So the new talking point for the screeds is that Obama is a bad choice for prez....

[LynneSin]

...because he's a smoker?

I've seen that on about 5 different websites and as someone who is an avowed non-smoker, why in GODS name would I make a voting choice based on someone's smoking habits??!! Am I disappointed that he's a smoker? Yes, I disappointed that he smokes. I know he has kids and I was someone who was young when I losted my father to lung cancer, so I'd hate to see that happen to his kids. However, seriously, am I that stupid to vote for someone based on their smoking habits ESPECIALLY when my alternative would be a republican?

I guess the right wing talking points are getting nervous that Obama could be a very viable candidate for 2008

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Ah, I guess the "people will mistake him for osama bin laden" didn't work.

They are getting started early this election cycle!

[lancdem]

3. lol

[Cocoa]

2. as long as he doesn't smoke during the State of the Union

that would look tacky.

[skipos]

4. YOU may not base your vote on stupid things like smoking

But I have no doubt that millions base their vote on tons of stupid things. Do you think a GREAT candidate who weighs 300 pounds can become president? Do you think a GREAT candidate who is gay can win? I don't, at least right now.

Alas, I am not sure if the smoking thing hurts him.

[ripple]

5. If that's all they have, bring it on! n/t

[Generic Brad]

6. Obama would make one smoking president!

Literally. :smoke:

[goclark]

7. They are getting scared

and they all probably smoke and for sure the Chimp is a drinker and drug taker --- but that is different. :puke:

[beaconess]

8. Running out of excuses . . .

He shouldn't run because:

1) "America's not ready to elect a Black president" - among Democrats, he's polling second only to Hillary Clinton - he's ahead of Edwards, Clark, Kerry and everyone else. Seems like there are a whole lot of folks who are eager to vote for a Black man for president - and he hasn't even started to campaign yet.

2) "He needs to spend more time in the Senate" - Joe Lieberman - 'nuff said

3) "His name sounds too much like Osama bin Laden" - too stupid to even comment on

So now we're down to "he smokes."

If this is the depth of opposition to him, he's in pretty good shape.

[LynneSin]

9. I just wish the pundits be honest and say what they mean...

..."He's black and we don't want him"

I personally think he would be great. I hedge a bit on experience and think he'd be great at VP but hell I'd support him for prez too

[beaconess]

13. Exactly -

And they don't want him because, while he's Black, they cannot stereotype or mock him using the snickering tones and subtly racist ridicule they love to use on other Black public figures (ever watch Tucker Carlson ridicule "Rev. Al" while pretending to praise him?). He can't be wedged into the stereotypes without which they seem unable to deal with Black folk.

And he's smarter than they are.

And, probably worst of all - he's not the least bit afraid of or intimidated by any of them.

[Clark2008]

14. The key words here are "among Democrats."

I don't think he can win a national election.

Caveat: I'm a Tennessean. Been through a race-race, done that. Didn't work, sadly.

[beaconess]

16. Yes, yes, we all know you're from Tennessee - you've told us that several times

Insisting that Obama stay on the sidelines because he's Black - which is exactly what you're doing -is a bigoted and narrow-minded argument.

And as a Black woman who has had to work my ass off to overcome such backward thinking, often by people who assume they are open-minded and liberal, I also know that it is ridiculous to compare the performance of one Black person to assess and/or predict the potential performance of a another Black person. The fact that Harold Ford lost his race in Tennessee in no way predicts how Barack Obama would do if he ran for president. As I've told you before, Tennessee isn't the United States and Harold Ford isn't Barack Obama.

Assuming in advance that Obama can't win a national election because Harold Ford didn't win in Tennessee is tantamount to assuming that no White person can win the presidency because Deval Patrick beat Kerry Healey in the Massachusetts governor's race - funny, though, I haven't seen you or anyone else make THAT argument. Is it only Black people who are disqualified from national politics when someone of the same race loses a statewide election?

If you want to give up the ghost because, after one race that you seem to think is the end-all and be-all of politics for the whole country and every Black politician, be my guest. But don't expect the rest of us to buy into that kind of thinking.

So please, just go lick your wounds, whine about how Tennessee just didn't do right by our people, and opt out of the process, if that will make you feel better, but the rest of us will continue working to move this country forward, with or without you.

[JDPriestly]

10. Obama has the right to smoke,

but I wouldn't vote for him because I think that the fact that he smokes shows that he has poor judgment. I've had enough of presidents who take stupid risks.

[ripple]

11. You would probably be hard-pressed to find any candidate

without a vice of some sort. At least Obama is honest and straight-forward about his, something you're not likely to find in other candiates.

I'm sorry you won't vote for him if he gets the nod. Obama is my first choice, but barring Lieberman or someone of his mindset, the democrat who wins the nomination will receive my full support.

[JDPriestly]

12. Smoking is a scourge to our country.

Smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and stress are, I believe, the most common causes of premature death.

[Doctor_J]

19. Conservatism is a scourge to the country

the wingers have scraped even lower on the barrel with this one.

[Withywindle]

15. I guess that's the worst thing they can find on him.

What's that I smell?


I think it's the bottom of the Ashtray of Smear Machine Desperation.

[Vinca]

17. I heard he was a lousy choice because

he has no foreign policy experience. Right. Dubya's experience amounted to inviting Vincente Fox over for a barbeque. If Obama can work a grill, maybe we can drum up a foreign dignitary for him.

[blm]

18. Is the media going to let ANY Democrat be immune from a teardown for long?

People are too easily coddled into thinking things will be different - they will NOT be different, you just have to hope that SOME media will be so sick of the constant lying that is done, that they will present a fairer picture at some point.