Jump to full article: Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune, 2010-07-04
Author: Christopher J. Kelly - The Times-Tribune
Intro: Caroline has done a lot of living in her 84 years. Since leaving religious life, she has been a cotton-picker, waitress, long-distance bicyclist, political activist, battered wife and five-time candidate for president of the United States.
"I should have written at least two books by now," she said Thursday as we sat outside her apartment at a Lackawanna County Housing Authority property in Olyphant. A Marlboro rested between the index and middle fingers of her right hand, but she never lit up over the hour we sat chatting.
On Thursday, the housing authority implemented a ban on indoor smoking at its 19 developments. The new rule is rooted in a recommendation from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which subsidizes low-income housing.
The authority sees the ban as a way to improve the health and safety of its residents and properties. Caroline sees it as just another instance of government meddling in the lives of private citizens.
"It's outrageous," . . .
And after all, he said, it is public housing.
"So is the White House," Caroline said, pointing out that President Barack Obama has struggled to quit smoking.
"I'll go outside to smoke when I see Obama standing outside the White House smoking."
I e-mailed the White House to see if Mr. Obama is still smoking, and if so, where he does it. As of Friday, I hadn't received a reply.
I'm not holding my breath.
Jump to full article » |