Obama's a muslim and he's a smoker...

[SlowwHand]

I remember those days. It's really kind of silly. Locks only keep honest people out anyway.

What do you pack? A 34 oz.?

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Riesstiu IV


A dumbass is someone who isn't able to tell the difference between Chicago and London.

[DaShi]

Originally posted by FrostyBoy


For many Americans, fear seems to be the main driving force for progress. For Chinese, it's not fear, its pride.

The problem with fear being the driving force is that it can turn against you; you could easily turn your back, hide and let the world pass you by. Call it social depression.

Pride can also turn against you, whenever you fail, you lose face, when you lose face, you fear. But the Chinese are stubborn enough to ignore their failures. They end up looking like *******s, but they at least keep trying.

Actually, China is driven by much of the same fearthat drives America. Both fear falling behind: America because it's been on top and feels it slipping away, and China because it's been at the bottom and doesn't want to go back. Both use pride, but not really for progress. It's more used to justify conservative actions when the moment really calls for change.

[SpencerH]

Hiding his smoking and his Islamic influences, neither of which should be an issue, says more about Obama than anything else here.

[DaShi]

It's true. I read it on the internet!

[rah]

The muslim stuff is just smoke and shouldn't cause a problem. (I think heritage issues will be more related to the fact that he's black)

The smoking will cost him votes. The are two many smoke nazis out there that will consider this a big weakness and it will influence their vote despite any other thoughts to the real issues.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Hiding his smoking and his Islamic influences, neither of which should be an issue, says more about Obama than anything else here.

Er, do you expect him to smoke while giving speeches? How exactly is he hiding it?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, he needs to brandish a cigar while giving speeches.

[rah]

Most die hard smokers will be routinely seen smoking in public. It's very rare you see Obama smoking. Hence he's conciously made the decision to refrain from smoking in public. Sounds like that's hiding it. And if he's doing it intentional, he understands the possible negative impact of it on voters. He'd be stupid to think otherwise. And as much as I have issues with him, it's not because I think he's stupid.

[Lorizael]

So he's a diehard smoker now?

[rah]

Non diehard smokers hide it out of shame.
SO either way, he's hiding it.

My comments were based on an ex die hard smoker. ME
(I hope i can keep the ex part of it active)

[Lorizael]

Ugh. I just can't make an issue out of this. Like, I think smoking is disgusting and have relatives who died of lung cancer, but there's just no way this is going to affect my vote.

I'll concede that either he or his advisers probably decided it would be best if his smoking wasn't done publicly, though.

[rah]

That won't make a difference with me either. And a lot of people won't consider this an issue. BUT there are people that it will affect. I've been a target of ire many times in the past. It's gotten worse over the years. I'm sure that's why his advisers decided that way. But I think hiding it is silly because when people do notice, those that it might affect are going to now say there's a trust issue. Silly, but it will happen. It may be a small percentage of the people, but I think it's going to be close and every little bit counts.

[DanS]

People don't vote for president on the issues. Most voters approach issues as backup for their image of the president.

[rah]

Agreed, which is why it may have an impact.