Enough with the Chris Christie fat jokes

[babylonsister]

http://theweek.com/article/index/252533/enough-with-the-chris-christie-fat-jokes

Enough with the Chris Christie fat jokes
It's immature, and it's ineffective to boot
By Emily Shire | 6:06am ET



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The TIME cover was met with a universal groan. But everyone expects Christie to run with the fat jokes and laugh along. That's because although it is not socially acceptable to publicly mock people for their gender, race, sexual orientation, or even the clothes they wear (see: The female politicians above), being overweight is still fair game.

snip//

And the jokes about Christie get to the heart of another major problem in this country. Everyone knows we have an obesity epidemic. Many people who have never been fat think the key is tough love and shaming people in dieting (see the lady who refused to give overweight children candy and sent their parents disapproving letters). It's why Eugene Robinson may genuinely believe he's doing good by goading Christie.

But anyone who is or has been overweight knows that won't work. Fat jokes only reinforce the discrimination and stigma. As someone who has struggled with her weight from a young age, I have seen first-hand how comfortable people are commenting on your weight, even (and especially) when it's not from a well-intentioned place of concern. But we're expected not to take offense because it is supposed to go without saying that being fat means it's open season for jokes and harassment.

Christie himself knows this, telling ABC, "I have struggled with my weight for the last 30 years on and off, and that's the way it is, and so I think there are a lot of people out in New Jersey who have the same kind of struggle." Not just New Jersey; try the nation.

In fact, what the people making fun of Christie didn't expect is for a twenty-something, socially liberal millennial like myself to find something remotely relatable about him. And I didn't until I became increasingly aware of all the fat-shaming thrown at him.

In other words, political opponents should probably lay off the fat jokes for their sake, not just Christie's.

[zbdent]

1. So now we have to be politically correct?

I thought Repugs hated "political correctness" ...

[zbdent]

2. And will that "political correctness" extend to Hillary Clinton, should she run in 2016?

Somehow, I think there will be plenty of "politically incorrect" statements from the MSM/Corporate in reference to cabooses ...

[EOTE]

11. Yes, republicans don't. We're supposed to be better than them.

If we throw fat jokes at Christie, that makes the GOP's bigotry all the more acceptable. Is that really what we want?

[zbdent]

17. guess what ...

with today's "liberally-biased media" ...

the voting population will likely have 1st graders able to spell Benghazi more than 10th graders who know who was president 2001-2009 ...

[EOTE]

18. I fail to see what that has to do with us not stooping to their level.

Just because the general population isn't that bright, that doesn't mean that we should lower the level of discourse even further.

[JNelson6563]

3. It's so lazy of critics.

Talk about low hanging fruit!

Why not go after him for his horrible views? There's plenty there! And his behavior, my gawd. What an asshole.

Julie

[Pretzel_Warrior]

6. Some would say such obesity is a sign

He has no self control (like Toronto's mayor).

Rightly or wrongly, it will be discussed a LOT.

[JNelson6563]

8. I think his remarks

to that teacher *prove* he has no self control. I don't need a sign.

Julie

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. I'm just pointing out why it will be considered fair game

Along with health concerns about having a morbidly obese president. Clinton was only moderately overweight and was constantly dogged about it.

[Rex]

4. Looks like they are just using a play on words, seems harmless enough.

I see how elephant, instead of gorilla works in this instant. He is a Repuke, after all.

[Vashta Nerada]

5. Isn't the elephant the GOP's mascot?

[JustAnotherGen]

7. That's what I thought

I dont' see what the cover or words have to do with his weight at all. And the reality is - the elephant in the room is a commonly used expression - and one Democratics in NJ (I'm one) are chuckling about - i.e. naivete of people who think this guy can't go all the way in 2016.

[Vashta Nerada]

9. That's the way I saw it as well.

[bigdarryl]

12. ENOUGH with the RACIST!!! jokes about President Obama

Look here is the bottom line the rethugs let this genny out of the bottle about making derogatory statements about a President because he is black so when people on our side make fun of a FAT republican don't get mad that shit ain't going back in the bottle

[Sheldon Cooper]

16. And I would guess that many liberal black people winced inwardly or outwardly

at all the racist comments against Obama. Just like many liberal fat people will wince inwardly or outwardly at the fat jokes against Christie.

When you shame Christie for his weight, you are shaming all fat people, even those who are on your side. You don't get to distinguish between 'good' fat people and 'bad' fat people.

[MissMillie]

13. Obesity is a disease

The new understanding of obesity sees it as a “dysregulation of energy,” he says. It’s affected by genes and the environment; by the brain and the gut; by hormones with names like leptin and ghrelin and other physiology still to be discovered.

The American Medical Association officially recognized obesity as a disease in June, following the World Health Organization and other medical authorities. And as many millions of people know, it can be a very tough disease to beat.

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2013/11/anti-fat-bias-workplace



We wouldn't pick on him if he had cancer, or Lupus, or Crohn's Disease.

[ZomBoy]

15. So true!!

But who want's that to get in the way of taking jabs?

[TheKentuckian]

14. Fuck the Kingpin and his establishment friends and fawners

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