At one of the lighter moments of today's Presidential Press Conference, McClatchy Reporter Margaret Talev asked Obama something we've all been wondering: Is he still smoking? Obama seemed a little testy at first, replying that the tobacco bill he signed into law yesterday wasn't about his own episodic addiction. But he soon simmered down. Here's his response, via the White House transcript:

"As a former smoker, I constantly struggle with it.  Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes?  Yes.  Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker?  No.  I don't do it in front of my kids, I don't do it in front of my family, and I would say that I am 95 percent cured, but there are times where -- (laughter) -- there are times where I mess up.  And, I mean, I've said this before.  I get this question about once every month or so, and I don't know what to tell you, other than the fact that, like folks who go to AA, once you've gone down this path, then it's something you continually struggle with, which is precisely why the legislation we signed was so important, because what we don't want is kids going down that path in the first place.  Okay?"

So it seems possible that we'll be discovering the odd cigarette butt in the woods at Camp David. Does it matter? I'm normally anti-smoking, but in this case, I'm inclined to be lenient. After all, Obama arguably has the most stressful job in the universe. What happens if he doesn't have an outlet for his anxiety? We've seen what transpires in the White House when Presidents have more salacious appetities. If, during this time of large scale uncertainty, cigarettes are the President's worst vice, then I'm prepared to give him a break. Et vous, dear Gaggle readers?