Is America Ready for a Smoker in the White House?

The media keeps asking if Americans are ready for a female President or a black President or a Mormon President. What about a smoker? Barack Obama has been smoking for 28 years. His foresight regarding the Iraq War aside, I seriously question the judgment and character of man who assumes and seeks positions of high influence and still maintains a smoking habit. I do appreciate how horrendously difficult it is to give up cigarettes. I don't think smokers are bad people. But smoking is a horrible habit, and I think it sends a terrible message for the leader of the free world to smoke. Obama may acknowledge the addiction and warn others against its dangers, but if someone as "cool" as Barack Obama smokes and still manages to appear fit and be poised for such greatness, won't that be a blow to anti-smoking efforts? Even if American kids somehow aren't influenced by a president who smokes, there are millions of kids around the world, believe it or not, who still have a positive view of America and live in places where smoking is actually on the rise.

Seriously, if Obama can't take a month to focus on his health and rid himself of his dirty habit once and for all, for his own sake and the sake of his family, I can't take him seriously that he is the best candidate to lead this country.