Top Tweets: President Obama Quits Smoking Edition

Caitlin Dickson 172 Views Dec 9, 2010

In response to a new Surgeon General's report on the effects of exposure to tobacco smoke, Robert Gibbs was questioned by members of the press today on the President's own smoking habits. Gibbs assured reporters he hadn't seen the Obama smoking in 9 months and that he was chewing nicotine gum in an effort to quit. Media tweeters quickly spread the word on the President's smoking status and it wasn't long before people were responding to the news.

Ken Bazinet took to Twitter upon hearing the announcement

Smoking gum: Pres Obama is still using chewing gum to help keep him from lighting up in his battle to quit smoking, Gibbs says. #smokingless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®Ken Bazinet
bazmaniandevil

Mike Memoli suggested the smoking discussion may have been a distraction

Obama smoking answer a sure-fire shiny metal objectless than a minute ago via webMike Memoli
mikememoli

Michael Scherer was amused by the press' interest in the subject

Obama cig butts=press cat nipless than a minute ago via TweetDeckmichaelscherer
michaelscherer

Bryan Schuetz wasn't so amused

Free speech in crisis, mounting deficit, middle class held hostage. It's good to see the press corps is on the job: Has Obama quit smoking?less than a minute ago via Tweetie for MacBryan Schuetz
BryanSchuetz

Ed Henry broadcast his favorite comment from Gibbs

Gibbs asked whether President has "quit" smoking? "yes, for those nine months" ... how'd he do it? "he's stubborn" Gibbs says with a laughless than a minute ago via webEd Henry
edhenrycnn

Health Chronicle wanted to know what Obama was really smoking

Obama still smoking after all these years!...but is he smoking tobacco or an E-Cigarette?..http://bit.ly/bt8PXI #chronicalless than a minute ago via mylinksmyadsHealth Chronicle
HealthChronicle

Teri Cristoph isn't totally convinced

So, either Obama has stopped smoking or Robert Gibbs has no access to him.less than a minute ago via webTeri Christoph
TeriChristoph

While some people like "John Galt" were happy to hear Obama is kicking the habit...

I am glad Pres Obama is smoking less. Kinda hard to tell my kids not to smoke if the pres is. May not be news, but nice just the same.less than a minute ago via webJohn Galt
I_am_John_Galt_

Others joked that maybe he should stick with it.

Obama shouldn't quit smoking, he should hire Philip Morris to do his negotiating & PR. @markknoller @PressSecless than a minute ago via HootSuiteBryan Eder
bryaneder

WH Press Secretary says President Obama quit smoking. That explains SO MUCH! Quick, somebody send Barack a carton of Marlboro Lights.less than a minute ago via webSilas Kain
delibernation

Maybe this explains Tuesday's fit. MT @markknoller: Obama is not proud of his smoking habit, but is working extremely hard to resist it.less than a minute ago via TweetDeckDaniel Wanke
danielwanke

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at cdickson at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Caitlin Dickson

Presented By

Topics: The President

Related Articles				More by Caitlin Dickson
Pakistani Journalist: Bush Plagiarized Me	Glenn Beck vs. Malia Obama	Obama's No Socialist--He's McCain's Siamese Twin!		178 Atlanta District Teachers and 38 Principals Helped Students Cheat	Twitter Townhall Not Going as Planned?