Look, I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. But stuff like this makes me nuts:

Hillary Clinton lavished praise on New York City's tough anti-smoking laws yesterday - and said she supports smoking bans in public places across the country.

Asked at an Iowa forum on cancer whether banning smoking in public places would be good for America, Clinton replied, "Well, personally, I think so. And that's what a lot of local communities and states are starting to do."

Clinton noted that when New York's smoking ban was being considered, critics claimed, "Oh, that's the end of, you know, the bars and restaurants in New York City."

But she boasted, "We are now having more business than ever before, because a lot of people who stayed away from going out are now going out again, because they feel like they can enjoy their time outside."

Asked whether the feds should impose a nationwide ban, Clinton deferred to local governments.

Amazingly, one Republican candidate went even further, and said he would "certainly" sign a federal smoking ban. Watch the video.

I for one would much rather see the federal government devoting its attention to snuffing out terrorists (and abortion) than smoking.

UPDATE: These two Arkansans would do well to read more Larry Reed (not Reid).