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Ron Rosenbaum: Leave Obama (the Smoker) Alone!

Posted by Mike Riggs on Dec. 11, 2008, at 2:32 pm

I’m not one for fellating fellow journalists, but I’d make a knee-bruising exception for Slate’s Ron Rosenbaum, the first big-name journalist (who’s not a card-carrying libertarian) to stick up for President-elect Barack Obama’s nicotine addiction.

And not only does Rosenbaum defend our Dear Leader’s decision to do whatever the fuck he wants with his discretionary income/lungs, he also accurately captures the sympathies of fun-havers everywhere:

All us sinners—of various habits and forms—loved Obama for it and loathed Brokaw, Walters, and the nation of scolds we have become in their collective attempt to shame the poor guy (yes, president-elect, I know, but here, just a poor, conniving backslider) into some self-scourging confession.

You have to admire Obama’s good nature as he puts up with these narrow-minded nannies (addicted to tobacco in their own perverse, negative way) and offers up this masterpiece of obfuscation.

Kudos, Mr. Rosenbaum, and way to stick a finger in the eye of obnoxious social engineers. I wrote about smoking just a few days ago when I thought I might quit due to a cold (I didn’t), and a few weeks ago on “Stop Smoking Day” (or whatever it’s officially called).

Photo courtesy of flicker user Roomic Cube

Tags: Barack Obama, Fun-having, Ron Rosenbaum, Slate, Smokers, smoking

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Comments

1. Ryan Grim December 11th, 2008
   4:39 pm
   #1

   Didn’t Michael Kinsley say this in the Post a few weeks ago?

2. Babs December 11th, 2008
   5:27 pm
   #2

   The man is trying to run this fucke— up country after a Bush has been in office, if he wants to fucki— smoke so what.

3. Mike Riggs December 11th, 2008
   5:28 pm
   #3

   Kinsley argued that the only reason we should leave Obama alone is that it keeps him steady at the wheel, which implies that less powerful smokers are fair game for harassment.

   So, not quite the same thing.

4. Mike Riggs December 11th, 2008
   5:29 pm
   #4

   Babs–I’m trying to edit a section at a fucked up alt. weekly, is it ok for me to smoke too?

5. al gonzales December 11th, 2008
   6:57 pm
   #5

   Hey – a few puffs a day is good for anyone. Tobacco or medical herbs, puffing is a pure, simple pleasure of life.

6. Darrell Rowell December 12th, 2008
   1:26 pm
   #6

   I think it is great that Obama smokes. Its about time we had someone stand up for the rest of us!

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