Is New Jersey governor Chris Christie's weight a consideration, in his possible bid for the Republic nominee for president of the United States? Here's an article in the International Business Times, over a year ago, when Christie was rumored to be a possible contender in the 2012 campaign: "Image counts. It may not be fair, but political candidates are now packaged almost like pop stars – when was the last time you saw a national leader who was rumpled, ungroomed and/or overweight?" http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christies-chances-ever-becoming-president-slim-none-211978 Recently though, the conversation seems to have shifted from a focus on image, to a focus on health. From New York Magazine, December 2012, when Barbara Walters asked Christie about his weight: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2012/12/christie-christie-fat-president.html And here he is just a few nights ago, poking fun at himself as a fat person, on David Letterman: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/chr...pearance-governor-explains-late-show-18417779 He says his cholesterol is great, and with the disarming candor that many find appealing, he describes himself as "the healthiest fat man you'll ever find." I heard at least one MD on TV news (don't remember which one), disagree with that assessment, and say Christie's weight makes him a health "time bomb." When national security is an issue, is it ethical—or legal or well advised—to make weight an issue in a person's employability? We are, after all, talking about a job and whether or not Christie is a viable candidate for that job. Or, is he right to compare himself to Teddy Roosevelt, and I think Taft, fat presidents of days gone by, who many think did a great job, despite their weight? This conversation is overshadowing his politics, or seems to be. Curious what people think.
Bullshit - if being fat makes you a "timebomb" then every sandbox leader would be fat. :stirthepot: Thank you, I'll be here all week (unless Allah willing I am beheaded).
C'mon, man, you've been here long enough to know that there are certain types of people it's okay to discriminate against.
If Christie's being truthful about the state of his health (and, as a candidate, he'd be subject to numerous physicals to confirm it), his weight might actually be to his advantage, given the data that 30% of Americans are obese. He might also do a great service for himself and his fellow Americans by highlighting the weight problem and helping to reduce obesity, starting with himself. Maybe sign up with Dr. Oz or The Biggest Loser and have his progress followed by the nation.
I did a quick Google search, because I'm unclear on that one too. Apparently, things are in flux. How to classify obesity? A disability? Or a characteristic, like brown hair? Depends who you ask. From the Huffington Post, Oct. 2012: "In April and July of 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) gained settlements in its first two major cases on weight-related workplace discrimination." Entire article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/obesity-discrimination_n_1939385.html It's not like Christie is going to sue the Republican party for refusing him as a candidate because of his weight. But it brings the issue to a new level of public awareness.
One thing's for sure, if Christie is ever elected President, good luck with pushing through any kind of healthcare bill.
Since the ACA will be fully implemented by 2014, not a problem. Though your assumption that every overweight person is a health risk may be.
Would Christie's weight be an issue? Almost certainly. Although they were more or less silent about Obama's smoking, the mainstream media will be all over any bad health habit a Republican has. He may indeed be one of those rare people who is very overweight and yet still healthy by the numbers, but even if he is, he should expect questions about his weight to dog his campaign incessantly if he runs for President.
Once again my point went sailing high over your head. That point being that Christie will have a hell of a time pushing through any time of healthcare reform without the subject of his own weight deflecting meaningful discussion.
Yeah, I got the obvious "Christie's fat; he won't dare advise anyone else about health problems" thing. It's not as if you'd be willing to actually look at the ACA and suggest what might need to be reformed.
If we can hold things that Presidential candidates ate as a kid with no choice in diet against him, why can't we use the weight a candidate put on as an adult as an arguement for or against his running for office? ...in case that wasn't clear, that's sarcasm, and this is why Americans can't have nice things.
You know that's so crazy it just might work!! I'm sure there's a team of people as we speak, trying to think of a way to spin this in a positive way. He could relate to the over 37% of Americans who, according to the Centers for Disease Control, are obese, and get a voting block that crosses all political lines.
I disagree that a fat president would NOT be considered a credible proponent of a healthcare bill. An obese president who gives the impression of working toward better health would be an even more credible proponent of healthcare reform than a president who is not perceived to be proactive and goal-oriented about his health.
I'm delighted that a male politician is getting obsessive media attention for his physical appearance (though they say it's not about looks, but health). Kinda takes the heat off Hilary's hair.
But if this obese president denies the idea that his weight is a health problem, then he becomes a less effective advocate. There are other reasons why I wouldn't vote for him, but I'm not particularly bothered by Christie's weight. PS, if you want to look slim and attractive, stand next to a fat guy.
True, a president who denies he needs to engage in improving his obviously threatened fitness level definitely discredits himself. RE: your other comment, tonight I ran into my neighbors on the sidewalk. They're about 22 or so years old, just out of college (still talk about "when I lived at home," meaning at their parents, LOL). Anyway, they didn't realize it was me at first and the boy said, in his defense for not recognizing me, "From the back, you look about 20 years old!" God I love those kids. So anyway, if I want to look good, I don't have to stand next to a fat guy. I just have to move through the world backside first.
I would NOT vote for Chris Christie if he ran on the GOP ticket. If he ran as a Democrat I just might vote for him, depending on who the stupid Republicans fielded.
Besides, Obama was a smoker well into his first term, and I think he hadn't quit yet when the ACA was passed.
Joke getting old Christie loses his sense of humor today. I don't blame him, for fuck's sake. It's too much. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/02...riticized-weight-a-hack-who-needs-to-shut-up/
Re: Joke getting old I find that to be a poor analysis of the available data. Governor Christie, the "robust" fellow he is, was cracking jokes left and right over this situation.
He's got a point. Not every overweight person is minutes away from keeling over, and he's only 50. And, yes, shouldn't doctors refrain from making long-distance diagnoses of people who aren't their patients?
Jon Corzone made a point of being seen running and working out throughout the campaign, and people didn't seem to care that ne was more athletic.
Re: Joke getting old I'm not sure what "data" you're talking about, so I hope my response is on target. When I said he lost his sense of humor, I was referring to his comment that former White House doctor Connie Mariano should "shut up" about his weight. He made the point that while she has never met him, examined him, reviewed his medical records or family history, she said she is afraid he will "die in office" and the comment is scaring his kids. As to your reference of Christie "cracking jokes left and right," I continue to admire that ability of his to rise above the attacks (aside from yesterday's press conference, where he got, IMO, appropriately "tough").
yeah and like people are saying, Obama smokes. But that's easy to keep off camera. Obesity like Christie's is so easily recognized. I guess that's the difference, putting political motivations aside.
Public image matters a lot in many things. Mikhail Gorbachev IIRC wrote about the Iceland summit where Reagan came out to meet him in the bitter cold full of energy not even wearing a coat or a hat. Gorbachev said that they (the Soviets) "lost the summit right there".
