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Jump to full article: The Washington Post, 2008-11-22
Intro: Regarding Michael Kinsley's Nov. 20 op-ed column, "Let the Guy Smoke":
President-elect Barack Obama's campaign agenda included universal health care, and we all know that smoking is a serious health hazard. If Mr. Obama has not quit smoking yet, he should keep trying until he succeeds. He needs to make this sacrifice.
What about the District's ban on smoking in public buildings? As a leader, Mr. Obama must abide by this rule, like everyone else, no matter how inconvenient it is to leave the building each time he wants to smoke. If he does not, he will be endangering the health of his daughters, his wife and all the people working in White House.
So, Mr. Obama, give the world another example of making something almost impossible possible.
Michael Kinsley's premise about there being one group of Americans for whom discrimination is legal and encouraged is correct. Where he errs is in identifying the oppressed minority: It is not smokers who cannot marry, or visit loved ones in hospitals or readily adopt a child in need. It is not smokers who see discrimination aimed squarely at them codified into law.
Today, gay men and lesbians remain the only group for whom discrimination is encouraged by politicians, religious leaders and neighbors.
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