Update: In the interest of fairness, I'm going to print here an excerpt from the actual doctor's report. This makes it look very different:

Recommendations: Follow-up colorectal cancer screening is recommended in 5 years for routine colon cancer screening. Continue smoking cessation efforts, a daily exercise program, healthy diet, moderation in alcohol intake, periodic dental care, and remain up-to-date with recommended immunizations. Continue modified exercise regimen, and lower extremity muscle strengthening program, for occasional left patella-femoral pain secondary to chronic tendonitis. Recommend dietary modification to reduce LDL cholesterol below 130.

Little words can make a big difference. Moderation "in" alcohol intake means something quite different than moderation "of" alcohol intake.

So on this one, I admit jumping the gun.

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I'm wondering why the mainstream media has made sort of a big deal about Obama's doctors telling him to quit smoking, but this has been left as a footnote in some reports and doesn't even appear in others:

The doctors also recommended "moderation of alcohol intake".

The wording of this really bothers me. This is not the same as being told that a moderate alcohol intake is okay. "Moderation" suggests that his intake is higher than moderate and needs attention. The most powerful (and therefore potentially the most dangerous) man in the world, and he's got an alcohol problem that even doctors, albeit quietly, have made public?

Doesn't this concern anyone but me?

Doctors tell Barack Obama to quit smoking

Labels: Political Observation