Posted on 02/14/2007 6:49:28 AM PST by meg88
Barack Obama looked as if he needed a smoke and he needed it bad.
So there he was, trying to meet the deep, inexhaustible needs of both Iowa activists and the global press behemoth on his first swing across the state, while giving up cigarettes.
He was a tad testy.
“I’ve been chewing Nicorette all day long,” he told reporters at a press conference in Ames on Sunday, where he was getting irritated at suggestions that he lacked substance and at the specter of his vanishing privacy.
The Illinois senator didn’t have on an implacable mask of amiability, as Hillary did in Iowa. He didn’t look happily in his element, like Bill Clinton.
Senator Obama’s body language was loose — and he’s so slender his wedding band looked as if it was slipping off — but there was a wariness in his dark eyes.
He is backed up by a strong, smart wife and a professional campaign team, but he doesn’t have a do-whatever-it-takes family firm with contract killers and debt collectors, like Bush Inc. and Clinton Inc.
He sounded self-consciously pristine at times, as if he was too refined for the muck of politics.
After talking to high school journalists, he took a sniffy shot at the loutish reporters who were merely whispering where’s the beef: “Take some notes, guys, that’s how it’s done.”
He doesn’t lack confidence, but he’s so hung up on being seen as thoughtful that he sometimes comes across as too emotionally detached and cerebral with crowds yearning for an electric, visceral connection. J.F.K. mixed cool with fire.
For a man who couldn’t wait to inject himself into the national arena, and who has spent so much time writing books about himself, the senator is oddly put off by press inquisitiveness.
(Excerpt) Read more at select.nytimes.com ...
Dowd is trying to cool off Obama's support from the liberal tobacco nazis.
He's got that Dukakis thing going for him... as exciting as a towel in a closet.
maybe he could get a sponsorship deal like the Nascar guys and display the logo on his suit.........
How could we trust a man with this problem as president. In a major crisis he may become unstable from lack of nicotine or may even have to step out of the White House for a cigarette. No, we need a stable man or woman in office. One who has no bad habits and no other negatives. I guess we'll just have to keep looking.
THAT deserves a nomination for stupid post of the day.
I guess the bloom is off the rose for Maureen :)
The dems are making the same mistake they made with Dean. They ought to wait it out and take a full measure of their candidates. I have a saying...."Never be fooled by your own bullshirt." That's the mistake the dems make. They pull the wool over their own eyes first, then, when the candidate's true character emerges, they get disappointed, and left at the altar.
It had to be an attempt at sarcasm.
Oh this is great. We all get to watch him go through detox.
If he's testy on a campaign swing though Iowa a year before votes are cast, he's never going to make it to the finish line.
That's what I was thinking. Same goes for McCain
So mr.osamaObama had a heater on the platform with him during his annoucement while his constituents were freezing!
She still knows who has the FBI file on her...
First of all, I'll bet he hasn't actually quit smoking, but won't smoke in public. The Nicorette was to get him through the day.
Obama-a classic limo liberal!
Yay..another CZJ pic to add to my 'Various Women and Honeys' folder.
During the debates, I hope someone puts a carton of Kools on the podium. Within 5 minutes he will look like he has just jogged 5 miles.
That is one FBI file I would most definitely NOT want to see! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.