CNN Poll: Do American care if Obama smokes?

Don't care.

the answer is yes because he is a role model, and a good one, besides being a leader. as an ex-smokeri understand how tough it is, and in his job there is lots of stress 24-7. but I know how easy it is to rationalize a slip

Easy national push. Obama should try to quit and invite the American public to do the same. BTW...You'd be surprised of the number of famous people and leaders are closet smokers.... Let's keep it real folks!

As long as he doesn't smoke in the White House or any other government building/vehicle!

I care if he can't influence Congress to pass a public option plan this year......Nothing else matters right now.....

I'm a very strong supporter of President Obama, but I have to say this was one of my strongest reservations about him. I generally have a very low opinion of smokers; and someone the President's age who is as intelligent as he is would have been well aware--before ever starting--that it had been conclusively proven that smoking is hazardous to one's health. Having lived through the same stage of life as he would have, and only a few years after he did, I don't understand how an intelligent kid would have gotten hooked. I'm sure that some combination of vanity, the bravado of teenage immortality, insecurity and peer pressure explains how most folks get addicted to cigarettes. We all know the stories of Obama's youthful drug use, so I suppose the (unfortunately) legal drug known as nicotine isn't all that surprising. It's just a little disappointing in this otherwise so admirable man. I hope he is being sincere that he is fighting his addiction as best he can. It would be wonderful if he can publicly manage to get past this while still in office, to show that quitting is possible, even when one has the most stressful of jobs and lifestyles.

who cares, it's his lungs. As long as he doesn't smoke near me.

No Hillary = No Obama July 10th, 2009 5:49 pm ET Obama smokes – that's his maladaptive coping mechanism – see his hair turn gray right before your eyes. What does this say – his ability to handle stress is weak and he's the President! What Obama is most is a "Gestural President", that's what you do when there is no substance. ................................................................................................................................ Ever notice what happened to W's hair over his term?

"LET HE WITHOUT SIN, CAST THE 1ST STONE"... It is not my ( or yours) place to judge Pres Obama, or anyone..I dont think his smoking is anyones buisness as he is NOT blowing smoke in anyones face etc..there are way too many other things to be concerned with...Lighten up on him folks, for by the grace of God it isnt yOU...

Obama is trying to quit and that is a good start. My brother is trying to quit too. They both know it is tough. My sister can't quit eating doughnuts and she's going to die of a heart attack.

Smoking is not good for anyone, and I hope the president stops. He won't be the first president to stop, and I'm sure he won't be the last. He is the best president we've had in a very long time, so I hope he stops. I'll be honest, it bother me, but George W. Bush's disrepect of the Constitution and the US government bothered me more. I'll take the smoking, over chasing women, lying to Congress, wire taping, starting senseless wars---ANY DAY.

I dont care if he smokes.Hes getting the job done,not like the fake cowboys we had the last time that couldnt even ride a horse or catch the bad guys..

Oh by the way. Since Sarah Pailin ran for the governorship because she wanted to make some money. Why on earth would she stay on when she's got a new book deal. She get the money, laughs all the way to the bank because she suckered the people of Alaska--and doesn't have to deal with Alaska's problems. She suckered John McCain, she suckered his staff, she suckered the GOPers and now she wants to sucker the rest of America with that stupid book, that she wouldn't be able to write if you strapped pens on all of her hands and toes. But I must admit, Miss Brainless is getting the last laugh. Whooboy.

"It's Your Lob".

Give me a break. Smoking cigarettes is bad and effects the person who is smoking the most. I want Barack to stop, but he's an adult. Torchering, lying about wars, wire taping, killing over 4,000 men and women hurt the entire US. Don't you dare talk about Barack and smoking when Bush blew up our entire Constitution. No wonder GW Bush is the 7th Worst President Ever.

Obama smokes - that's his maladaptive coping mechanism - see his hair turn gray right before your eyes. What does this say - his ability to handle stress is weak and he's the President! What Obama is most is a "Gestural President", that's what you do when there is no substance.

Heck no it's his lungs!

YES, we care a lot because we want him to live a long, long life. I think it's a shame that the good people die young. The cantankerous old farts who make everyone around them miserable live forever and forever, like Rush Stupid Limbreath. But people like Barack, are not on this earth long enough. I hope the president will stop smoking. Not only does his family need him, but we need him as well. Obama/Biden 2012

I don't care if President Obama smokes..he's a grown man!!!

come on cnn , what is that got to do wtih ,whats really going on in the country ,what about sanford, or esign, or some substance.

It wouldn't bother me at all if he smoked two or more packs a day

Why is this even an issue?

It is fitting that Obama still smokes. It is part of his personality and his political policies: sign a bill to ban smoking but oh ya - it doesn't apply to him! Two faced as usual!

I don't care if the President is human, we all have our vices. I DO care, however, that CNN is supposed to be a respected news source and yet they have headlines like, "Do American care if Obama smokes?"

@mississippi mike Are you for real? What kind of example is he setting? Your mind is so twisted that you don't know the difference between a good example and bad example. The POTUS openly talking about his struggles with addiction to smoking and the trials of quitting is setting a great example! Setting a bad exampe would be to keep smoking openly and telling people to butt out of his life! He on the other had is admitting he made a mistake by ever starting and is trying to quit...what more do you want the man to do? I have a feeling he could cure AIDS and you would find something to complain about. Do you go down to AA meeting and tell them what bad examples they all are too? Ripping someone who is trying to better themselves and struggling shows you are of low character. Kind of person who kicks puppies and screams at elderly folks.

His smoking is the only one of his policies that I like.

I have noticed that since Obama took office the price of a pack of cigarette went up 2.00 dollars.

President Obama has made a concerted effort to fight for health insurance coverage for all. To achieve this goal the cost of health insurance must be driven down. Lung disease is costly to treat. Lung cancer is costly to treat. Pancreatic cancer, also caused by smoking is costly to treat. Throat cancer, also caused by smoking is costly to treat. There may be a link to smoking and other cancers as well. Insurance companies are paying out huge amounts of money to treat what could be a preventable illness. President Obama is not endorsing cigarette smoking but by continuing to do so he sends a message that is counterproductive to his goal of affordable health care.

It would be better for his health and that of the people around him if he did not smoke., and he would be a better role model if he did not smoke. Nobody's perfect , and he could have worse flaws than this, I suggest we appreciate him for his strenghths.

OMG, is this a SLOW news day CNN? We are talking about smoking and who smokes and who doesn't. ENOUGH with the senseless reporting. There is a LOT more important issues to focus on than President Obama's smoking. He CLEARLY stated he battles with his smoking habit. HOW many ways can he state this fact? Jesus.......

I don't care if Obama smokes, drinks, or curses if doing so will in any way help him solve even some of the problems Bush and the GOP created.

Yet another point the far-right has gotten wrong. They claim Obama wants to rule America with an iron fist. As it turns out, he's working on ruling America with an iron lung. Come on, this isn't news.

Smoking soothes the nerves. If he feels the need to go out for a smoke, that's his right! Better than going out for few drinks! Alcohol costs America billions $$$$$ more in health care costs, court & legal fees, jail costs, rehab costs and death related costs than tobacco. But then, it isn't politically savvy to attack the alcohol industry. I'd rather fly with a pilot who smokes than one who drinks.

As long as he doesn't get to smoke in restaurant like the rest of us, who cares. REALLY WHO CARES

And who has to foot the medical bills for his lung cancer... Oh... yeah, that's right... all of us who are paying the taxes for the universal health care.... so why does he care?

Practice what you preach, but based on what I have seen and heard from him proves he is either a hypocrite or a deceptive individual.

If Obama smokes its his own personal business!! Cigarettes aren't illegal, nor is alcohol, which I'd assume he consumes a little bit of just like most people in the world that can afford to. Its Obama choice ..

How is this even remotely newsworthy? As if the grammatical error in the headline wasn't enough, the content in the body of this article is frivolous, uninspiring and unreadable. I'd much rather read FACTS about the wonderful things Mr. Obama is doing for this country.

This is more important than sex scandals. Right on!

If Obama has a smoke .. Its his own business..Cigarettes aren't illegal, nor is alcohol, which I'd assume he consumes a little bit of just like most people in the world that can afford to. It his choice !!!!

I don't care if Obama smokes, but it's not being a good role model for the youth (or adults) of America. I think a U.S. President should be a role model. Maybe we should have the folks at Disney create a Wax Replica of Obama puffing on a Pall Mall during his big speech in the Hall of Presidents.

I don't care what he does in private. What's with this smoking thing. I hear statistic after statistic but what about alcohol, prescription drugs and illegal drugs. What are they costing us. One researcher I know says it is a clever attention redirect and completely hypocritical. I would rather have Pres. Obama out back having a puff then a lot of other things that have been done at the White House!

There are a lot more important things for the most powerful man leading the most powerful nation in the world to worry about than that..... Grow up and find NEWS

It is sad that people think Hillary has anything to do with the American trust in President Obama. How soon do we forget: Obama won the nomination over Hillary Clinton. No one know what position Hillary would have in his cabin when he won the nomination. I hope he will stop smoking for his personal health, however, him smoking does not affect his job. My opinion of him is the same because the promise to give up smoking was with his wife not us. Even if it was, I think that when we as citizen can keep every promise such as, eating too much, smoking and other things that are not good for us, then we should hold the president or other elected official to higher or the same standards as we hold ourselves.

Let's see an economy in the toilet, 2 wars, health care, climate change, pirates plus EVERY leader in the world "testing" him...please someone give this man a smoke.....If smoking is so bad then ban it!!! I'm sure he's not the first POTUS to smoke but then again he IS black so there's a different standard. How about this CNN maybe you concentrate on your editing and use of grammar rather than what the POTUS does on his own time and has absolutely NO effect on you!!! I know you won't post this...but the truth is the truth...get a life!!!!

Did Americans care that Bush drank? It's none of our business, despite what Faux News tells its brain dead lemmings. For a party (GOP) that claims it wants to stay out of everyones life, it sure cant help but try to insert itself into all our lives.

I would rather that he quit. He is smart and smart people usually don't smoke.

I believe that the issue is about choices and why we make the choices we do. First of all, as president of the US, he is a role model to young people all over the world. We have to be the change we want to see in the world. It is not about what we say; it is our actions that speak volumes. Secondly, Obama is a really advocate of the environment and smoking is a poisonous pollutant. Thirdly, it is about the future of the planet. Tough choices are hard to make. I know that addictions are really hard to break.. It isn't fair to his children, it just sets a bad example and a mixed message. Believe me, I am a HUGE supporter of Obama. I think he is doing a tremendous job. Nobody is perfect, but smoking is just so dangerous and the corporations like Phillip Morris exploit the world's poorest nations. Smoking supports them and their message.

I think this could be President Obama's big chance to show smokers that it is indeed possible to quit simply because it is the correct thing to do. The fact that he is still openly struggling with his addiction even though he knows the question will be asked at any given moment is mind-boggling. One would think he would quit if for no other reason than to answer the question NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Oh the hypocrisy, look at all the people who have a problem with cigarettes, and many of same said people will smoke marijuana or a cigar with a clear conscience. Look I don't have a problem with people smoking MJ but I do have a problem with MJ smokers that have a problem with people that smoke cigarettes. It's all smoke.