Alfredo Rossi

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Alfredo Rossi
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Life & Events > Is This Bullying?
 

Is This Bullying?




Well even though that I am not Republican and find this to be very offensive about Gov.Christie.
Does this come under Bully?
Very bad taste and hope that someone will come forward to this.





..Look, I'm sorry, but New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie cannot be president: He is just too fat. Maybe, if he runs for president and we get to know him, we will overlook this awkward issue because we are so impressed with the way he stands up to teachers' unions. But we shouldn't overlook it - unless he goes on a diet and shows he can stick to it.

That's not a very liberal attitude. It's discriminatory. It's patronizing. It's coercive. What business is it of ours whether Christie weighs too much (and who gets to define "too much")? Why should we even care, as long as we like his policies? These points will all be made by political commentators if word goes out to the vast right-wing conspiracy that it's time to get behind Christie.

Let me save you the trouble, boys and girls. I can write that column myself: "Liberals, who embrace diversity of all other kinds - who demand quotas for transgender kindergarten teachers in public schools - these selfsame liberals have the unmitigated gall to encourage discrimination against a truly oppressed group: people of weight."

There is a theory, of course, that being fat would benefit Christie by authenticating his portrayal of Everyman - just a regular fella, like so many others, who's sick to death of Washington and its taxing ways. Being overweight establishes Christie's bona fides as a populist, and as someone indifferent to the superficial trends that sweep through Cambridge or West Hollywood. Mitt Romney's excruciating attempts to be a regular guy can only help Christie establish himself as the no-baloney candidate (as can, oddly, eating bologna).

It isn't yet the case that every American voter is obese, but we're making remarkable progress on that front. Many of us are in bad shape in ways that threaten our health. There is a vast army of the overweight ready to fight for a fellow sufferer if given a chance. Nebraska Sen. Roman Hruska once famously asked why mediocre people didn't deserve representation on the Supreme Court. Why don't fat people deserve a president every now and then? There hasn't been a truly fat one since William Howard Taft left office in 1913.

That's the theory. I don't buy it. Too many Americans may be heavy, but they don't define themselves by that condition (at least not in a positive way) or automatically bond with fellow overeaters. Republicans insist that raising taxes on the rich is bad politics because most Americans hope to be rich eventually. Most overweight people hope to be thin eventually. So appealing to them in this way may not work.

Actually, claiming that being seriously overweight establishes some kind of bond with ordinary folks is a bit of an insult to ordinary folks, most of whom are not obese. You're on firmer ground claiming a bond with all humanity on the basis that the flesh is weak. On approximately this basis, we (at least I) have forgiven President Obama his secret smoking (oh, of course he does) and some people (including me again, I guess) have forgiven President Bill Clinton his . . . well, you know. So why should Christie's weight be more than we can bear in a president? Why should it even be a legitimate issue if he runs?

One reason is that a presidential candidate should be judged on behavior and character, not just on policies - especially because the chance these days of any actual policies being enacted is slim. (Most of us, fortunately, aren't judged this way - at least not in this life. But presidents are.)

Controlling what you eat and how much is not easy, and it's harder for some people than for others. But it's not as difficult as curing a chemical addiction. With a determined, disciplined effort, Christie could thin down, and he should - because the obesity epidemic is real and dangerous. And the president inevitably sets an example.

Unfortunately, the symbolism of Christie's weight problem goes way past the issue of obesity itself. It is just a too-perfect symbol of our country at the moment, with appetites out of control and discipline near zilch. And it's not just symbolism. We don't yet know much about Chris Christie. He certainly makes all the right noises about fiscal discipline and seems to have done well so far as governor of New Jersey. Perhaps Christie is the one to help us get our national appetites under control. But it would help if he got his own under control first.

posted on Oct 3, 2011 1:14 PM ()

Comments:

That is NOT merely bullying. That is absolutely unacceptably offensive material.
What do you want to be Rupert Murdoch owns the paper that published this trash?
comment by stella on Oct 6, 2011 11:20 PM ()
Funny and surprised that have not heard any feed back on this?Maybe later.Will keep posted on this.
reply by fredo on Oct 7, 2011 10:04 AM ()
It seems like people are happier if they have someone to ridicule.
I'm a pretty large woman myself, and I have to say, from Childhood on, I've seen fat people being made fun of. People put others down to make their sense of no-self-worth feel better.
comment by stella on Oct 6, 2011 11:18 PM ()
yes,people are very cruel ridicule them.
I am not fat just hearing impaired and this I get a lot of jive and just played it cool.Hearing people cannot tolerate for some who are deaf or hearing impaired.You know what I say?better not say it here.
reply by fredo on Oct 7, 2011 10:06 AM ()
Yes, this is offensive and narrow-minded beyond belief!
comment by dragonflyby on Oct 6, 2011 6:50 PM ()
Yes,very offensive and do not liked it.
reply by fredo on Oct 7, 2011 10:06 AM ()
that's just odd to me... doesn't seem like it should be a factor in how to be President...
comment by kristilyn3 on Oct 4, 2011 1:13 PM ()
well said he:not running.So far did not see any feedback in the editioral page on this.Maybe later.
reply by fredo on Oct 4, 2011 1:58 PM ()
I find this very offensive. I like his compassion and if the elephants go
his way, it won't be nearly as bad as having Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachman
or Mitt Romney in the white house or perish the thought...Rick Perry who
is the most dangerous candidate of all.
comment by elderjane on Oct 4, 2011 4:58 AM ()
your right.But Perry is losing grounds thank goodness for that.
He is a racial and bias man.Do not trust him with words coming out his foul mouth.Down with Perry and on with Obama.
reply by fredo on Oct 4, 2011 10:17 AM ()
So superficial: we were supposed to vote for Sarah Palin because she's attractive, never mind her ability to hold office. It's a shame.
comment by troutbend on Oct 3, 2011 3:17 PM ()
yes,it is a shame for this.No need.
reply by fredo on Oct 3, 2011 4:13 PM ()
I honestly don't know why anyone's weight would play a role in whether or not they would make a good leader. They were talking a bit about these kinds of statements on the politicla talkshows this weekend, and I agree ... it is really offensive!
comment by lunarhunk on Oct 3, 2011 1:21 PM ()
Yes,it is and hope that we get some feed back on this.No need.
He is what I see a pretty good guy there.
reply by fredo on Oct 3, 2011 1:29 PM ()

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