Christ Christy: My weight wouldn't be an issue for me to be President

[bigdarryl]

Like HELL IT ISN'T!!!! Diabetes high blood pressure, heart disease are all related to excessive weight.I don't care what he says that man cannot be healthy to be President http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/chris_christie_tells_barbara_w.html#incart_river_default

[WI_DEM]

1. Perhaps he will point to William Howard Taft as a role model

he made it thru a four year presidential term and then lived another 17 years after that serving as Chief Justice of the US for 9 of those years.

[bigdarryl]

2. You can't be serious comparing a President over 50 years ago to today

as being President.Plus we now have more diseases than back than

[WI_DEM]

5. I didn't say I thought that, but perhaps he would use it as a comparison.

Besides, in the next two years he could pull a Hukabee and lose fifty pounds.

[Brother Buzz]

11. Fifty?

[NewJeffCT]

7. more diseases?

There are lot more ways to combat things like high blood pressure, cholesterol & heart disease now than there were in the days of William Howard Taft.

[Maximumnegro]

49. If you mean drugs

you'd be wrong.

If you mean better nutrition and lifestyle, sure.

[Renew Deal]

53. That's what we do as Americans

History and precedent are a big deal when it comes to the presidency.

Taft left office in 1913.

[SheilaT]

21. He also lost 80 pounds within a year of leaving the Presidency.

That probably contributed to his 17 years.

[Hippo_Tron]

44. Being president is not the same job as it was 100 years ago

James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Woodrow Wilson probably faced stress levels that equaled or exceeded that of a modern president, due to the magnitude of the wars over which they presided, but I most of the others probably did not. The presidency in the pre-FDR era was just not the same as it is today.

[PearliePoo2]

3. Umm Governor...

Just because you think it, doesn't necessarily make it so.

[politicaljunkie41910]

4. I'll bet that before 2013 is up, Christie will have had weight loss surgery.

The surgery has come a long way since it's inception, and it has helped a lot of men and women to lose weight and keep it off. It also controls diabetes and losing the weight will take his blood pressure down. If Christie wants to be president, and I'm betting he does, he will have the surgery before 2013 is up and will be in great shape by 2014 when rest of the wannabees start makin the trek to Iowa. Count on it.

[Myrina]

20. ... and I'm sure the taxpayers of New Jersey will be thrilled to pay for it ...

I know I would be.

[NewJeffCT]

6. why not?

I'm not a big fan of Chris Christie, but why can't he be president?

[maxsolomon]

35. because he is a republican

and they have proved themselves unfit for the task.

[NewJeffCT]

38. His weight shouldn't matter, though

The OP was positing that because he's fat, he shouldn't be president. I think he shouldn't be president because his policies would be bad for America, not because he's fat.

Should Rick Santorum have been disqualified because he was homely? Or Michele Bachmann because she is short? No, they should be disqualified because their policies would have been a disaster.

[maxsolomon]

40. I won't vote for a morbidly obese person for POTUS.

That said, homeliness and stature, like race and sex, are not the same as obesity. Morbid obesity affects morbidity.

POTUS is a physically demanding job requiring a person with a surfeit of vigor and self-discipline (exceptions: Clinton's libido, Bush 2's intellectual laziness). If Christie loses weight, you'll know he's running. If not, he's not serious about winning.

[NewJeffCT]

59. So, if a Democrat were morbidly obese

and a top contender for president, you wouldn't consider him or her as a candidate?

[maxsolomon]

61. i would not vote in the primary for that person

because i believe it would lead to a GOP presidency, which, as we've seen clearly, is a disaster for the planet.

in the general i would, yes. you have found the flaw in my predjudices.

[whistler162]

73. Keep repeating that to yourself... maybe someone else will believe it

someday!

[Bake]

60. Bachmann dissqualified because short? No.

Batshit crazy, hell yes!



Bake

[bunnies]

8. Well, maybe he doesnt think so but...

his VP pick would get a hell of a lot of scrutiny... thats for damn sure.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. So if he loses weight, then what do we do?

He will still be a force to be reckoned with.

He's not going to stop at being a governor.

[Nay]

10. Christie: I don't think it's an issue either, but it's your Pub base that pounds away on the "fat,

lazy, junk-food-eating" poor people who are costing us taxpayers so much money. I wouldn't count on the fact that you're rich would let you get away with the "fat, lazy, junk-food-eating" meme. Your base isn't known for its ability to parse its insults.

[NewJeffCT]

13. You forgot

IOKIYAR

[Nay]

42. Shit. Yeah, I DID forget. nt

[No Vested Interest]

12. Does anyone (besides his doctor) know

the real story on Christie's health and lifestyle choices?

Has he made any attempts at losing weight?
Does he do any exercise?
Does he have a history of high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol?

What is the word of this subject in NJ?

[MADem]

30. He suffers from asthma, too. nt

[yellowcanine]

55. Asthma and obesity may be linked.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/05/31/us-obesity-asthma-idUSTRE64U31W20100531

Asthma rate for obese people (12%) was twice that of normal weight people (6%) in this study.

Twelve percent of the obese individuals had asthma, compared to six percent of the normal-weight study participants. And the likelihood of asthma rose as the body mass index -- BMI, a relation of weight and height used to gauge obesity -- increased and waist circumferences expanded.

[MADem]

57. That's a factoid I never knew!

I've only known a couple of people with the condition, that I was aware of, anyway, and they were not overweight.

[yellowcanine]

58. Hmm. "Linked" does not mean they have to go together.

Just means one can affect the incidence of or severity of the other. In this study the levels of asthma were twice as high in obese people as those with normal weight. That is a fact, not a factoid. A factoid is something alleged to be true without any evidence. In this case there is evidence.

[womanofthehills]

65. Obese girlfriend died young

At 55 yrs old she died from an asthma attack. She had high blood pressure, cholesterol and would get out of breath just walking to her car.

[MADem]

66. The word can also be used to describe a particularly insignificant or novel fact, in the absence of

much relevant context.

...The word factoid is now sometimes also used to mean a small piece of true but valueless or insignificant information, in contrast to the original definition. This has been popularized by the CNN Headline News TV channel, which, during the 1980s and 1990s, used to frequently include such a fact under the heading "factoid" during newscasts. BBC Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright uses factoids extensively on his show. Occasionally these can be incorrect, such as in September 2012 defining a Googol as the number 1 followed by one million zeroes, when the correct definition is the number 1 followed by one hundred zeroes.[15]

As a result of confusion over the meaning of factoid, some English-language style and usage guides recommend against its use.[16] Language expert William Safire in his On Language column advocated the use of the word factlet to express a "little bit of arcana".[17]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factoid

[yellowcanine]

67. The possible linkage of Asthma with Obesity is hardly "insignificant" though.

Particularly to the asthmatic person whose asthma is worse because of obesity.

So "factoid" would not be appropriate here imo.

[treestar]

70. Which came first?

The obesity could result from the asthma - not as much chance to exercise, say - than the other way round.

[mzteaze]

71. Back in January 2012,

He told Oprah that he was trying to do better by working with a trainer and dietitian. I guess he is singing a different tune since that didn't turn out so well.

[Jersey Devil]

14. You have to see him in person to judge just how big he really is

I have seen him a few times and he is massive. I'd say he is AT LEAST 400 pounds and my guess is that he is probably closer to 450. Anyone that grossly overweight has serious health issues no matter what he says.

[dmallind]

17. So about the same as Cyril Smith then?

A long term influential British MP who died recently?

At 83.

Of an unrelated cancer.

Fat fuckers can't do politics though eh?

[MADem]

34. Well, Cyril was six foot two; Christie is five eleven.

And Cyril weighed, at his top weight 190 kilos (418 lbs).

And he didn't have asthma, like Christie does, near as anyone knew. Cyril also didn't stand for party leader and head of government, either. He was a child abuser, though http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-20516533 -- and that was an issue that was covered up. Perhaps that's a reason why that "fat fucker" (your words) shouldn't have been in public life.

Chris Christie most certainly can and does "do politics"--he's not a janitor, he's the governor of NJ.

He's not in good health, though--he can't even walk more than a few dozen yards without wheezing. He's not a young man anymore--he's fifty. That's when those middle aged problems really start to kick in, and it doesn't get better as you head towards sixty and beyond.

[Cha]

15. Maybe his weight wouldn't be a problem BUT, he would

be a BIG PROBLEM for AMERICA.

[dmallind]

16. Then why do fat people manage to hold all manner of far more onerous jobs?

The demands of the presidency are vast, but they are mental not physical. The guy gets chauffeured everywhere and lifts nothing heavier than a pen. Fat folk don't fucking explode when asked to sit in an office or on a luxury plane for 15 hours ya know.

You surely know that obesity has a minimal to truly trivial impact on longevity, right? All that Geraldo scary infotainment shit abour weight ALWAYS fixates on relative risk. It doesn't matter a flying crap that Christie is X times more likely to get a given cancer or whatever. What matters is how likely he is to get it. Buying 8 powerball tickets increases your chances of being a multimillionaire 800%, but I wouldn't suggest changing your life or possible career options because of it.

[helenp2]

18. Would love to see that sob attempt to run up the

steps of Air Force One. Obnoxious - Fat - Blowhard!

[hrmjustin]

22. Welcome to DU and I hope you enjoy the site.

[dmallind]

37. Why would he have to run? Does the lithe Obama run up them? Never seen that.

[No Vested Interest]

45. Obama is very quick and light on his feet.

I believe that is one of the intangible characteristics that made him more physically appealing than his presidential opponents McCain and Wat's-His-Name.
And, yes, I did observe him sprinting onto a platform when about to speak or campaign.

I believe in today's political climate, with the ever present cameras, that, all things being equal, a younger-appearing person will out-poll a more senior candidate.

[Myrina]

19. Ok, then neither should a candidate's religion, marital status or ethnic background.

Jus' sayin' ...

[Jennicut]

23. You don't know for sure that he has diabetes.

Or will get heart disease, high blood pressure, etc.

I have type 1 diabetes, my mother has high blood pressure. My mother is not obese. And I am not going to drop dead of a diabetes related disease overnight. At least I hope not, I am only 36. I can do plenty of things that other people can do.

Of course, the American public always scrutinizes our Presidential candidates in terms of age, race, sex and I suppose if Christie runs, in terms of weight.

I think he could handle the job. It is not a physically demanding job so much as it is draining emotionally/mentally. The real question is do people want Christie to be President? I don't agree with any of his views so that would be a no for me. But running for President? I don't care about his weight. Non issue.

[Xyzse]

24. It shouldn't be an issue...

It shouldn't disqualify him from seeking the Presidential seat.

Would I want him as a President? Of course not, but to say that his weight would stop him from being qualified? That to me is a bit prejudiced. There are very thin people whose circulation system is so messed up that they get heart attacks too.

I don't like him at all, that is my reason I would not vote for him or consider him Presidential material. I take that from his policies... How big he is, does not factor in that, even if I might make fun of him now and then.

[DrToast]

25. Agree with him. Just like I don't think smoking prohibited Obama from being Pres.

[Smilo]

26. But he wants to be Prez so badly.

Never mind his weight - he has no sense of decorum or diplomacy and that is needed in a president.

[southernyankeebelle]

27. He sure didn't have a problem being governor during Sandy, did he? No he didn''t. He was out on

the front lines. Yes he is a Porker but I wouldn't vote for him because he has a big mouth and can't seem to be nice when a citizen asks a question.

[1StrongBlackMan]

28. Just like ...

My fear of spiders won't be a problem for me to study arachnids ... That's because, neither one of us will do either.

[Not Me]

29. Hubbie was saying the other day that he could do "Biggest Loser"

and lose weight and gain popularity. You watch...

[Sunlei]

31. If he thinks the only reason people won't vote for him is the weight, he could lose it

Bet his insurance (we pay for) covers everything.

[Third Doctor]

32. A long time ago it would not matter.

But we seem to live in a eye candy loving society now. Image seems to trump his ability to do the work.

[kimbutgar]

33. Being abusive, rude and fat might work well in New Jersey

But wouldn't work well in other states. Christie has some baggage from his days working in the Bush justice department and some questionable dealings with organized crime in NJ. The fat thing is another bit of big baggage. The fact that he has to get off an helicopter and then walk 10 feet to a car to go 25 feet says something about him. I see a coronary waiting to happen. He doesn't have the temperament to mount a 1 year vigorous campaign with his weight issues getting in the way. Plus we know he likes food and will be offered a lot of food on the trail. No I just don't see Christie getting far except in Fox world and that world is slowly eroding and dying off.

[MADem]

36. Good summation.

He comes off as thuggish at times, too:

I wouldn't be surprised if they dust off Jeb Bush, if they can't find another "star" to shine on behalf of the GOP.

[DFW]

39. Short (and complete) answer is: yes it would. n/t

[high density]

41. I spent a few years at > 300lbs

It was obviously not a good lifestyle. Blood pressure was through the roof. Spontaneous nosebleeds occurred all the time. Office chairs would disintegrate under my massive load. I'd get winded just standing up from being seated. My legs would burn after a quarter mile of walking.

If he truly can't "figure out" why he is so huge, then he definitely does not deserve to be president.

[FSogol]

43. Maybe not, but his defective RW brain would be a major issue.

Just saying.

[TexasBushwhacker]

46. As nasty as the GOP primaries are, I think it could be

I also think it could be an issue with undecided voters. I think John McCain's age was an issue, which made his choice of Palin for VP catastrophic. If he was the Republican candidate, they generally undergo a physical and release a letter from their doctor about their health status. Romney and Ryan did.

[WooWooWoo]

47. he's right, it won't

if anything, it'll probably help him connect with voters.

[Justice]

48. It is an issue.

Christie is really overweight, not just a bit chubby. It is an issue. I bet Christie has surgery in 2013 or suddenly goes on a massive diet.

[Maximumnegro]

50. And he won't look well if he does.

People who lose massive amounts of weight then require lots of surgery to remove the excess flab. Their faces also look... not so great during the process. It takes time. And being a public figure he won't be able to just disappear for a year to deal with it.

The guy is not going to be President being morbidly obese. Also the media WILL bring it up over and over again and it will be a distraction for his campaign. Folks can try and play 'let's not judge' but masses as we know are lowest common denominator. If he had amazing qualities in all other respects then just maybe, but let's be real - it just isn't going to happen.

[brooklynite]

51. Christine O'Donnell: "I am not a witch"

When you have to say it....

[Renew Deal]

52. I don't think his weight is a leadership issue

But it will be used to lampoon him any time something bad happens. Just look at the image search results for "Taft cartoons". A lot of them are about his weight.

I've heard less political people that I know say that his weight is "unhealthy." I agree, but I also think that there are people that will support him for being "real."

[Lucinda]

54. It doesn't seem to keep him from doing his job as Gov. n/t

[karynnj]

56. What would you be saying about a partially crippled man brought on by polio?

The complications of polio equal or exceed the problems with obesity.

You might remember - as you are from NJ - that jokes and snide attacks on his weight made a bully sympathetic and a disliked Democratic Governor less likable.

[LeftInTX]

63. Who knew?

[treestar]

69. good point

and the guy functions as governor of NJ - if his health were so bad he couldn't even do that.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

62. Fuck anyone that makes weight an issue...

Get off your goddamn high horse...

And criticize him for his horrible policies.

The obsession with body image is sickening.

[Fawke Em]

64. Christ?

I somehow don't think Christ plans to run for any elected office.

[bamacrat]

68. Wait, his first name is Christ?

I thought it was Chris. If it is Christ then he is the perfect republican.

[whistler162]

72. Sorry Governor it likely would... especially with the bigots

who are always desperate for something to attack someone about.

[and-justice-for-all]

74. He would have to have open heart surgery during his first term...nt