On the September 30 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, MSNBC political analyst Pat Buchanan said of the September 26 Democratic presidential candidate debate: “I think the Democratic Party doesn't know how far to the left they are moving. I mean, they said there that smoking is going to be a federal crime in public places.” In fact, two of the candidates in that debate -- Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) -- said they oppose a federal law banning smoking in public places at this time and instead voiced their support for letting local communities develop anti-smoking laws. Host Tim Russert did not correct Buchanan's false generalization about the Democratic candidates' position, despite the fact that he moderated the September 26 debate.

During the debate, Russert asked Clinton if she was “in favor of a national law to ban smoking in public places.” Clinton responded: “Not at this point. I think we're making progress at the local level.” Answering the same question, Obama said, “I think that local communities are making enormous strides, and I think they're doing the right thing on this.” Obama added: “As I said, if we can't provide these kinds of protections at the local level, which would be my preference, I would be supportive of a national law.” At the debate, before moving to a different topic, Russert asked if there was “anybody here who's in favor of a national law to ban smoking,” and based on a show of hands noted that Sens. Joseph P. Biden (DE), Christopher Dodd (CT), former Sen. John Edwards (NC), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former Sen. Mike Gravel (AK), and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH) are all “in favor of a national law.”

As Media Matters for America noted, an August 28 New York Post article used the misleading headline, “Hill Eyes National Cig Curb,” to which Internet gossip Matt Drudge later posted a link with the headline: “Hillary Supports National Smoking Ban.” In fact, when asked during the August 27 Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum whether she would support the federal government “outlaw[ing] smoking in public places nationally,” Clinton asserted: “I think the way that we're proceeding is probably the smarter way right now, which is locality, community, state.” Indeed, the Post article noted in its final paragraph that, "[a]sked whether the feds should impose a nationwide ban, Clinton deferred to local governments."

From the September 26 Democratic presidential candidate debate:

RUSSERT: One second -- one second here. I want to turn to another health issue because this is important before I bring [co-moderator] Alison [King] in. Over 400,000 Americans have premature deaths due to smoking or secondhand smoke. Senator Clinton, would you be in favor of a national law to ban smoking in all public places?

CLINTON: Well, we banned it in New York City. And people thought it would be a terrible idea, and everyone was really upset about it. And actually, business at a lot of establishments, like restaurants and other places, increased because many people felt more comfortable going when there was no smoking.

I think that we should be moving toward a bill that I have supported to regulate tobacco through the FDA. And once it has those health warnings and once the FDA can regulate it, I think that will give a lot of support to local communities to make these, what are essentially zoning decisions. And I'd fully support that.

RUSSERT: But you're not in favor of a national law to ban smoking in public places?

CLINTON: Not at this point. I think we're making progress at the local level.

RUSSERT: Senator Obama, a national law to ban smoking in all public places?

OBAMA: I think that local communities are making enormous strides, and I think they're doing the right thing on this. If it turns out that we're not seeing enough progress at the local level, then I would favor a national law. I don't think we've seen the local laws play themselves out entirely, because I think you're seeing an enormous amount of progress in Chicago, in New York, in other major cities around the country. And because I think we have been treating this as a public health problem and educating the public on the dangers of secondhand smoke, that that pressure will continue.

As I said, if we can't provide these kinds of protections at the local level, which would be my preference, I would be supportive of a national law.

RUSSERT: Have you been successful in stopping smoking?

OBAMA: I have. The -- you know, the best cure is my wife.

RUSSERT: Is there anybody here who's in favor of a national law to ban smoking in all public places?

[crosstalk]

BIDEN: I would ban -- yes. I would ban -- and all publicly, nationally. And one other point I want to make on this --

DODD: Three thousand kids start smoking every day in this country.

RUSSERT: OK. So Biden, Dodd, Richardson --

RICHARDSON: I did it in New Mexico --

RUSSERT: -- national law. Kucinich and Gravel.

KUCINICH: Wait a minute. I've been breathing in a lot of secondhand smoke here tonight. You bet I'll go for a national law.

RUSSERT: All right. So Biden, Dodd, Richardson, Gravel and Kucinich in favor of a national law. Alison, you're up.

EDWARDS: Wait, wait, wait, and Edwards.

RUSSERT: And Edwards.

From the September 30 edition of NBC's Meet the Press:

BUCHANAN: I think Obama's got a real problem here. I don't think you can defend yourself against the charge of lack of experience by talking about it. What he has to do is -- his problem is he's got Edwards, who is energizing the left wing of the Democratic Party and taking left-wing positions. And Obama, the more he moves out there, the more he moves out of the center -- and he can't go after Hillary the way Edwards does because he'll ruin this really good national image he's got of being above politics --

RUSSERT: Politics of hope.

BUCHANAN: Yeah, exactly. And so, at the same time, he's got to beat Edwards. So he's got a very rough position.

But let me say this, Tim. At that debate that you hosted -- and it was quite a debate -- I think the Democratic Party doesn't know how far to the left they are moving. I mean, they said there that it's gonna be -- smoking is going to be a federal crime in public places; 18-year-old Marines can't drink beer; and 6-year-olds are going to be taught about gay marriage. You know, they can't learn about Adam and Eve, but they can take an elective on Adam and Steve. You know, I can see the Republicans just beating them to death with this, and the “sanctuary city” stuff. Rudy's being killed with “sanctuary city.”