That's absolutely right, Rupert Murdock, new owner of the Wall Street Journal as well as owner of Fox Noise, wrote a 1400 word article on this very subject in the WSJ. I couldn't make this stuff up.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.gossip.celebrities/browse_thread/thread/05673cecc6cacbb4
This isn't meant as a fluff piece or satire but it's a news article actually saying that the electorate may not be comfortable voting for someone who is too fit to be President. Since 66% of Americans are estimated to be overweight, obviously a "skinny" candidate isn't "one of us", right?
What do you think? Should be be wary of voting for someone who is too healthy, spends too much time at the gym and actually doesn't eat a lot of junk food? Geesh, what a horrible example to set for our children!
Annie
[question posted by anniepa]responses and comments:
Being too skinny is not a reason not to vote for anyone. Unless the vote is for the heaviest person in the room. Then sure don't vote for him. [shrashira]
agree with you. but sometimes,you know,if that person is not strong in physical condition.i don't think he's strong. vladmir putin is like a president. [xialinye]
ROFLMAO!!!!! Well, annie, you'll be happy to know I dug up the actual article you mentioned, instead of the clips the link led me to. I had hoped you linked the entire article but anyway, here it is: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121755336096303089.html I honestly think it was a tongue in cheek kind of thing. Incidentaly, this is something campaign managers and personal think about. Why do you think they had Clinton out jogging? Why do you think Obama quit smoking, at least around people, I don't know, maybe he really did, even if he didn't no big deal to me, I smoke myself so I sympathize with him on that one, especialy durring something as stressfull as a campaign. Also, Managers look at what a candidate eats in relation to the population's state of mind and lifestyle. Several good examples of that is even given in the piece, the sections your link left out actualy: "Sen. Obama's chief message strategist Robert Gibbs served as Sen. Kerry's press secretary during the cheesesteak debacle. A few days later at the Iowa State Fair, famous for its deep-fried Twinkies and beer booths, Mr. Gibbs noticed Sen. Kerry buying a $4 strawberry smoothie. He made a frantic call to campaign staffers: "Somebody get a f-ing corn dog in his hand -- now!" or this example: "Sen. Obama drew cringes on a campaign stop in Adel, Iowa, in July 2007, when he asked a crowd of farmers: "Anybody gone into a Whole Foods lately and seen what they charge for arugula?" The upscale supermarket specializing in Organic food doesn't have a single store in Iowa." Anyway, it wasn't an article saying he's too skinny to be president, just one anylizing how it effects his campaign and that food, believe it or not, is something campaign organizers take in to consideration as part of how people percieve a candidate. [xfahctor]
Thanks for providing the link to the actual article. I couldn't find it this morning when I posted this but I may have been half asleep and I'd heard commentators on several stations talk of this as being a totally serious news article. I'd also heard of the incidents you mention above and personally I could care less what kind of lettuce a candidate prefers or what he wants on his cheese-steak but I guess it's important to some people. I know I've already visited places far from home and had a difficult time deciding what to order when eating out because every region has its favorites and to be honest I'm not a very adventurous eater. I can really sympathize with a candidate who is faced with pretending to enjoy some food item that he or she really didn't care for or had never tried before so he doesn't offend anyone. Annie [anniepa]
My dislike for Obama has nothing to do with his weight, health, skin color, eye color or his name. It has to do with who he is and what he stands for. I'd think that anyone silly enough to base their dislike on what someone looks like is pretty shallow...I'd suggest ppl do some research on him and then decide. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~ [twoey68]
I agree, everyone should always do some research on whoever they intend to vote for for something as important as President of the United States. I've done so and there's no way I could ever vote for McCain. Annie [anniepa]
I dint think Blair was a fat man-great leaders dont just throw their weights recklessly-but I know he will e the tallest and most intellectual leade of the whole world! Tall me Any Preseident as Tall as Obama and I will show you a long list of Presidents as short as McCain! [academic2]
the article was not at all making that point when you read the whole thing though, while I agrea, we have had some pretty short, fat, tall, skinny presidents, etc, the article wasn't saying that. [xfahctor]
I dint think Blair was NOT a fat man-great leaders dont just throw their weights recklessly-but I know he will be the tallest and most intellectual leader of the whole world! Tell me Any Preseident as Tall as Obama and I will show you a long list of Presidents as short as McCain! LOL! [academic2]
They have simply gone beyond sick in judging him. What will they come up with next? He's too tall, one too many kids, too family oriented, or too happy even. It's hard to believe that they are stooping so low. [Rozie37]
I do not see where I have judge anyone. All I said was that his weight should not be an issue. [Rozie37]
He is s bit skinny and my wife and I have commented on how frail he looks, but I can't believe they wrote a freaking article talking about it. I wonder if anyone wrote articles about how overweight Taft was back when he was president. [Taskr36]
That's really interesting. I never studied Taft that much. I just knew that he was by far our heaviest president weighing over 300lbs for a time. I'm not saying Obama is frail, but at times he looks it. [Taskr36]
I read the entire article. It is just as silly as the link given by Annie. His weight, his dedication in going to the gym, his quitting smoking, and his screwing up by asking if anyone has been in a "Whole Foods" lately, are all shallow reasons to consider, or not consider, someone for president. He is too fit! He is too popular! He is too. . . blah, blah, blah! When will we start talking about what really matters? Obama has the values many of us do. He has goals, for our country that are necessary for all of us if we want to see a turn around. I hope we are not a nation easily influenced by these "negatives" in Obama's character. [fiona08]
I thought you were being sarcastic, based on your other responses, but it's good to have it confirmed. :) It's nice to know there are a few of "us" out here! LOL [fiona08]
holy cow! is that ever absurd! where do they come up with these wacky ideas? i guess that he must think that other than being too thin or fit, mr obama must OTHERWISE be the PERFECT candidate. i don't follow politics like should - i know, i know - 40 years old - and you don't make informed decisions about who's running your life? but - anyhoo - i like a lot of what obama has to say - he can joke about real life, and because he's young, and uh-oh in good shape - we probably won't have to sit and worry about our president's heart, or colon, or whatever may crop up that may keep him from doing what we hired him do... [RedFeather]
AWESOME, right? [skallagrim]
I may have read the wrong article (mine was by Amy Chozick, NOT Rupert Murdock). I'm pretty sure it was meant to be ironic! The article criticized from every angle, I'm not sure it was possibly serious. [soooobored]
Oh my God! I was laughing my a** off from the title through to the end! But really this isn't a laughing matter, is it? How pathetic we truly look to the rest of the world when a so-called "news" caster takes himself seriously with crap like this in his portfolio. Makes me want to cry. But wait, I'm re-reading your title. TOO SKINNY! Hahahahahahahahahahaha! LMFAO! Now I'm going to go read the article. Wow. [devylan]
That is just too funny. I've never thought of him as too skinny. I think of him as skinny, but I know he is very lean and must eat right to do that. People don't really want changes that they think will hurt them... like what if he were to (kidding) to close down all the McDonald's, and all the fast foods in the country... or What if he were to make it mandatory that all tobacco products will be taken off the market and we are demanded to get healthy. I'd love it.. actually... well the tobacco part anyway... but people want someone like them who will be tolerant to their bad habits. [OreoCookie3]
I love how you added "kidding" in parentheses about closing down all the Mcdonald's! You almost have to because next thing you know there'd be a post about Obama wanted to outlaw Big Macs. Seriously, can you even imagine if someone tried to close down or outlaw fast food joints and business software cd burning? THAT would be the one thing this nation would unite against! In my opinion I think when there's "controversy" over what a politician eats or even what foods he or she talks about that's just so silly! Let's face it, we live in a very big country with many different regional cuisines. To be offended because someone doesn't like the same thing to eat that we do is about as mature as I don't know what! It's all good for a laugh though. Annie [anniepa]
lol Now, are they grasping for straws or what?? What some people will do to make others look bad. They use to make fun of Clinton for his stops at McDonalds, now this lol. [ZephyrSun]
This is ridiculous. I suspect, that he said that because he can't say "Obama is too black to President." without sounding racist, but we know that what he's thinking. The idea that Murdock owes The WSJ is scary for me. Not that paper was ever progressive anyway. [cripfemme]
It is exactly this kind of reporting that is making a mockery of our whole election process. Senator Obama should be lauded and praised for his ability to stay fit and keep himself in pristine condition. [Smith2028]
What on earth has a mans size got to do with whether or not he makes a good candidate, I thought what was'in his 'brain was more important than the fact that he is slender and not obese, healthy and not gasping for air as maybe the over stuffed McCain is. Wow and he doesnt eat junk food, how awful, and sets a good example for all our fat american kids terrible. i suppose an overweight man with a three peice suit and a history of heart problems is more what our americans want, I just do not believe this years campaign.its ridiculous, preposterus and silly to boot. A thinking person would vote for Obama just for the fact that he is healthy and takes care of himself. isnt that what we want to teach our kids, and maybe ourselves too? [Hatley]
What a silly article! I'd rather vote for a president who's fit than one who's obese! That way I won't have to worry about his health. I think Obama really is fit. The way he takes care of his body s a reflection ofg how he'll value the health of his countrymen (I hope!). [mimico]
Now, for once, I'll agree, that's stupid! [ElicBxn]
Well, Rupert Murdoch isn't exactly known for his rational thinking, is he? Has he actually checkout our past Presidents? Ones that come to mind are: Abraham Lincoln (hmmmm - now there was a pudgy fellow!), John F. Kennedy (looked pretty fit to me, and was physically active in more ways than one whistle ), Lyndon Johnson (not athletic, but definitely not overweight), and, of course, James Earl Carter (not exactly my idea of a large man at all). I mean, is he looking for another Taft who once got stuck in a bathtub??? Or is he just running out of things to find fault with? confused I'm going to try to find the original article. I've got to see how this oaf can justify this argument! blink [jerzgirl]
Well, don't go beating yourself up over it. He didn't prevent the op-ed piece from being published and he hasn't taken a stand against it, so he might as well have said it. I just wanted to find the original link to share with others and really had to dig through quite a few things to find anything not on a blog or message board. They have made it "disappear". [jerzgirl]
Hi annie, Of course Mr. Murdock is absolutely right, who could vote for someone who sets such a good example? There are all sorts of things being said about both candidates, like McCain being too old to be president, or Obama being too inexperienced, but this is certainly the best. I guess the race is all over now that everyone understands the real reason that Obama shouldn't be President. Blessings. [Pose123]
Here's another way to look at it - if ever there were a problem that could be easily solved for most of us, it's the problem of being too skinny! I'll have to invite him to my house and give him some of my good cooking and I'll have him fattened up in plenty of time for November...lol! Annie [anniepa]
Too many news outlets,too few stories.I aspire to sit around all day and over-analyze the news.My level of confusion has reached new heights,because I think that there may be a valid point here. There were times in the past when I couldn't tell the difference between the Republocrats. Now I have a tool,when the coin flip fails, to make a decision. [john_galt44]
Every day there is something more stupid than the day before. Lets hope that America is not this stupid. The "dumbing down" of America is just a shame. [zydecokitten]
I have seen Barak Obama up close and personal when he was in our town. Shook hands. He is slender and tall but looks very nice in a suit! I never once thought about him being too skinny or that his being thin would have any effect on the voting public. I think he looks very nice. I still don't know whom I am voting for, but I kind of like the idea of a healthy president. It is always amazing how much they age and how tired they look after four or eight years in the white house. [Annie2]
Let me "weigh" in on this. Yeah I'm lame...LOL Anyway, I don't see this kind of media nit picking about McCain. Is it just me or is it getting annoying on the Dem front. I wish the media could just stick to the issues at hand. If he was too fat they would have something to say about that too. In this society, you just can't win. If your too fat or too skinny then you are chastised. I wonder what the ideal size is??? [skinnychick]
It is good when the President is skinny then when he goes into the White House and becomes fat then the citizen of the country will see that the only thing that the president is after is money.lol Our ruling party in my country they were opposition for eighteen years. They were droppy and skinny and now all of them is FAT. I call them the FAT CATS, while the citizens of Jamaica is getting skinny and mad because of the cost of living that is rising very second. This is what you can used to gauge and grade them. [kerriannc]
Too skinny? I can see being too fat but too skinny? That makes no sense. Are Americans that insecure that they won't vote for a fit, smart candidate? The last time I checked both candidates aren't fat or stupid.Neither will pass the " Bar-B-Que test." you know, would you invite the candidate to a bar-b-que?So if the public is looking for a fat dim witted person to vote for, this time they are out of luck. In fact the last fat president we had was Taft. FDR wasn't skinny but he wasn't fat either was Clinton.Both bushes are average and so was Nixon, Ford, and Carter. [sarahruthbeth22]
Some people would write anything! That is crazy. I cannot believe the things people think up. [Thoroughrob]
I think xfahctor took the literal wording of the article and it does appear that the message is that the foods one eats can affect the perception of the public. I can't help but to feel there is a between the lines, insidiousness to the article. It's passively aggressive. I'm not a paranoiac, but I can feel a hidden message coming thru. I thought FOX's "War on Christmas" crap was tongue in cheek til I saw O'Reilly go off the deep end a couple years in a row. When it comes to Murdoch, I always expect something under the table. Here's a terrorist fist bump to all those out there with low body fat...LOL. By the way, I'm a born and bred Philadelphian and my native reaction to Kerry's asking for Swiss cheese on his Pat's Steak was one of horrified humor. The Philly boy in me said, "What a shmuck!", while the miniscule health conscious part of me said, "Swiss is better for you than that crappy Cheeze Whiz!" [calcynic]
PS...To Xfahctor: I'm not trying to put words in your mouth or tell you what you're thinking...It's just what I gleaned from your post. [calcynic]