Cook County Board President Todd Stroger recently explained cigarette tax increases in an unexpectedly candid radio interview.

Host John Williams asked: Isn’t it unfair to keep targeting smokers with tax increases?
“That is the American way,” Stroger replied. “And the way that it’s generally done is, you find some group that’s small enough where they can’t beat you up, and you tax them and you tell everybody else, ‘See? We didn’t tax you.’ “

This is President Obama’s plan, too, if you understand what he is doing and hopes to do to high-income earners, energy producers, small-business owners and yes, smokers.