Good or bad, right or wrong, I don't think America will elect an extremely overweight president.....

[Logical]

It might not be fair, but looks matter more now than ever. Health is a big issue also. And appearance is a big deal on TV and in public.
So I would be surprised if Christie enters the race. I bet he is thinking about 2016 so he can drop some pounds and Obama isn't running.

[provis99]

1. America won't elect an extremely overweight president?

William Taft, 27th President of the United States, and a 335 pounder in the White House:

[Deep13]

3. No TV then. nt

[provis99]

4. they sure did have pictures, though.

and campaign posters.


incidentally, I typed William Taft and fat into Google, and several pictures of Chris Christie popped up.

[Raine]

20. Campaigns didn't start as early then and a poster is not equal to 24/7 cable coverage. nt

[provis99]

22. that's really weak, dude.

[Raine]

25. That's reality

[Logical]

6. Times are different you know. Maybe you don't know.

[dsc]

24. fashions change

while I won't say that being obese was ever in, in a fashion sense, it was far less out back then. Fashion has gone thinner and thinner even as America has become fatter and fatter. The ideal for women in the late 50's early 60's was Marilyn Monroe who would be considered fat by fashion standards today. I really think someone as obese as Christie would have a very difficult time winning a Presidential campaign.

[Kurovski]

27. Being big was the goal. it meant wealth and health.

Seriously, it was a plus. So to speak.

EDIT: in Taft's era.

[dsc]

32. amazing how fashions change

being pale, and fat was a good thing back then now it is about as bad as possible in a fashion sense.

[Kurovski]

34. It always reminds me of the Oscar Wilde sentiment from The Importance of Being Earnest...

when one of the characters refers to how women were wearing their chins that season.

He got it.

[Deep13]

2. true nt

[quinnox]

5. To many people, fat equals lazy and a gluttonous person

Its an unfortunate truth that many people view fat people in a negative light.

[Logical]

7. I agree. Bad stereotypes. Not fair.

[elfin]

8. Oh, yes, they might

After all a "huge" proportion of the US is overweight, and an obese candidate could appeal to them as someone just like them. They could identify with someone struggling with the issue, yet accomplishing despite their size.

[Kurovski]

11. Really though...people want a super-hero looking pres.

Of course, the Republicans own the voting apparatus and we can't see inside the gears (trade secrets) so Chris Arbuckle might just get "ushered in" if they really want him.

[Kurovski]

9. They won't vote for a short one either. We want a comic book spokesmodel for the USA

We're big, fucking idiots.

And you know it.

[Logical]

13. I agree. Looks should not matter at all. But this is a shallow world now.

[Kurovski]

15. Think if Kucinich was...at least our Vice-President for gods sake.

[Vincardog]

10. I believe his policies and rabid RW agenda are a bigger problem than his girth

[Kurovski]

14. He calls far righties nutso. He distances himself regularly

He's won the so-called :eyes: "common sense" vote already.

[Vincardog]

17. The RW nutz also call BO a LEFTY. When their lips move they LIE

[rusty charly]

12. He can't lose the weight. He's tried.

"New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie admitted yesterday that he doesn't make New Year's resolutions to lose weight anymore because he never sticks to them."

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/chris_fat_chance_9xfKyhxh0Td2uEwJeE61iK

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. He couldn't make it through a full campaign schedule

not a knock on his weight, he's just not fit enough to keep a rigorous pace.

In Taft's day the pace was much slower.

[WCGreen]

31. He literally sat on his porch and Hanna pulled all the weight, so to speak..

they would just take him out every now and then to give a speech.

Some say that the election of Taft was the first modern election in the US.

Hanna was the Karl Rove of his day. Everything about him is gooey except the theater he built on Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland. It's now a wonderful venue to see Shakespeare and classic plays performed by wonderful actors.

[Nye Bevan]

18. Could Hillary be elected?

Would Kim Kardashian make a better President?



Appearance isn't everything.

[Kurovski]

23. Derp.

Millions vote merely on appearance alone. And all those six-figure handlers know it, even if you want to pretend otherwise.


Sec. Clinton is what central casting calls "presidential". Kimmie is not. Kimmie is already perfectly cast as a diet-and-pantie saleswoman.

[former9thward]

26. She could have been elected in the 90s

She can't be elected now. Age has taken a toll.

[Wwagsthedog]

19. William Howard Taft

[Raine]

21. No cable TV covering him 24/7 showing him from every angle huffing & puffing nt

[Kurovski]

28. You don't want us to repost everything that's already been posted on taft up above, do you now?

:D

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. You are probably right.. At an earlier point in time it happened. But these days the candidate

needs to look like they stepped out of GQ. But as far as Christie is concerned - he has other problems with the GOP base. He supports gay civil unions. He supports tougher gun control laws. He supported the lower Manhattan Islamic Center. He cannot win the Republican nomination - even if he did look like he stepped out of GQ.

[BlueIris]

30. Sadly, I have to agree. While I do not feel a candidate's weight should be an "issue,"

I was just thinking how unlikely it is we will ever elect an overweight (or underweight) president because of widespread weight predjudice and the obsession with thinness.

[spanone]

33. well, we elected a stupid one, why not an obese one?

[Kurovski]

35. Are you trashing our folksy, imaginary beer drinking partner?

Just where do you...why I oughta...the noive!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

36. because obesity is easier to judge. nt

[Kurovski]

37. Actually, Bush was not elected. Some say once, but I say he was never elected.

I Always forget that, since almost no one wants to talk about our stolen voting process.

But I'll never end with the constant self-righteous divisive diversions. Well, I guess it gives the illusion that we are somehow still free in at least one sense. I keep forgetting.

Boo hoo. and Owie-kazowie