Sep
27
By Paolo von Schirach
September 27, 2011
WASHINGTON – Ending a moment of feverish speculation, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made it clear that he will not be a contender for the Republican presidential nomination. Governor Christie will not run. For sure many Republicans, disappointed with the field of current candidates, may have liked to see this feisty, no nonsense conservative office holder enter the field. But this is pretty much the end of the speculation.
Governor Christie is obese
Surprisingly, though, in all the back an forth commentary about a possible Christie run for the Republican 2012 nomination, no one on TV mentioned the obvious fact that Governor Christie is visibly obese. “Now, now –you would say– come on, are you that shallow that you would bring up someone’s looks as if they mattered in assessing a politician’s chance to run for the highest office in the Nation? We’re interested in the man’s brain, policies and character, not his weight.”
The issue is not good looks for TV, it is public health
Well no. I am not concerned about Governor Christie’s obesity because it affects his looks, diminishing his telegenic appeal –even though looks are certainly a factor in influencing public perceptions. If we got back in history, president William Howard Taft was obese, for sure. But he got elected long ago, in 1908, in a pre-TV, media obsessed world.
Nowadays, it is absolutely undeniable that, while not a dominant factor, being good looking, tall and fit certainly helps a lot when a politician is introducing himself/herself to the American public. Being obese would not be a plus for any candidate for national office, regardless of party, gender, intelligence, drive and political acumen.
Obese president for an obese America?
But I would worry about an obese middle aged man becoming president for entirely different reasons. Governor Christie would be an obese president of an increasingly obese America. And, given the Governor’s candid admission that he eats too much much and that he cannot control his weight, as Chief Executive he would make a pretty awful role model on an issue that goes way beyond good looks.
The issue is not about looking smart and fit. The issue is about sending the wrong signal to an increasingly overweight and obese American population taht is literally eating itself to death. You would not want an obese president for the same reason you would not want a smoker as president. If smoking is deadly, so is obesity.
Obesity is part of the national crisis
It is now an established fact that the obesity epidemic is the root cause of the explosion of a variety of chronic ailments, including hypertension, cardio-vascular diseases, type two diabetes and more. And this is not just a personal issue to be dealt with by suffering obese Americans, even though overweight people should be cognizant of the fact that they will probably live a shorter life on account of the ailments caused by this condition.
The issue is that this obesity epidemic is a gigantic public health problem with enormous public policy and financial consequences. Yes, treating all those obesity related chronic illnesses costs hundreds of billions of dollars every year. Yes, obesity is a significant and growing factor in the staggering increase of US health care costs.
Americans need to be educated about healthy life style habits
The American people need to be educated on how to adopt a healthy life style. This would be extremely good for each individual, as it would vastly improve the quality of their lives, while it would at the same lighten the burden of an overtaxed health care system.
Quite frankly an obese president Christie, regardless of his competence and abilities, would send the message that the obesity epidemic does not matter, and that we can just carry on in our process of steady self-destruction via bad diet and no exercise.
If Christie were the only viable candidate, this would not matter
If most people were confident that Governor Christie, whatever his eating habits, is absolutely the smartest Republican available, then these public health/role model, issues could be discounted. But, with due respect, this is not so.
As for the Governor, for his own health, he should change life style. If he did, he would live a longer life, most likely with fewer ailments. Not to mention that he would provide a better role model for his New Jersey constituents.
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