’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/88 "2010-03-01T16:18:01Z")
Hopefully he doesn’t. Decontaminating the White House could be quite costly. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/89 "2010-03-01T16:30:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I agree. Also, we should keep a sharp eye out to make sure he doesn’t stick his gum under the desk in the Oval Office. > Or in other words, what makes you think that: > > 1. This is a potential problem, and > 2. Worthy of the Great Debates forum? Why would the OP be interested in this? [ol] [li]No it is not a problem or a potential problem[/li][li]No it is not worthy of a Great Debate.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/90 "2010-03-01T16:41:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Mary-Kate Olsen has no power over anything in the White House and after her odd role in the Heath Ledger death it would be somewhere between hypocritical and inadvisable for her to make Obama’s smoking an issue. > > I think Obama should just issue an Executive Order saying “I can smoke wherever the hell I want to.” No, I think he should just do it. he is a grown man. If he wants a cigarette or a cigar, he should just light it up. No Exec order, no proclamation, no speeches to justify it. If he wants a shot of brandy or Scotch to go with it, he is a grown man. People, some things are no one else’s business. Whether there are or aren’t more important things to worry about is irrelevant. Some things are just no one’s business. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/91 "2010-03-01T16:45:13Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I was getting ready to ask that. If the film “W” is to be believed (we’re dealing with an Oliver Stone film here, so that’s a big “if”) Laura is a heavy smoker, and George used to smoke. George H.W. Bush was a smoker. I’ve seen photographs. I don’t mean in his younger days, I mean as President, or at least Vice-President. Come on. Who cares? It’s a tough job. Give the guy a break. Let him have a smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314/92 "2010-03-01T17:30:29Z")
BRAAAA :cough: cough: AAAAINNS! In addition to being old I think this one has run its course, so it’s being locked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-smoking-in-the-white-house/472314.md?page=4)