Seriously, Chris Christie's weight has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with whether he can run for Prez.

[LynneSin]

Sorry, I can't believe I'm here sorta defending Chris Christie. I too am a woman with some extra weight on her body. Yes it does limit me in someways but I know if it's something I want to do I get it done.

I mean I can post here about 20-30 different reasons why Chris Christie is absolutely unqualified to be president and not ONE Of them has to do with his weight. I mean geez, this is the 21st century - if the guy wants to get around he's got people who will drive cars for him.

I've watched some clips of Chaz Bono on 'Dancing with the Stars'. Here is another guy who definately has some weight to lose and did that stop him from being on the show? Sure, he's not one of the top dancers but he's got alot of heart and he didn't let his weight stop him from competing.

So seriously, knock it off with the "Christie is to fat to run". How about Christie is an asshole right-wing nut job instead?

[Brickbat]

1. Agreed.

[roguevalley]

52. in a small way it does. he was hospitalized a short time ago and

because this job is so high stress and 24/7 it is an issue. I want to know if his weight is a deterent and I believe it is given this event.

[LWolf]

2. Agree completely. nt

[Upton]

3. Yeah it does..

surveys have shown many voters base their decision at least partly, if not entirely, on looks alone...

[flor-de-jasmim]

5. Then you have nothing to worry about him getting into the race. But's it's a diff. issue.

[LynneSin]

7. But that doesn't mean he can't run

I'm reading posts where people are basically saying "Christie is too overweight to run" and personally I find it offensive. However the loss of votes Christie might get because of his weight is a different story.

[Stuckinthebush]

9. True, that.

We can lament that fact, but it is true nonetheless. His weight is an issue with voters - right or wrong.

[Overseas]

45. And it could win him sympathy if his fatness is attacked.

He could work it-- since so many Americans are now obese.

[flor-de-jasmim]

4. Yep.

[MadHound]

6. Especially considering the historical evidence

Grover Cleveland, Taft, these were big guys, and it didn't prevent them from taking office.

[doc03]

17. That was before TV n/t

[CrispyQ]

34. TV changed everything.

Everything.

~sigh.

[doc03]

22. I wonder if William Howard Taft's over-sized bathtub is still

available.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Visually, he's the perfect symbol for our times

And when he opens his boorish mouth, the picture is complete.

I say let the fat lout run. Are you ready for some football?

[madrchsod]

10. actually it`s the fat content in his brain that should be of concern....

[Javaman]

11. Doesn't matter if it is or it isn't...

all candidates get a "clean bill of health" from their doctors. They could have stage 4 cancer will a raging case of hemorrhagic fever and bleeding out on a debate podium and they would still get a "clean bill of health".

Whether or not Christie is a moment away from a massive heart attack due to his weight, bad diet or his affinity for twinkies, it doesn't matter. They will prop him up, puppet string him out on to the stage regardless of what state his health is in.

Impression, not image, is all that matters in politics.

[CrispyQ]

35. Crashcart 2 --nt

[PCIntern]

12. Once again, it's not an issue of "fat"...

he has significant symptoms which, if exacerbated, are life-threatening. Lots of heavy people don't exhibit the symptoms which he does, and it is also important to remember that just b/c a few heavy folk have achieved something, many more have attempted and failed due to health issues. Sorry to disappoint, but he's in moderately significant cardiovascular decline at this point.

[Maraya1969]

29. Where did you find out about his health issues?

Edit: I just did a quick search and only found asthma:

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/chris-christies-health-scare-was-an-asthma-attack

[soleft]

13. And yet it's okay for Andy Reid and Rex Ryan and other fat sports people

Of course as long as they're guys.

[closeupready]

14. Yes, it does, sorry.

nt

[LynneSin]

16. Separate whether he can run the campaign from those who might not vote for him because of his weight

I know discrimation for the obese exists because I've felt it myself. (I also remind myself that this form of discrimination is also self-induced and I could change it - which I've been working on these past 3 months).

[closeupready]

36. Obesity leads directly to all kinds of health problems, and at his age,

he's not too far away. You can not deny the statistics behind mortality of the overweight.

[LanternWaste]

41. Or ten to fifteen years of smoking in one's past.

Or ten to fifteen years of smoking in one's past coming back to haunt one's health in the present. I imagine anyone who called Pres. Obama's past nicotine habit into question was also given all they credibility they warranted...

"You can not deny the statistics behind mortality of smokers." :shrug:

[Scout]

54. 'scuse me, NO ONE gets out alive, sweetie, even the skinny...

and many overweight people live quite a long, happy life. longer than the "normal" weight in many instances, and certainly longer than anorexics.

you can be in great health and look beautiful, and still get hit by a car, or have a heart attack while working out, or get e coli from all that healthy produce ... have a cantaloupe!

[Lucian]

15. The guy looks like he's one doughnut away from a heart attack.

While I agree that a person's weight shouldn't be an issue with most things, it should be when it comes to being president.

Oh, he could run and be a symbol of America's excess. Wouldn't that be something.

[LynneSin]

20. But god forbid if he won he would not be the first obese president

I know Taft was one of them, but there were others too.

[WinkyDink]

32. He would be, in the last 60 years.

[HappyMe]

18. I am really getting irritated at the 'you are too...."

Old, fat, skinny ....

His being overweight is a health concern as is his asthma. But smugly bitching about his weight as a disqualifier is just narrow minded.

[laundry_queen]

40. His weight should be about as much concern

as Obama's smoking. I know more skinny smokers who have had heart attacks than I know overweight non-smokers who have.

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. I doubt he could stand the rigors of a full-blown campaign schedule.

I don't think his general condition would allow it.

[Fla Dem]

21. The only problem his weight poses is his selection of Vice President.

Morbidly obese individuals have a greatly reduced life expectancy. They are more susceptible to heart disease, Type II Diabetes, stroke and other disabilities. To have a person in his condition, in that position with all the additional stress, would be inviting early death or disability. So in my opinion, if the Tea Party and Republicans want him for President, they better make sure there is a capable person as Vice President.

In 2012 Gov Christie will be 50 years old.

[Harmony Blue]

23. It matters just as much as McCain

who had Palin as the VP.

Who would be Christie's VP? Bachmann?

[dennis4868]

24. hos health matters...

and if his weight makes his not healthy, that's an issue for sure!

[janet118]

25. Realistically, it could affect his optics . . .

Can really ugly people be president? Can disabled people become president? Can women become president? Can a Muslim become president? Maybe. But a lot depends on the news media, the late night comics and the ability of the candidate to use his/her difference to advantage.

These superficial things shouldn't affect the public's perception of a politician, but they do if the media decide to focus on them. Photographers could have a field day with unflattering shots of Christie - remember how much damage the stupid photo of Dukakis did. However, it depends a lot on how the consolidated electronic media want to present Christie - they can make him look like a clown (see Al Gore weight jokes) or a tough macho guy (ala Tony Soprano). My bet is that they will go for the tough guy/tells-it-like-it-is image and push him as far as they can. Ailes has already promised him as much.

I would never vote for Christie even if he were buffer than Brad.

[Lil Missy]

26. It would matter for a Democratic Candidate. n/t

[one_voice]

27. Fine...

I'll stop calling him a fathead.

[CherokeeDem]

28. As with most, I agree...

the problem here again is the hypocrisy of the media. If you remember Al Gore and Bill Clinton were criticized for their weight and it didn't matter then either. In fact, Al Gore was criticized when he lost weight.

While I agree that weight, height, or looks shouldn't come into play when we are selecting leaders, someone needs to remind the MSM of that fact.

However, Cristie is past overweight, the status of his health is the concern...not to mention the status of his politics.

[WinkyDink]

30. Factually accurate. However, Christie's physical appearance---as every OTHER candidate's---will be a

major factor.

That is just the way the American electorate rolls.

[Auntie Bush]

43. "They" all say Kennedy beat Nixon due to the difference in looks on TV

So why shouldn't it effect Christie? He isn't just fat...he's MORBIDLY fat!
Many Americans won't even want to look at him. Sorry, I don't like to discriminate against fat people...but, this is POLITICS and people don't refrain from being rude and even cruel. Look at all the things that have been said about Obama. And Christie is the opposition/enemy and that makes a difference.

[WinkyDink]

47. Re: JFK: True. People who just listened to the radio transmission thought Nixon was the clear winner

[LeftinOH]

31. If JFK's many health problems were better known, it could have cost him the election

in 1960. He looked good, but damn- he was a mess.

[WinkyDink]

33. Your point?

[LeftinOH]

44. That physical appearance and personal health are unrelated (sometimes). n/t

[WinkyDink]

48. Except JFK looked healthy (the cortisone shots beefed him up), whereas Christie does not.

[Papagoose]

37. It has nothing to do with his ability to do the job

but it most definitely has to do with his ability to get votes.

There is a very real discrimination against the overweight...hell, I am overweight myself and catch myself making snap judgements about people because of their size. It's not right, but it is real and needs to be dealt with.

[Proud Public Servant]

38. Presidential fun facts

Of course Christie can run. But we like our presidents from central casting...and have for the last 100 years. Think about it:

Last truly fat president? Taft, elected in 1908

Last president with facial hair? Taft again

Last bald president? Ike, elected 1952
(Yeah, but Ike won WWII; what about befor him? James Garfield, elected 1881)

Last president shorter than the average male of his era: hard to say for sure, but most likely either William McKinley (elected 1896) or Benjamin Harrison (elected 1888); if not them, then someone even earlier (all 20th-century presidents were at least as tall as the average male of their times)

So, basically, if you're a man who wants to be president, you'd better be tall, thin, clean-shaven, and have a decent head of hair; even Obama fits the bill. An exception will be made, apparently, only if you vanquished Evil itself in a global conflict.

[LynneSin]

46. I'm kinda separating the concept of "Can Christie run with his Obesity" and ....

"Would people vote for an obese person to be president".

My answer is this - Yes he can run. Obama ran and he was a smoker, another extremely unhealthy habit. McCain had disabilities from his time in Vietnam. Reagan had the early stages of Alzheimer's. JFK was an extremely heavy smoker. Heck Bush had the IQ of a Kumquat and he ran (ok just an opinion).

Whether or not he can get elected is up to the voters. With Palin on her "Michelle Obama shouldn't be telling our parents what to feed our kid's kick", clearly the republicans won't be bothered by this. I always though one of Bush Jr's appeal to voters was the fact that he wasn't that bright of a person and bit of a doofus - republicans love stuff like that. So my guess is they'll see this big heavy Christie guy and think 'Hey he's one of us - my gut is as big as his!' Christie exemplifies the type of person who feels the government should not be interfering with their diet - that's for sure.

BTW, does anyone know if Christie smokes? I wouldn't be suprised if he does.

[blue_onyx]

39. I agree

There have been over weight presidents in the past. There have also been thin presidents with health problems.

[Odin2005]

42. Taft was up to 400 pounds during his bout of depression after his wife's death.

[WinkyDink]

49. Yeah, and Mae West was a sex symbol. Times and tastes have changed RADICALLY in 80 years.

[Hoosier Daddy]

50. Chris Christie is a woman?

Re-read the first 2 sentences of the OP. :shrug:

[QC]

51. Thank you! n/t

:kick:

[madinmaryland]

53. Yes, but his HEALTH does have somethihg to do with whether I will vote for him or any candidate.

Cheney's health should have been a matter if Bush had been incapacitated or died.

ETA: Un-recced.