Posted on 06/10/2015 8:33:24 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
President Obama, who claimed when he first entered the White House to have mostly kicked his nicotine habit, might have been caught on camera holding a pack of cigarettes.
The commander in chief is seen clutching a white object in a snapshot with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi posted Sunday on Instagram by Renzi's spokesman.
Obama and Renzi were both in Germany attending the G-7 summit.
Several social media users questioned whether Obama was holding cigarettes in the pic, with one writing, “Smoking?”
The White House did not immediately respond to ITK's request for comment on the photo and the last time President Obama had had a cigarette.
It’s not the first time Obama’s claims of being mostly nicotine-free have been questioned.
In November, ITK broke the story that Obama invited Billy Joel to have a smoke at the White House with him.
According to a source who spoke with Joel, Obama said to the “Piano Man” singer during Joel's 2013 White House visit, “I’m going out on the North Portico to have a smoke. Do you want to come with me?”
Obama said in 2009 that he “constantly” struggles with cigarettes.
“Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes. Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No,” he said at the news conference.
“I would say that I am 95 percent cured,” Obama said, “But there are times where … There are times where I mess up.”
Obama was heard on an open mic at a 2013 event saying it was Michelle Obama who “scared” him into quitting smoking.
“I haven’t had a cigarette in six years," the president said. "That’s because I’m scared of my wife.”
UPDATE (2:32 p.m., June 10):
The White House said Wednesday that Obama is not holding a pack of cigarettes in the photo.
When asked if Obama has a pack of cigarettes in his hand in the photo, spokesman Josh Earnest answered, "He does not."
Exactly.
Heck, then it’s a celebration cigarette! Those are all ACCOMPLISHMENTS for 0bie.
Six packs per day.
My dad smoked Pall Mall unfiltered cigarettes from age 14 to 51. I grew up in a haze of cigarette smoke. I never really liked it, but took it up when I cooked for a living because it was the only way you got a break was if you smoked. I smoked from age 18 to 28 but when I had a kid, I didn’t want him growing up seeing me smoking like I saw my dad, so I quit. My dad had to quit in 1987 because he had lung cancer, and had to have half of his left lung removed, and is now cancer-free but has severe COPD at age 79. He was a rabid 2 pack a day smoker until the reality of cancer hit him and now he despises the things. It wasn’t the easiest thing I ever did to quit, but it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. I feel so much better than I did when I smoked, and I don’t like to think what years of constant smoking would have done to me. I’m now 46, and haven’t smoked cigarettes for 16 years. I don’t recommend them. I would completely smoke a pipe if I didn’t think it would give me throat cancer. My father in-law smoked cigars and throat cancer killed him too young.
He is an addict. of course he still sucks for the nicotine.
I wouldn’t care if he smoked 50 packs a day if he quit trying to run our country into the ground.
Who cares whether he’s smoking or not. He lies, any one surprised that he lies about smoking?
There’s lots more important stuff he’s doing that is harmful to the USA. That’s what should be reported. I really don’t care how much he smokes.
Yup. I don’t fault anyone for imbibing a bit of nicotine in these crazy days. In fact, I think the whole “workplace violence” thing can be EXACTLY traced to the crusade against tobacco. Unsettled Bob once was able to have a smoke and settle down, Now, Unsettled Bob is tomorrow’s headline.
How is a president going to react if he doesn’t think that promoting smoking is something he wants in his image yet it’s something he does? Can he have no privacy?
I’m no fan of Obama but I don’t care whether he smokes or not.
Liquor has caused more death and destruction than smoking ever has or will
(No I don’t smoke, but I don’t think it’s fair to criminalize smokers so and shrug off drinkers)
Thanks for the ping!
Thanks for the ping!
I absolutely agree. I also grew up in an alcoholic household with an angry drunk for a father, and alcohol was a part of daily life for him. On family vacations, he’d be drinking beer the entire two weeks as he drove cross-country. He was a functional alcoholic, but it was not a tranquil childhood. I have had my own problems with drinking too much after a divorce, and my current wife nearly died from too much daily vodka after a crappy childhood of abuse. I still love the taste and effect of alcohol, but have slowed way way way down. I used to drink heavily, now I have maybe six cocktails a month. Many months no alcohol at all, I just don’t want the effects that it brings with age.
I hope he changes to ten packs of unfiltered Camels everyday.
Thank you. Will all that is happening here and abroad, focusing on whether or not he is smoking = people have too much time on their hands
Good for you. Good for your Dad, too.
My dad, brother, sister, both grandfathers, all smoked. I know one niece smoked. Maybe more. My dad had to quit for health reasons. My sister died of cancer (not lung). My brother had a severe head injury and forgot he smoked. He took it up again anyway and struggled off and on to quit. I think he quit completely. I’m not big on criticizing people for it. It bothers my eyes, especially when I wore contacts. But I survived it. I figure they already pay a big enough price. I won’t add to it.
He’s not holding a pack of secret, then what is it? We shouldn’t believe our lying eyes, we should trust Obama
You do a good job self-correcting, and for good reasons, too. Good for you.
red. herring.
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