The First Smoker and his wife: The do-as-I-say (not as I do) duo

Reagan , 3 packs a day at one time , made a lot of money making commercials for Chesterfield Kings.

No to mention a HUGE jar of Jelly Belly's on his desk at all times. Also at all meetings and on Air Force One.

also, how many said they had quit and then kept smoking.

Huh ?? What does that have to do with a BAPTIST MINISTER , and PASTOR OF A LARGE AFRICAN AMERICAN SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH , who REGULARLY preached the sins of tobacco AND ALCOHOL to his Congregation ??

Nothing , it and would be nice if people actually read other's posts, or comprehended the content contained therein before jumping off onto unrelated tangents and hasty conclusions and denials.

No to mention a HUGE jar of Jelly Belly's on his desk at all times.

Yes...when you quit there's always a substitute "addiction". Reagan's substitute was Jelly Bellys, a friend of mine's is pretzels, 12-step programs (AA, NA, etc) espouse meetings as a substitute, some use activities such as a hobby or a "cause". And of course, everyone knows someone that has substituted with food. Often those substitutes become as strong as the original addiction, or even stronger to the point of obsession, because they don't actually "fill the need"; physically, they don't trigger the same receptors in the brain. It can chemically affect people's reasoning capacities.

I have to wonder when I read some of the distorted thinking on NV if the ridiculous hostility that is so apparent is a result of substituting. What was your addiction, Grim?

I know much more than you appear to.

I wont even get into the details of how much I do know about him ( a Thesis in Theology School ) , but his smoking and womanizing was as legendary as his preaching prowess.

Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site ... Dr. King was a smoker. 27. Did Mrs. King work? Mrs. King retired as president of the King ..

I strongly suggest you read the link , as you're arguing over something that has already been established.

http://www.nps.gov/malu/faq_dr_martin_luther_king_jr.htm

Your silly rant shows you know NOTHING about the black church where smokers and drinkers , especially in the 1960's were preached to and told they were going to hell , dancing was considered a sin , and single mothers were banned from some churches.

As a black former Baptist Clergy myself who did quite a few studies on Dr. King , I suggest you either put up or shut up as history proves you're not only wrong , instinct tells me that you're trying to pick a bone with no tools.

What's your premise for your argument ? Research , easily done on the internet shows he in fact was a smoker , so what is your other point of contention ? Ever visit a Black Southern Baptist Church during the 50's and 60's fire and brimstone periods when smoking was considered a sure road to hell ?

I don't like debating with people who have no idea what they are talking about and want to argue just for the sake of arguing even when proven wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. Was this a middle class neighborhood during Martin's childhood?

Yes. This neighborhood was considered middle class at that time.

2. Did the family plant a garden?

Yes. Martin's grandmother planted a vegetable garden in the backyard. She also had a flower garden, rose bushes, and flower boxes.

3. Who were Daddy King's parents?

Daddy King's parents were James and Delia King. They were sharecroppers from Stockbridge, Georgia.

4. Did Daddy King and Rev. Williams attend college?

Yes. Both men attended MorehouseCollege and earned degrees in theology. Rev. Williams graduated in 1898 and Daddy King graduated in 1930.

5. In what disciplines did Dr. King earn his degrees?

Martin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from MorehouseCollege, his Bachelor of Divinity from Crozier Theological Seminary and his Doctorate of philosophy from BostonUniversity.

6. Is Coretta Scott King from Atlanta?

Coretta Scott King was born in Marion, Alabama.

7. Where did Coretta Scott King attend college?

Mrs. King attended AntiochCollege in Ohio and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She studied voice at the Conservatory and music and education at Antioch.

8. Did Coretta King ever live in the Birth Home?

Mrs. King never lived in the Birth Home. By the time she met Dr. King the King family was living on Boulevard.

9. Where did Coretta meet Martin?

Coretta and Martin met while both were attending college in Boston.

10. Was Mrs. King a member of a sorority?

Mrs. King is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

11. Was Dr. King a member of a fraternity?

Dr. King was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He pledged while attending MorehouseCollege but was initiated while he was attending BostonUniversity.

12. What was the name of the church in Montgomery that Dr. King pastored?

While in Montgomery Martin pastored DexterAvenueBaptistChurch, now the DexterAvenueKingMemorialBaptistChurch.

13. How old was Dr. King when he received the Nobel Peace Prize?

Dr. King received the Nobel Peace prize in 1964 at the age of 35 years old, making him the youngest recipient to that time.

14. Who was the first Afro-American Nobel Peace Prizewinner?

Ralph Bunche won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for negotiating the first Arab-Israeli peace in 1948 while he was a diplomat for the United Nations.

15. Where did Dr. King live when he was shot?

Dr. King and his family lived on the West Side of Atlanta near AtlantaUniversity when Dr. King was killed. Rev. and Mrs. King purchased the home in 1965.

16. Is Dr. King's brother still living?

No. A. D. Williams King drowned in his swimming pool in July of 1969.

17. Is there any suspicion about A. D.'s drowning?

A. D.'s drowning was officially concluded to be an accident. Many private individuals question that conclusion but not the King family.

18. Where are Dr. King's parents and brother buried?

They are buried at SouthviewCemetery, located in southeast Atlanta.

19. Where does the King family live now?

Mrs. King resided in the home she and Dr. King bought in 1965.

20. Are any of Dr. King's children ministers?

His youngest daughter Bernice King is a Baptist minister.

21. What became of Mrs. Farris?

She became a teacher and instructor at SpelmanCollege in Atlanta.

22. When was Dr. King killed?

Dr. King was assassinated on Thursday, April 4, 1968 at 39 years of age.

23. Where was Dr. King killed?

Dr. King was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:05 PM.

24. Who shot Dr. King?

James Earl Ray confessed to the killing of Dr. King. He was tried, found guilty and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He died in 1999 still imprisoned.

25. Was James Earl Ray guilty?

After his conviction, Ray recanted his confession and claimed that he was an innocent member of an assassination plot against Dr. King. No credible evidence has been found to prove his claim.

26. Did Dr. King smoke or drink?

Dr. King was a smoker.

27. Did Mrs. King work?

Mrs. King retired as president of the KingCenter in 1995 and was a lecturer and speaker.

28. How many awards did Dr. King Win?

Dr. King won several hundred awards. They include the Nobel Peace Prize, the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP and the Medal of Freedom (presented posthumously).

Tappy: that makes me like Reagan even more--I love Jelly Belly brand jelly-beans! :D

Now exactly how is this seed relevant except more Obama bashing ?

It's ONLY Obama bashing, and thus not really relevant at all.

ANY food can be eaten occasionally as part of a healthy balanced diet. Both Obama and his wife are a healthy weight and physically active adults. One meal doesn't mean squat, except to those who can only derive sexual gratification from bashing the Obamas.

...except to those who can only derive sexual gratification from bashing the Obamas.

Doctor Harper? You said our conversations in your office were confidential!

LOL!!!

No, he should keep his nose out of peoples kitchens

Is it that they are telling you to eat healthy, or is it that they are encouraging you to eat healthy? I ask because there is a big difference between the two.

Uthaclena - I agree with you. See what Dannee said in comment #17.1

I try to eat healthy since finding I had a high cholesterol problem last Fall. But you know what, every once in a while, I think it's okay to enjoy some BBQ or whatever else you like, sometimes you need to enjoy yourself...as long as it's not an everyday thing...which, of course, is not being healthy minded.

You folks are totally missing the point. These people are preaching to us, indoctrinating our children, and seeking to take active control over the things we eat. This is like a pedophile priest telling us all to be moral and chaste, while he's diddling altar boys. Wake up, people!

"These people are preaching to us, indoctrinating our children"

Just WOW!!!

Jack Flash, sometimes when we're young -- just sometimes, mind you, and I'm sure you never did anything foolish when you were young -- sometimes we try something such as cigarettes, then find we're hooked, then decide it was a BIG mistake. From that experience comes our advice to, "Don't do as I did."

As for trying to control every aspect of what Americans eat, it isn't going to happen. Human nature being what it is, we always find ways to obtain the forbidden fruit. Furthermore, lobbyists for the corporations that make Cheetos, Frosted Flakes, Twinkies, et al., are powerful enough that no meaningful reform is going to take place. It will all come down to individual choice, so quit getting your knickers in a twist.

P.S. And I do like Cheetos, Frosted Flakes and Twinkies, but I seldom choose to eat them.

I really do not like President Obama, but if the guy wants to eat some BBQ on his vacation, let his have some bbq. He is, after all, a person. I guess next time he better stop at Subway instead.

I don't give a @!$%# what the president eats or smokes, but in turn, he better not tell me what I should or shouldn't put in my body. Just wait until all their taxes and regulations affect you, pissedoffbobm then maybe you'll sing a different tune.

Well, jack, you're right - he IS trying to tell you what to eat. When asked what he thought about your posts, he replied "Tell Jack Flash to eat s....!!"

Like it or not, obesity in America is a problem. However, it would be against our constitutional rights for the government to directly tell us what to eat or what to not eat. That is why they can legally must go at it more passively, by taxing foods higher that have a higher percentage of saturated fat content, as well as smokes. I don't agree with it, but it is a political tactic that is currently considered constitutional. However, I will give him the fact that he is a healthy guy, he seems to work out enough to at least give the appearance of being physically fit. Asking the guy to eat like he is on "The Biggest Loser" seems a bit extreme, and this is coming from a Republican. To me, hypocricy would be if he was 450 pounds and passing these reforms. However, he is in better shape than probably a majority of Americans.

The best I ever had was in Hayward on A street if I'm not mistaken......

I heard Obama is going to try to pack the Supreme Court with closet smokers and that HCR bill has a must-eat bbq pork barrel amendment that no one has ever read. Gosh, I heard he and Michele drank sweet tea with their bbq brisket on their trip just to thumb their noses at the TEA Party. Heaven help us. Thank Grim Creeper for alerting us to the hypocrisy; now I must exercise and feast on kale.

Laugh all you want. We'll see if you're still doing so after the Marxists get done with us.

Karl Marx never quit working on his economic theory books to start earning money. The prominent philosopher once claimed that the amount of money he received for the first volume of his monumental "Capital" never paid even for the cigars he smoked when working on it. Luckily, Karl Marx had a plenty of rich and helpful friends to support him.

(source: http://www.cigars-for-you.com/famous.html)

Jack,

This is just plain weird; the parallels are just amazing. Thanks for connecting Obama and Karl. This has been the only valid connection made yet.

Then I guess we don't have to worry about it happening.

http://blog.taragana.com/business/2010/03/18/obama-says-small-business-owners-especially-will-benefit-from-the-jobs-bill-he-signs-thursday-42752/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125637918557605797.html

This doesn't sound very Marxist.

I can just see Obama, energy fueled by many a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, staying up real late to create a blue print for allowing an invasion of commies to take away our arms (but curiously leaving us with legs), dispense tons of condoms to children, and hand out free pork to everyone that isn't a Christian. Ever see 'Red Dawn', that IS what I am talking about, oh yes indeed. I am going to buy some solar panels and seeds TODAY! This shid is scary.

Laugh all you want. We'll see if you're still doing so after the Marxists get done with us.

I'm laughing at your peeing-in-your-pants hysteria. You'd better go hide in your Y2K shelter. They're coming for YOU!

I am going to buy some solar panels and seeds TODAY!

Solar panels and seeds are not a bad idea at all.

Getting crazy over Obama is.

Kim,

I bought three solar panels last weekend but it wasn't because I thought Armaggedon was upon us. Yes, I know it is a good idea. For me, I wanted them to show my kids how they work.

Good and worthwhile project for you and your kids.

^ Nice find.

Exactly, SG. No dietician, no matter how hardcore, would tell you to permanently abstain from all unhealthy foods at all times for the rest of your life. The reason they don't tell you this is simple: it's an impossible goal, and it will make the crash that much harder when you fail.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is about generally eating right, exercising, and keeping indulgence to a minimum. As long as someone is maintaining their healthy eating practices regularly and hitting the gym a bit more when they indulge, there's nothing wrong.

Kind of ironic that as some run out of material, they are giving others stockpiles of it.

ThreeCents has it. After attempting to protray this President in every imaginable way to denounce him, they have resorted to Ribs and the occasional smoke.

I believe most knew he smokes, and that he does (and I suppose his wife as well) indulge, but looking at them both, they appear to be healthy 40 year-olds.

As for the FDA regulating whats in food - predominately processed food - there is empirical evidence that these processed foods contain an over-abundance of salt and sugar, and that limiting their amounts would have a positive impact. It also would reduce the additive aspects of them. However, the best method to reduce child obesity is by the parents.

Some of us have better use of our time on the vine, then filtering through all the nonsense - both seeded articles and the comments.

Heels - you are so right. If Obama discovered a cure for cancer, these people would be hollering "Obama puts thousands of health-care workers out of employment!"

You can eat ANY food you want in moderation combined with a little working out and nutritious overall diet and be healthy.

I agree. Just because they went out for barbecue this one time doesn't mean they eat it all the time.

What they want to communicate is a sense of thought in terms of a long-term diet - think about the meats, drinks, etc that you are consuming and the exercise that you get. Deviating from a normal schedule every once and a while doesn't affect that schedule.

What about booze?

What about booze?

Maybe we should just outlaw everything and only eat government-supplied gruel. Or judging by the way some people worship the ground Mr. Obama walks on, maybe he can get his 'father' to send us manna from heaven.

News flash, Jack - I admire Obama, yet I'm not interested in government imposing its will regarding what we consume. Does that blow up your world view or what?

Encouraging healthy behavior is something entirely different.

Ever buy a life insurance policy? If you smoke, you pay a higher price. That's not Obama at work, Jack. That's private business.

I asked, "What about booze?" not because I believe in prohibition, but because I thought Al's suggestion about banning tobacco was not a good answer. It would just open up a whole new market for smuggling and black market butts.

Well said Ellen, but, I would be interested to know how you feel about the decision by Obama to up the level of troops in Afghanistan.

In my opinion, we have more important things to worry about than the President's dietary lapses.

Of course Bush left us with a fiscal hand grenade plated firmly up the national anus, but doesn't it concern you that Obama has pulled the pin as well?

Obama seems to have sold out to the military-industrial-complex, and, THIS is a big deal, given the level of federal debt, and the high cost of being an unwanted empire.

It's been a while since I checked in on NewsVine, but, I can see that the ongoing feud between the left and the right is alive and sickeningly well.

The widening rift between the two opposing political parties in our country, amidst the back-drop of high unemployment and the never-ending "war on terror", are stark reminders that the UnTied States of Amerika is the New Rome.

While it is true that Obama is probably the smartest and nicest Emperor we have had in a long time, I would still argue that we need to get the hell out of Iraq AND Afghanistan and start focusing on some real hope and change AT HOME, for a change!

These are 2 very healthy and active people that can certainly afford to splurge on some good southern BAR-B-Q. It wasn't fried right???

Your saying a smoker is healthy? Also one who drank heavily, snorted coke in college, and smoked weed? Be sure to tell your doctor that next time you go in to see him. Tell me what he says. Smoking is so healthy! I do it myself! I feel like such a rockstar every time I jog! o.0

My doctor tells me to quit smoking too... because.. I'm that healthy!

Don't worry.... the tax payers pay for it. Where in debt... no worries. Any health issues him or his family has is on the tax payer dime for life.