Streetalk: Does Obama's attempt to stop smoking inspire you?

Jacob: It might inspire me a little bit. A lot more people will respect him if he quits. No one respects somebody killing himself, and that’s all cigarettes are — cancer sticks. It would be good if we all quit, and I hope Obama makes it. It would make me respect him more and it might help me. Just seeing your friends quit helps. My idea of being president is that you’re still a human being — but you have a voice and your voice represents everybody. So if he quit smoking, it would be a big thing.

Erica: No. Everyone knows smoking is bad for you and in the end you quit for yourself. I actually kind of like that he’s a smoker. It’s very human to have some sort of flaw. I mean, I don’t want to see a picture of him holding a bottle of Jack Daniels with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, but you should quit for yourself and not for anyone else. I don’t care whether he quits but he should be careful about his PR. Actually, if I saw him smoking at a bar I’d probably think he’s hot stuff.

Tre: I won’t stop. If my mother couldn’t get me to stop, Obama can’t make me stop. In fact, Obama should get up, after his inauguration speech, and fire up a cigarette. Have a glass of ‘nac Cognac and a cigarette and keep it real for '09. That should be his motto. He shouldn’t quit, but he should legalize marijuana. As long as he doesn’t get a tan like George Hamilton, it’s cool with me. The cigarettes kind of do your skin in. But if he continues to smoke, he should try to lower the cigarette tax.