A sign of the next four years

Positively Clintonian. [Link]

Noting that the White House was a no-smoking zone, Brokaw asked Obama, “Have you stopped smoking?”

“I have,” Obama replied, smiling broadly. “What I said was that there are times where I have fallen off the wagon.”

“Wait a minute,” Brokaw interjected, “that means you haven’t stopped.”

“Fair enough,” Obama said. “What I would say is that I have done a terrific job under the circumstances of making myself much healthier. You will not see any violations of these rules in the White House.”

Brace yourself for 4 years of Clintonian-like spin and parsing. First Obama says he’s quit smoking, then he says he hasn’t. When he’s forced to admit he hasn’t stopped smoking, he replies “Fair enough” — like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar who “smiles broadly” and admits “Okay, you caught me” — and then he redirected the conversation to how “terrific” he is because he’s healthier and trying to stop smoking.

Oh, and need I add that saying we “won’t see” Obama smoke in the White House isn’t the same as saying he won’t smoke?

How ironic that one of the chief complaints Obama supporters have about President Bush is that he won’t admit a mistake. Now we learn Obama is so insecure he can’t even admit he has a flaw.

Four more years.