Why is the left not calling Obama a hypocrite over the smoking issue?

After I heard Obama speak out against smoking when he was talking about his tobacco bill the other day I waited to see if the left was going to call him a hypocrite for it since he smoked and during the election he said he quit only to find out afterwords that he lied and still smokes. But I have not seen the left coming down on him for this. The left came down on Bristol Palin really hard and called her all sorts of names when she spoke in favor of abstinence saying she was a hypocrite for it so why are the same people not coming down on Obama for being a hypocrite for speaking out against smoking when he too is a smoker?

Personally, I have no problem with Obama speaking about his experience about smoking. Nor do I have an issue with Bristol trying to educate young kids on the problems with having a kid at an early age as she has first hand experience with what happens if you don't. So why is it that when Obama does the same thing he is not being called a hypocrite by the left for doing what they called Bristol a hypocrite for? Why is it okay for one to do it but not the other?

2009-06-23T12:12:57Z

PotatoeHead -
First, did you even read the question all the way through? No where did I say Obama was a hypocrite for the smoking issue as I have no problem with him about it so your claim that I am just looking for an excuse to slam him and call him one is pathetic. Can you even point out where in my question it is slamming Obama? Or is any question that mentions Obama in the first place a "slam" in your little world? Second, why did you even bother to answer the question in the first place when you admit to not being up on the entire issue in the first place?

Peace Through Blinding Force2009-06-23T12:00:55Z

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According to the left, it is only possible for a conservative to be a hypocrite. This is not an idle exaggeration, it is what they ACTUALLY say about themselves.
You see, according to liberals, liberals have NO standards of any kind at all so it's impossible to fail to live-up to them. They quite literally define morality by their own behavior of the moment.
Also, they misuse the word in the first place. To them "hypocrisy" is not claiming a standard you do not have, it's simply having ANY standards you fail on at any time - ever. BY their definition, therefore, ALL humans are hypocrites - unless they're liberals.

Male gigolo2009-06-23T19:29:34Z

The anti-smoking bill is about the government controlling the tobacco industry more than anything else.

They will regulate where the products should not be sold,the specifics of advertising (tobacco-brand sponsorships of sports and entertainment events will be stopped), the commerce involved and the control over the flavors used (no sweet tasting products because, amazingly, only children like sweet products).

Obama's personal story is simply added as some kind of justification to the public,but the real purpose is nationalizing this industry,as he is slowly but surely nationalizing all the others.

Yes,you can still smoke,that he is not banning .But now the government has more control over you.So the Bristol Palin comparison is besides the actual issue.And yes, the Left will not call him out on it because this serves their purpose of Socialization the nation .

Anonymous2009-06-23T18:53:36Z

You don't have to be a non-smoker to know that something drastic has to be done. It's not as though being a smoker affects your ability to think and reason - or to seek to try and stop others from becoming addicted just as you are. I am not a fan of the Palin clan, but I have not called Bristol Palin a hypocrite. Same theory. You don't have to be innocent of a mistake to try and make sure others don't make the same one.

Anonymous2009-06-23T18:58:07Z

Sex isn't an addictive drug like nicotine.

You do realise nicotine is more addictive than caffeine or weed.

Because, likelihood is he tried to stop smoking.
And we all know how hard that can be, where as bristol, talks about abstinence yet hasn't tried practicing it.

She has a child.

Surely saying **** i got a kid, maybe i should have used protection would be better. than saying i got a kid maybe i shouldn't of had sex.

The fact of the matter is that in hindsight you can say whatever you want, but unlike smoking you cant go back to abstinence.

Yea he still smokes and he may have tried to give it up but it is proven that when prices of fags go up, people try to quit more and people smoke less.

Where as it is also shown that more unplanned pregnancy's happen in areas where sex education is abstinence only.

Anonymous2009-06-23T18:56:27Z

We actually saw Obama smoking before he came out against tobacco? Now that's so hypocritical. Unlike Larry Craig (R)who was strongly against homosexuals then gets busted in the mens room for soliciting? Or John Edwards(D) busted for cheating on his wife after running a pro-family values campaign?

Having an addiction, seeking treatment and standing up for prevention is just so not hypocritical

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