Obama the smoker to sign anti-smoking bill

It is an open secret in Washington that President Obama is still a (cigarette) smoker.  But, just as the media conspired during JFK’s presidency to keep his extramarital affairs a secret among Washingtonians, they are conspiring now to keep Obama’s smoking a secret.  And fair enough.

Except that, I was rather surprised, if not disappointed, a few months ago when he channeled Bill Clinton in answering a direct question about his smoking during an interview with Tom Brokaw of NBC.    

Specifically, Brokaw reminded Obama of his campaign pledge to quit, and then asked him if he had.  But instead of admitting that he had not, Obama’s replied, “I have.”  And it was only after Brokaw gave him an incredulous stare and pressed him with a follow up question that Obama conceded that:

… there are times when I have fallen off the wagon.

Of course cigarette addiction is epidemic in the United States.  In fact, despite graphic warnings that “smoking can kill you,” cigarettes account for one in five deaths each year.

Nevertheless, just as Oprah must consider her well-documented battle with the bulge an embarrassing personal failure, Obama’s Clintonian answer to Brokaw suggests that he considers his inability to kick the habit equally so.

My libertarian view has always been that adult smokers should be left to their own devices; provided, however, that their second-hand smoke does not cause harm to others.  And I have supported a sin tax on cigarettes to help compensate for the tens of billions that smokers cause the rest of us in health-care costs.

I realize, however, that, just like heroin addicts, cigarette smokers will pay almost any price to feed their addiction.  This is why I am so pleased that, notwithstanding his bad example (or even hypocrisy), Obama will be signing the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act today. 

Because this legislation will limit the ability of tobacco companies to market to children – 20 percent of whom become adult smokers. Moreover, it will help smokers fight their addiction by, among others things, reducing the amount of nicotine allowed in tobacco products; thereby, hopefully, weaning many smokers off cigarettes.

I just hope this legislation does more to reduce smoking than government regulation of junk food has done to curb childhood obesity or wean Oprah and others off their addiction to food….