Obama Dishes On How He Quit Smoking

Says Nicorette Helps Him Avoid Cravings During Pressure-Filled Campaign

(AP)  Barack Obama said he has successfully quit smoking cigarettes despite the pressures of a closely contested and lengthy presidential campaign.

"I've been chewing on this Nicorette, which tastes like you're chewing on ground pepper - but it does help," the Democratic candidate said in an interview that aired Thursday on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

His wife, Michelle, had used his smoking as leverage when the two were discussing whether he should run for president. She would agree only if Obama agreed to give up smoking.

"I had been sneaking three cigarettes, four cigarettes a day for a while, and she said if you're going to do this you've got to stop - precisely because the stress was going to increase, and it'll just get worse," Obama said. "So that's an example of my wife making me a better man once again."

The Illinois senator told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that dancing on her show had helped him win voters.

"I just want to say that we were kind of in a slump until I was dancing on the show," he joked, referring to his appearance on her show last fall. "My poll numbers skyrocketed after that. Everybody saw me bust a move on Ellen - that's all it took."

On Monday, DeGeneres showed up by satellite at a fundraiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton on the campus of George Washington University in the District of Columbia.

DeGeneres told Obama that she and many other voters find the two Democratic candidates appealing.

"I really like you. I really like Hillary. And I think a lot of people feel the same way," she said. "Why vote for you?"

Obama said he can unite the country.

"I think I have a better chance at getting Democrats and independents and Republicans to come together and put aside some partisan bickering that has been going on for a long time now that the Clintons were involved in," he said.

[jb4peace]

Senator Obama may have "quit smoking" but if he''s chewing Nicorette over a year later, he is still addicted. As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, I would like to see a president who is not nicotine-dependent and who actually quit smoking because they knew it was not good for their own health and that of the people around them.

According to what Obama says, he only quit smoking when his wife gave him an ultimatum -- quit or don''t run for President. His self-serving attitude and lack of concern about his own family''s health in this instance says a lot about what we could expect on a grander scale if he gets into office.

[dovesong-2009]

I am sure that Presi--oops Senator Obama didn''t smoke in front of his children or wife... that is why he used the word "sneaking". Look, I lived with my Great Aunt who had a probelm when I was young. It is a hard thing to quit, but with love and support, she did it. I am a person of compassion. Are you? People who try to help those on crutches don''t call them cripples. If you are sensitive to those you are trying to help in the American Cancer Society, you can say to them all, "look even Obama quit, you can do it!" instead of being a prejudice person who hasn''t walked in his shoes.

[trueprogress]

Sneaking a smoke ? Not as my President.

As a Feminist leader and professor of World and Women Studies, I am offended by this story. The world is being raped by the big tobacco companies, and for every cigarette smoked, one person dies exposed to the near slavery conditions of production and exposure to chemicals in developing countries, as everyone knows. ( President Bush may have been a drinker at one time, long ago, but that did not hurt anyone, and he has been a major freedom supporter in AFRICA for Women.)
RE OBAMA "Sneaking a smoke or two "

(SOS - Sneaking about the White House Looking to hide in a closet to have a smoke !!!) ( can you imagine how embassasing that would be when his wife calls him out on that !! )

The fact that AIDs and cigarette production has been linked geographically, economically/curturally/syntical-sessions makes me numb to think that any US Senator, now poised to be our ultimate leader would support such domination.

As a Feminist, I support Hillary as she is both a woman- non smoker, and a woman.

[dyanm]

A quick note for TrueProgress. A simple yeah or neah will suffice. God the *** you must carry in your head is appalling and the very reason Hillary will lose. Life/living on planet Earth doesn`t always have to be handcuffed to issues/agendas. I don`t smoke but I`m not going to crucify the guy! Are you really that perfect yourself? Relax a little ok? Better yet go dancing!!!!!!!!!!!

[nottellin1]

I traded Nicorette for smoking 18 years ago. I now discover that I have been on the Nicorette longer than I smoked cigarettes. This, of course, is not the recommended manner in which to use Nicorette. I am glad that I am no longer polluting my lungs and the lungs of those around me, but I am still addicted.

[jb4peace]

To DoveSong: Your referring to disabled people as "cripples" is not exactly sensitive. Are you trying to compare Obama to someone with a disability? The "people on crutches" example you use doesn''t work for those who cause their own problem. Obama supporters tend to totally miss the point in their zeal to throw around the "yes we can" message.

I agree that it is hard to quit an addiction. However, if you substitute another addiction (i.e. nicotine gum) you have not stopped, you are only hiding it better. So, no you cannot use Obama as an example of "look even Obama quit, so can you", because it''s not exactly true.

When he quits with the gum, that''s when he will have overcome the addiction that HE created. I have no sympathy for smokers with young families who continue to compromise the health of their young children.

Your comments about me being a "prejudiced person who hasn''t walked in his shoes" ---- is that serious?

[davidy007]

"How dare you address an esteemd professor of womens studies in this manner? Dance? Relax? How simplistic and savage!"



A quick note for TrueProgress. A simple yeah or neah will suffice. God the *** you must carry in your head is appalling and the very reason Hillary will lose. Life/living on planet Earth doesn`t always have to be handcuffed to issues/agendas. I don`t smoke but I`m not going to crucify the guy! Are you really that perfect yourself? Relax a little ok? Better yet go dancing!!!!!!!!!!!

[nottellin1]

Posted by DavidY007 at 04:12 PM : Feb 28, 2008

Youre kidding, right?

[davidy007]

nottellin1 ..Yes, I am kidding :)

[taddles-2009]

"What is our children learning?!?!

Posted by hopetrumps at 02:34 PM : Feb 28, 2008"


From your posts, pretty much nothing at all.

[taddles-2009]

"As a Feminist leader and professor of World and Women Studies, I am offended by this story.

Posted by TRUEPROGRESS at 01:56 PM : Feb 28, 2008"


As a person who doesn''t give a $hit, I''ll alert the media to your outrage...right after I have a smoke.

[randynason]

I hope that Ellen doesn''t start sobbing on live camera when Barack is taken aback by the Democratic Party and then promised to dance with another.

[trueprogress]

I AM DEEPLY OFFENDED:

As a feminist, I have dedicated over 36 years to working very, vary hard for ALL women. The women who live with men, are essentially passive children.

We are now poised to change direction and take control of the bus.
------------------------------------------------------
We DEMAND : Reparations for all women who have been married and divorce, or who have ben ruined by a man, due to no economic fault of her own. We demand grade addtions of one step for all women students, to unbalance the grade favoritism for men over women. We demand a fuel tax on men driving, to support our needs for carting the "kids" here and there. We demand, funding for discarded women''s clothes, to help women of Africa. And more.


--------------------------------------------------
As a Professor of World and Women , I am offended by the current REJECTION, and ABUSE.

[libra127]

Posted by TRUEPROGRESS at 08:21 PM : Feb 28, 2008

Please note that this poster has demonstrated by his posts elsewhere that he is definitely NOT a professor and NOT a feminist. His posts are FRAUDULENT and appear to be an attempt to discredit feminists.

[utsava]

Hey, you put on your website Obama s family album. I haven''t seen Hillary s album. And really attractive pictures of Obama. But where is Hillary, why are you treating him with silky gloves and not Hillary?

[truthfinder1]

Is this worthy of a news? Quit smoking with Nicorette. Transfering one form of addiction to another. He could have said I quit smoking, but chewing tobacco instead which taste like chewing on rooted grass.
So the message is that he is messiah... whatever he does and how miniscule it is.. it is worthy of news. Is that it?

[keithle1]

Obama..our next President? They say he raised $50 million in Feb to Hillary Baby''s $32 million. Anyone BUT the old man McCain.

Women''s Studies...someone is having a laugh. Patriarchal Repression 101. All men are rapists.

Quitting smoking for good is EXTREMELY difficult. A black man listening to & respecting his wife is also EXTREMELY rare.

GO OBAMA! BEAT MCCAIN! DEMOCRATS 2008

[keithle1]

Inauguration Day in Jan 2009 will be a VERY happy day. No more Bush-Cheney. You will never see either of them again. Bush will be judged as one of the bottom five Presidents. Bush Senior is sorry that Dubya ever ran for President.

Our long Republican nightmare is almost over, people of America.

[athy4]

Articles I read to better Understand Sen. Obama and his Policies


http://news.houstonpress.com/2008-02-28/news/barack-obama-screamed-at-me/

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/03/obama200803?currentPage=7

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3080794.ece

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=aa0cd21b-0ff2-4329-88a1-69c6c268b304

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/26/politics/main3876941.shtml

http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2008/02/26/obama_s_dangerous_protectionism/index.html


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-wilson/battletested_b_86355.html?view=screen


I tried to leave out publications that were sensational in nature and/or provided no real information to help us in our decision, That is-I left out any trashy stuff.Question everything you read for accuracy and slant. If you are not sure about a particular fact, send link to particular website publication out on blogosphere and ask bloggers if anyone can verify or refute certain whatever it is you are questioning.Please do the same if you find any articles (positive or negative ) about Sen Clinton or any other candidate. Also, send more articles about Sen Obama too.

[noregion5]

What a fantastic fact about what your calling the president of USA, which is arrogant. The attitude of most Obama commentors is unacceptable, it is no better than what Bush is doing now.