Obama signs tough anti-smoking bill, but quitting the habit himself is tougher

He is the president but he is a human being.

I smoked for more years than I should have and finally just let it go. I have been smoke free for six years and still miss at times. It was a way for me to relax and my time like a good cigar after a meal. But I was started to wheese and couph. I beleive my lungs were going. Keep trying to quit.

I'm not a smoker. I quit 24 years ago but this is just another act of too much government. Giving the Food and Drug complete authority over the tobacco industry? What is the government going to take over next. And the President trying to quit smoking? Who cares. It is just a smoke screen of what is really happening in our country. Socialism has not worked in other countries and it won't work in the U.S.

According to an account on AMC's Mad Men, at the 1938 Munich Conference where the Munich Agreement was signed by Neville Chamberlain, appeasing the Nazi's and validating their claims to Czechslovakia and other previously annexed lands, there was one simple reason for this mockery..."smoking is a form of weakness." The claim is that Hitler banished indoor smoking at the conference and held his guests indoors for more than 8 hours at a time. Chamberlain was fiending so bad, he simply signed the agreement just to be done with it, so he could have a smoke. Could there be more nicotine-deprived appeasement to come?

Obama is the kind of smoker I respect

what a hypocrite punk obama is!

Is that spelled Hypocracy? I guess it shouldn't be a surprize, he's hypocritical about most everything.

Typically ---

always too late, always too little...

One more thing that the big O thinks he has a right to do .. tell companies what they can/cannot do in advertising. I do not smoke or drink. If they are doing this with tobacco companies -- why are they not doing this with alcohol? Which really causes more deaths? If people chose to smoke that is up to them. Why is this any different today then when kids grew up during the depression. People are going to do what they want. They have that right to chose to do so. It is just like the prohibition era. Take things away, and people still will get it -- but illegally and then crime goes up. It happens every time with these people like the big "O"....
Give me a break. Take a stand with the students in Iran, something that really counts. Not him. Sad that 51% of the people voted this person into an office that he does not respect.

The big boot of big goverment on your neck.

While I support anti-cigarette legislation, I cannot help but think how such broad and poorly detailed tobacco bans will impact the cigar and pipe industry. Although these side-tobacco industries are smaller than the cigarette business, they differ greatly both in habits and customer base from the cigarette industry. Most cigar and pipe smokers are enthusiastic about their smoking hobby, are usually older, and have no intention of quitting smoking. They also face significantly smaller health risks and smoke far less often than their cigarette smoking peers. As a pipe and cigar enthusiast I'm worried that this legislation could make some hundred year old pipe tobacco flavors and some equally reputable cigars illegal, even though these are clearly not marketed toward teenagers.

It is incredible trhat so many are still trailing behind Obama. He is a government dictator and he smokes, you morons!!!

I quit 9 years ago after 30 years of smoking. I used nicotine patches for 2 weeks, and then needed nothing. I've had a couple of packs in my study ever since, but haven't taken one puff. I'd like to, sometimes, when I've had a couple of drinks, but it's not a craving any more. Sure hope Barack kicks the habit soon. I'd hate to think I'm stronger than he is.

If he was serious about the cost of smoking on healthcare and eliminating the impact on future health care costs for lung cancers, heart diseases,etc. he would ban smoking. But then, he doesn't want to lose the tax dollars so what a catch 22.

Stopping smoking is a very hard thing to do, especially when one is under severe stress. I, and I'm sure millions of other former smokers, wish the President success.

Put farmers out of work, tax the poor, great job NOBama. Great idea when the economy is in shambles to put more people out of work and deal out what will no doubt be a huge price increase in tobacco products. I am glad I stopped smoking 10 years ago, but really do feel sorry for the people that haven't been so successful in kicking the habit.

If a commander can't command himself to quit and stick with is, is he fit to be a commander in chief?

Its interesting that Big Brother is stepping in even more, Im sure the cost of cigarettes will rise yet again. Where are our freedoms going? Obesity causes 400,000 deaths a year also, but I guess that fact is overlooked, how about a law that makes every fatty food pay a tax (which gets passed onto Americans) and the Quarter Pounder will soon cost $6.00 for just the burger. And I guarantee the health costs for obesity outweigh (no pun intended) the health costs for smoking. How many people are on disabillity because theyre to obese to walk or work? PLus their health issues, Government has to get ALL the priorities in place!

still smoking...

Come on show us what you're made of..........

Pres Obama-if for no other reason than your wife and daughers, quit smoking immediately! Second hand smoke has killed and made ill countless innocent people. I am one of them. In 2002 I was diagnosed with lung cancer and I never smoked! Even though my lymph nodes tested negative, they were black, that's how I know it was second hand smoke. My upper right lobe was removed surgically. Two years later, another type of lung cancer showed up in the lower right lobe. That was treated with cyberknife. For the rest of my life, I will be living under this shadow. There's no reason for you to smoke. Quit! Now! You can do it.

wow a bit hypocritical but as a smoker i don't hold it against him in an effort to monitor and regulate the tobacco companies that keep chainging the formulation every time a new law goes into effect. I'm not dumb, and Massachusetts is the only state monitoring by supreme court ruling the changes tobacco companies make in cigareets. I hate suddenly smoking twice the number of cigaretts as usual only to find out a new law went into effect and Massachusetts knew of the change but you have to dig to find it. It stinks that the megopolies have us under their control so I support his endeavors...Let's see what the FDA tells us. Haha.

he needs to try Chantix. Far superior than any of the nicotine based products like gum and the patch

He quit smoking during the campaign? If your bumming cigarettes off of campaign aides that doesn't count as having quit - unless he's using some new math. I guess his new math would explain how his spending deficits really aren't deficits. Unfortunately I think our new president is in way over his head, and smoking probably helps him deal with it, or at least, escape it.

This is a not a very smart move. They collect billions in taxes from the tobacco industry. The government is basically shooting itself in the foot if this plan really works in the long run.

Another thing that does not make sense is that why is the tobacco sector being hit so hard? What about the alcohol industry? Alcohol does not only damage the person drinking but it also kills others too! Why not stop advertising beer commercials as well? If the government is really 'concerned' about saving people, then regulate alcohol more too!

It is really a good news that president Obama's signed an anti-smoking law. I wish more and more Americans, teenagers in particular, would stop smoking in the future.
In terms of smoking, China's the first, and the U.S.' second. Hopefully, Chinese government's recently decided to raise the tax for tobacco to discourage both tobacco industry and smokers. As a non-smoker, I hate smoking! I even wish all tobacco-related enterprises would go bankruptcy!

I wonder what "ingredients" the FDA will be adding to cigarettes. The FDA is one of the most corrupt agencies in the world besides the Obama administration.

i think that is a very exstroadinary choice

Welcome to socialist America. Where the government has control over everything. Who didn't see this coming from a mile away.

It would be nice if Obama and the other smokers in gov't and out would be so kind and understanding to people addicted to other drugs.

Our countries first drug laws enacted in the early 20th century were a product, after all, of white men's fears of intoxicated (pick your drug here, they all fit) black men raping white women.
Look it up!

The History Channel has a 4-5 episode series on it, which I'm sure is available from NetFlix.

BRAVO! I consider the the tobacco executives and profiteers complicit in the murder of millions. Yeah, yeah, I know... "choice", and "freedom". Defenders of tobacco portray themselves as the guardians of our civil liberties. Phooey! You are sick, demented drug addicted poor souls if you defend smoking and are a smoker. If you are a non-smoker and are gonna give me that crap about "freedom" and "choice" you are walking on thin ice. This is the number one public health issue in the world and profit is the handmaiden of death in this instance. What is even more hypocritical is that tobacco is still legal while marijuana isn't despite the proven health benefits of weed. I'M AN EX-SMOKER so don't lecture me on "freedom" and "choice".

I don't smoke, and I hate the smell of smoke. That said, this is sheer idiocy. People who want to smoke should be able to smoke any flavor of cigarrettes they want and the government should not be micromanaging industry. This is not a communist country. Want to ban smoking? Look how well that worked for prohibition and illegal drug use.

Yes he smokes still and smoked during the election everyone knows that, if you dont believe me just google it

I would be crushed if I found out that President Obama is still a smoker. I hope it's not true!

I wish to god I could quit cold. I quit one time for ( five ) years. an then started back to school in my mid 30,s. after 6 months the stress had me dreaming of cigarettes every nite. an I started back.. I fill it is very un- fair to charge me so much $$$$$$ for a pack . that I have to have an I live on SSD> I would quit if I could.

ITS TOUGH OLD BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN DO IT.

Yeah, it is easier to sign a law then to apply it on yourself... Lack of character or lack of integrity?

Typical hypocrite politician. Loves to make rules for the masses, but glad he doesn;t have to abide by them as a memeber of teh elite ruling class.
What a joke.............

It's not a habit - it's an addiction. A habit can be something that is not particularly hamful, such as biting your fingernails. Tobacco is a powerful drug and needs to be eliminated from our society.

this is a stupid bill

OBAMA THE CONTROLLER, Owner & dictator of US bank policy's, and CEO's and their salarys, onwner of GM, executor over what kind of car you can drive, and designer of soon to be DMV like government health care, and now he needs to control the smokers & tobacco company's. Hugo Chavez is right when he said him and castro are more conservative then Obama. \SCREWED

Next on the agenda needs to be the alcohol Industry. I am not in any way shape or form calling for a ban on alcohol but the Industry that produces and markets the product is totally unaccountable. As I write this letter I am enjoying a glass of my own wine, in the comfort of my own home. I am comfortable with one glass, I can stop. Many cannot. My father died of smoking related issues, he also became a fall down drunk. We were seen as middle class and it appeared, from the outside, rosy. I am fortunate that when I tried to smoke as a kid, I burnt my tongue and asked myself why would anyone want to do that to themselves. I used to allow clients to smoke in my editing rooms until, years later, I realized I had a choice. Today my home is a total non smoking area. Inside and out.
We have a problem in New Zealand. The culture of booze. The amount of money that is involved stops politicians from acting. Any one calling on regulation is dubbed a wowser, so be it, but we have, like most western countries, a serious issue that accounts for more health, economic and social problems than most drugs that billions are spent on trying, with no success at all, to eliminate.
I have worked on ad campaigns for Bud, Colt 45, Steinlager, Fosters, Coke, Pepsi and a few other addictive substances over the years. I can see clearly who they were aimed at, this is the first part of the problem. But while money rules the roost politicians are not going to be seen as "wowsers". I guess it all comes down to the ancient wisdom that we don't change until we hurt enough.

i am 56 and like to chew, i like wintergreen flavor and i like apple. who are you to decide flavors? hey, obesity kills people, why do you not set weight limits and restrict what foods restaraunts may serve if someone is overweight? quitting eating more than needed is hard too, why don't you legislate that? oh speaking of weight, why do i have to pay the same price for a flight ticket when someone who weighs twice my weight pays the same? the airlines charge for overweight luggage! well, let us be fair and charge flight seats based on a person's weight.
worry about the economy, stay out of people's lives. are we becomming a socialist country?

Sincerely, Alan Carr and his down loadable ebook is helpful. I quit when I realized that I wasn't getting anything out of smoking and that it was a sham, relief for a nervousness it created. When I didn't believe it was doing anything the mind chatter stopped and the physical addiction was easy to control by just relaxing totally and taking a deep breath. The idea is to come to terms with the physical sensation and accept is as a peace or enjoy it, you might say. The mind chatter was the real problem, though, and it left when I didn't believe it was enjoyable anymore. That's the best I can describe it. All those who said it wasn't a problem was when they decided or really felt they didn't want it anymore. It took 15 years the first time. After about 22 years, I started again over a life crisis. It took 5 years this time, but now I have it for good, because I see no profit or joy in it anymore. That believe takes all it's power away. I hope Obama finds out about the cure as modern psychology is all new, like the breakthroughs in every other field. Every field is having major mind shifts and it all adds up to a mind shift for the whole world on the whole world view. Away from addictions, even away from the whole false matrix. That is becoming the new norm.

Personnally I am OK with this law. As a reformed smoker, the laws I really have a problem with are the recent banning of smoking in all restaurants in many states, and the recent enormous hike in the sin tax. It is OK for the government to regulate ingredients for the sake of public 'safety', but not OK for it to infringe on people's right to smoke, even in public. This is America. We were raised on John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart puffing away. Bars and cigarettes, cigarettes and bars. They go hand in hand. Obviously, what always should have been law is a ban on smoking SECTIONS. You can open a smoking establishment, or a non-smoking establishment, and attract the appropriate patronage in turn. Unfair laws like these get passed by non-smokers in legislation because they don't consider what is right, only what's best for them. I recognize all this, and I don't even smoke anymore. Take's one to know one, I guess.

Great, but I think my priorities would have been:.

(1) Quit Smoking myself.
(2) Improve the economy without raising taxes.
(3) Then regulate the Tobacco industry.

No more flavored tobacco products? Now, not only will tobacco smokers be angry but marijuana users are going to be pissed to. How are you supposed to roll a blunt without a swisher sweet? Since we're now regulating on tobacco why not make the alcohol laws stricter too? This isnt going to help anything. If anything it will lead to more tobacco smoking

It is so wonderful to be so self righteous. Of course none of you hatemongers have ever done anything that you regret. With the way so many people are ragging on our president, I don't know how he can get through the day without smoking. This man must never sleep. He seems to be the most hated president by the conservative in the history of this nation. This man is trying to do all the things for this country and he has become the damned if you do, damned if you don't man of the century. Give the man a break.....a pity you weren't so vocal when the country was getting into all this debt. But, of course that's not your concern. Hatemongering is your concern of the day.

Smokers stink. Horse breath, yellow rodent teeth, stinky clothing, your car stinks, your ashtray stinks, the entry to buildings are littered with stinky butts, you get cancer of the mouth, throat, lung.... young ladies who are so concerned with vanity and are not aware how they stink. Worst is the shortening of life, lost time and money, and using of medical benefits. I am old enough to have heard it all. Most memorable is "I am going to quit when they're a dollar a pack". I know a few who have died because they said that and never quit. Smoke, and everybody pays for your early death one way or another. Cut back, quit, and encourage others to quit.

You can't have it both ways. If you're so "live and let live" that you're willing to sacrifice the lives of children for the freedom to aim advertising geared toward their impressionable young minds, then you can't very well be telling the President he should quit smoking (or isn't fit to govern because he does smoke).
He's trying to save young lives! What is your solution? What are your suggestions? It's obvious this is a major problem, but does it make it less of a problem if you start naming all of the other things that cause illness? I think this is the best approach to this health crisis, but the others need not have the same approach. Finally we have a president who is solving instead of creating problems. He deserves support and gratitude, not schoolyard bullying.

This is ridiculous! Adults should have the right to smoke whatever flavor tobacco they deem enjoyable. I completely understand the regulation of nicotine and tar, and I also understand the ban on advertising at sporting events, but how could he possibly ban flavor. This is such a vast step towards socialism. Where is our country going? And how is this going to help the economy seeing as how flavored cigars are a huge money maker for gas stations and smoke shops that sell them. Next thing you know he is going to ban tobacco water pipes.. ARG! Making history is great and im glad to have an black president in office but im just starting to wonder if this was the right one for th job.. Please don't disappoint your nation any more Obama, PLEASE!!!

I smoke clove ciggarettes, is this going to affect that as well? I hate to say it, but I will just go on-line and get them. Please get back to Me and let Me know.

I'm underage and I smoke, not flavored cigs though. None of my friends do either..this is a pretty much a failed bill, and as much as I love the idea of Obama, he is going to piss off a lot of smokers. And if you are saying it's so tough to quit smoking, I know plently of people that have quit for over 20 years. I would assume a political leader in the eyes of MILLIONS would be able to kick it. This whole bill is BS.

I think there are bigger worries in America than smoking plus it only helps the economy and what about the people who own hookah lounges? He is pretty much taking them out of business

yes, heaven forbid the food and DRUG administration control the distribution and addictive levels of a known DRUG.

you people are sheep. Wake up.