Gibson called Obama's long-known cigarette smoking a "dirty little secret"

[RamboLiberal]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200701180010

On the January 17 edition of Fox News' The Big Story, host John Gibson, during a discussion with Manhattan Institute senior fellow John H. McWhorter and Young Democrats of America's Malia Lazu about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) -- who on January 16 announced his decision to form a presidential exploratory committee -- said: "And team works overtime trying to hide Obama's dirty little secret. He is -- get this -- a cigarette smoker. The point is: What else do we not know about Barack Obama?" Despite Gibson's claim that Obama's smoking is "a dirty little secret," Obama told the Chicago Tribune in December 2005 that his smoking is "an ongoing battle," and his cigarette use was, in fact, known during his 2004 Senate campaign, when his wife told the Chicago Sun-Times that he smokes "about three Marlboros a day."

The conversation also featured a comment by McWhorter that the reason Obama is "considered such a big deal is simply because he's black." McWhorter added that "if you took away the color of his skin, nobody right now would be paying him any attention." At the end of the discussion, McWhorter, who is himself black, said that "it's almost like he's mammy," a reference to a caricature of blacks as "contented, even happy, as slaves," according to The Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University. Gibson did not respond to McWhorter's "mammy" remark. McWhorter's comments about Obama's race as a factor in the campaign echoed those made in a January 17 editorial in the Manchester, New Hampshire, Union Leader, which asked if Obama would "get affirmative action," as Media Matters for America noted.

Gibson also asked: "The question is would you vote for a smoker as president? John, is that kind of -- is that an impediment?" At one point in the discussion, an on-screen graphic showed a picture of Obama in front of the White House, smiling next to two packs of Marlboro cigarettes with the question: "Would you vote for a smoker as president?" After Gibson asked if Obama's smoking would be an "impediment," Lazu answered that "I think Americans will be happy that his vice doesn't lead him to pages or to choking his mistress," apparently in reference to scandals that plagued former Republican Reps. Mark Foley (FL) and Don Sherwood (PA).

As the weblog News Hounds noted, the January 10 edition of Fox News' Fox and Friends hosted a discussion on January 10 in which PoliticalDerby.com editor Jason Wright predicted "the smoking issue comes back to bite in the hindquarters."


Guess this guy shouldn't have been president since he was a smoker.

[Nickster]

1. "I think Americans will be happy that his vice doesn't lead him to pages or to choking his mistress,

That's just a great response!:-)

[Virginia Dare]

2. What about Bush's drug and alcohol problem...

not to mention that he and Pickles also chain smoke. What a fucking joke our "press" is.

[LSparkle]

4. YEAH! Based on the past almost 8 years, I want EVERY VICE

in our next leader! Let the guy blow off a little steam (and smoke) if he wants ... and have a fucking drink at night after he's done leading the Free World!

[bdamomma]

3. what BS, how about the alcohol and drug abuser in the WH.

next will be cigar smokers, oh, he smoked a great big fat one????? OMG.

[MindPilot]

5. They are just going to go freakin' ballistic when they find out Obama

is black.

Edited to make sense...

[Imagevision]

6. Laura Bush is a chain smoker, but being with shrub would drive anyone to smoke, or worse!!

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. It's a wonder she doesn't use hard drugs, living with that creep.

[AndyA]

7. PRESS: Ignore the fact that Mr. and Mrs. George W. Bush are both cigarette smokers.

Ignore the fact that George W. Bush is an alcoholic and drug abuser. And a drunk driver.

Ignore the fact that Mrs. Bush is a murderer, having killed her boyfriend by ramming his car with her car on a clear, dry, night in 1963 Texas.

At least Barack can speak distinctly. He can put sentences together that make sense. He presents himself well, and would be a more attractive example of what America is to the world.

Hypocrisy. Our corporate-owned, self-serving media has nothing to report if there's no hypocrisy. Hey, isn't there a blonde coed missing on some foreign island? Look - a bright shiny thing over there! Nancy, hurry! Do 500 shows about it, OK?

[meegbear]

8. As they said on Crooks and Liars about this ...

This is just "Fox Stupid".

[Connie_Corleone]

9. Didn't he say he was going to quit smoking this year?

[napi21]

11. I don't know, and don't care either! I'm a smoker, and I'm not sure

I'd recomend that he quit THIS YEAR! Any candidate will tell you that the trail is an extremely stressful one, and so is quiting smoking. I'd think combining the two wouldn't be good.

[ripple]

15. Here's another reason for him to hang on to the ciggies:

'Sen. Barack Obama has the sort of voice that political consultants dream of: It's authoritative but comforting, rich and resonant and wise. Whether he's talking about the Darfur genocide or Monday Night Football, the man sounds like a leader. His voice helps account for why even hardened cynics go weak at the knees when they hear him. One of my friends prides himself on being strictly nonpartisan, but after listening to Obama's Dreams From My Father, read by the senator himself, he confessed to me, "I shouldn't say this, but I love him."

There are plenty of reasons for Obama's magic voice: where he grew up, how his parents talked, how he breathes. But perhaps most important is one Obama doesn't want to talk about: cigarettes. Obama is an occasional smoker...'


www.slate.com/id/2157523/nav/tap2/


Kind of makes me wonder if Hillary and Edwards might contemplate picking up the habit themselves. :smoke:

[durrrty libby]

18. No,..... there is absolutely no rational reason for him to

"hang on to the ciggies"


none..zich...zippo...nada

[ripple]

24. My post was somewhat tongue-in-cheek

there isn't an emoticon for that, but I thought my last statement kind of gave it away.

Even so, I really don't care one way or the other. Obama should do whatever he feels comfortable with. His choice to smoke or not is just that: his choice. My decision to support him is in no way contingent upon his status as either a smoker or an ex-smoker.

With the multitude of enormously challenging issues we are faced with as a nation, I think the least of our worries should be the prospect of having a president who enjoys an occasional ciggie. But that's just me.

[durrrty libby]

25. I guarantee this will become a big deal with the opposition

and maybe with his fellow dem candidates


People can pretend all they want that this issue is frivolous

Role model will be shouted from the mountain tops

[napi21]

10. If THAT'S the best criticism they can find, Obama has no worries

at all! Gibson might not like cigarettes, but lastI checked, they're legal, at least in non-public places. You can bet your a** that the RW has been hunting, digging, and searching for some dirt on him. If that's all they can find,I cant help but laugh!!!

[applegrove]

12. He is a fascinating interview. That's why he's been a rising star. Cause

he seems to be an amazing person. I get tired of GOP playing to their racist base. Then again, I am white..so I have the luxury of getting tired of it. I wonder how African Americans feel about this line of questioning.

[durrrty libby]

13. I hope he quits. It will show strength of character and

his family will be grateful

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. How about Gibson's "dirty little secret" - using Michael Jackson's make-up kit

[Arugula Latte]

16. Maybe Obama could get a rightwing-sanctioned "dirty secret" --

He could become an oxy addict like Limpballs, he could be a harassing sex perv like Bill "Falafel" O'Reilly, he could have a bad gambling monkey on his back like Mr. Virture Bill Bennett, or he could try to get into the pants of Congressional pages like our friend from Florida. See -- those are all okay and if you say otherwise you're a damn lie-brul on a witchhunt.

[unpossibles]

17. OMG! 3 WHOLE CIGARETTES A DAY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

he should obviously be lynched!

wtf? Oh wait - it's John Gibson. That guy is a tool.

[napi21]

19. Yea, I saw that. I personally don't even call that a smoker.

My husband used to be a smoker like that many years ago. He kept hispack in the freezer because if he didn't they got stale and dried out! I think he bought a pack once every 3 or 4 weeks! I didn't call him a smoker either!

[RamboLiberal]

23. He should go to cigars

Republicans seem to like cigars - at least to smoke. :sarcasm:

[Daphne08]

20. Oh, for Cripes Sake!

This is so damn ridiculous, I don't even know where to begin.

[izzybeans]

22. Gibson is probably speaking code here. Translation:"Our minions have dug up nothing. Fuck"

[snowbear]

26. LOL !!!

Too funny!!

[tammywammy]

28. They'll go with their fall back...

if the smoking won't turn people against him, then keep "reminding" people that his middle name is Hussein.


:rofl:

[AtomicKitten]

27. their dirt excavators are going to have dig deeper than this

This is just a taste of the pettiness and rampant hypocrisy that is on the horizon gearing up to 2008.
Obama-bashing is rearing its ugly head here at DU too.

Gobama.

[aaronbees]

33. Gobama!

I love it!

And yeah, this is all petty tactics. I've seen the "what has he done"/"what don't we know" bit here a lot, and it's really discouraging. Is it really hard for people to do research? Or do people need their progressive politics spoonfed to them? Really getting lame.

[Generic Brad]

29. Last time I checked, cigarettes were still legal

He's being vilified for making a personal choice within the limits of the law! What a lame right wing attack.

[bling bling]

30. This is beyond ridiculous.

I can't believe the big deal that is being made over the stupidest piddliest shit when it comes to Obama.


From the left (at least on certain leftist websites):

Obama only has the same amount of experience as a shitload of other past-presidents and current hopefuls but for him we shall chant non-stop how inexperienced he is.

Oh no, Obama didn't sign Kerry-Feingold even though he DID oppose the war and DID sign another amendment for exiting Iraq. But Kerry-Feingold was the ultimate litmus test for if somebody *truly* opposes the war or not therefore Obama obviously wants the war to go on indefinitely and we should not vote for him.

Oh no, Obama didn't tell America on Larry King that as President he will charge George Bush with war crimes. Vote for Obama if you want to be a corrupt twerp who prefers the coverup wing of the Democratic party.

Oh no, Obama is a good and charasmatic speaker. He is obviously a greasy sheister and we must be incredulous of his dirty trickery and I for one won't vote for him.

Oh no, Obama is black. The red states won't like that. America isn't ready. Thus, he should sit out until the red states aren't red any more.....or something.


From the right:
Oh no, Obamas name sounds very close to a bad guys name. Obama must be a bad guy too then.

Oh no, Obama's middle name is muslim-esque. He must have ties to the terrorists.


From the media:
Extra Extra Obama is a smoker! The only elected rep in history to smoke! 3 per day!!! Is he fit to be President?

****

Can't hardly wait to see what comes out next considering all the really damaging stuff about him is being "exposed" so early on.

[Imagevision]

31. Note to Barack Obama: Tobacco Comanies have increased nicotine by 12 % over the past

seven years, so understanding this, it is a wee bit more difficult to quit/stop smoking.

[venable]

32. Edwards is my guy, and I am a struggling ex-smoker

and wish people wouldn't smoke, but i find it sort of refreshing that he has not been packaged into a sterile machine.

give me a few flaws, and I'll show you a real person. I only trust real persons.

(and, to repeat, Edwards is my guy)

[erpowers]

34. Bush's Dirty Littl Secret

Bush smoked cigars at the White House with the Saudi Ambassador days after the 9/11 attacks. During his father time in the White House Bush used to smoke cigars in the White House even though his mother told him not to do so. How horrible is Bush. Lets get the impeachment papers ready.

[Dulcinea]

35. Who cares?

I want to hear about what he'd do if elected, not if he smokes on occasion. It's a non-issue.

[BoneDaddy]

36. buggering pages

is a dirty lil secret ...smoking is not.

[SOS]

37. Tobacco use is a rarity among Presidents,

with the only the following few exceptions:

John Adams 1797-1801 cigar
James Madison 1809-1817 cigar
John Quincy Adams 1825-1829 cigar
Andrew Jackson 1829-1837 cigar
Martin Van Buren 1837-1841 pipe
William Henry Harrison 1841 pipe
John Tyler 1841-1845 cigar
Zachary Taylor 1849-1850 cigar
Andrew Johnson 1865-1869 cigar
Ulysses S. Grant 1869-1877 cigar
Chester A. Arthur 1881-1885 cigar
Grover Cleveland 1885-1889 chewing tobacco
Benjamin Harrison 1889-1893 cigar
William McKinley 1897-1901 cigar
Warren G. Harding 1921-1923 cigar
Calvin Coolidge 1923-1929 cigar
Herbert Hoover 1929-1933 cigar
Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933-1945 cigarette
Dwight Eisenhower 1953-1961 cigarette (4 packs a day, quit)
John F. Kennedy 1961-1963 cigar
Lyndon Johnson 1963-1969 cigar
Richard Nixon 1969-1974 cigar (quit cigarettes)
Gerald Ford 1974-1977 pipe
Ronald Reagan 1981-1989 cigarette (quit)
Bill Clinton 1993-2001 cigar