'Today' Show Panel Wonders if Chris Christie Too Fat to Be President
Update [12:28 ET]: Full transcript added.
On Thursday's NBC "Today," co-host Savannah Guthrie asked a panel of guests about the possibility of New Jersey's governor entering the presidential race and observed: "There's kind of this conventional wisdom among the political chattering class that someone as heavy as Chris Christie-" Dr. Nancy Snyderman interjected: "As fat as he is." Guthrie continued: "...would not be elected." [Audio available here]
Fellow panelist, attorney Star Jones, chimed in: "You are so sweet the way you put that. You're really asking us will America elect a fat president?" Later in the discussion, advertising executive Donny Deutsch fretted: "If he's [Christie's] not disciplined enough to keep himself healthy, is he disciplined enough to make the tough decisions for our country?...if he's not in charge of himself, can he be in charge of country?"
View video after the jump
Prior to Barack Obama promoting morbidly obese government from the Oval Office, "Today's" Matt Lauer gushed over the President-elect's physique in December of 2008: "And fit to serve, Barack Obama photographed shirtless in Hawaii and a lot of women are giving him the presidential seal of approval."
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On Thursday, Jones argued the importance of a candidate's appearance as she proclaimed: "...if we look back to history, if you look at like Nixon and Kennedy, America looked at the two of them, one looked like the little troll from the Lord of the Rings and the other looked like Harrison Ford."
Before Deutsch questioned Christie's ability to be president, he did highlight the Governor's positive attributes: "I think now that people are looking for the quintessential outsider, the quintessential non-politician." Guthrie asked if Christie's weight could "add to his authenticity?" Deutsch declared: "I think it does. 'Wait a second, he doesn't look like a politician....he looks like me.'" Jones dismissed the idea: "But we want a healthy government, we want a healthy person."
Moments later, Snyderman gave her diagnosis of Christie: "Well, he's not healthy. I mean, he's probably pre-diabetic. If he doesn't have high blood pressure, he soon will be....He's morbidly obese, so I can tell you he's not healthy....Do we want our leaders to look like us? If so, two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Or do we want a leader to lead in a different way?"
Here is a full transcript of the September 29 discussion:
9:09AM ET
(...)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I want to move to another pretty controversial topic. Chris Christie, New Jersey's governor, is all in the news this week and there's speculation yet again that he may get into this presidential race, no matter how many times he's denied it. But it does raise a question. There's kind of this conventional wisdom among the political chattering class that someone as heavy as Chris Christie...
NANCY SNYDERMAN: As fat as he is.
GUTHRIE: ...would not be elected.
STAR JONES: You are so sweet the way you put that. You're really asking us, will America elect a fat president?
GUTHRIE: Well, Star, you said it.
DONNY DEUTSCH: Yeah, what do you think? What do you think?
JONES: What, as the resident used-to-be-fat-girl?
DEUTSCH: Yeah, I mean, you know.
JONES: Honestly, there's a lot of prejudice against people who are overweight. People who are overweight or obese or grossly obese.
SNYDERMAN: But does it get in his way of becoming president?
DEUTSCH: No, I'm going to flip it-
JONES: I actually do think, if we look back to history, if you look at like Nixon and Kennedy, America looked at the two of them, one looked like the little troll from the Lord of the Rings and the other looked like Harrison Ford.
DEUTSCH: I want to give – but I want to give the opposite perspective. Traditionally, obviously there is a bias, but I think now that people are looking for the quintessential outsider, the quintessential non-politician-
GUTHRIE: I was going to say, does that add to his authenticity?
DEUTSCH: I think it does. Wait a second, he doesn't look like a politician. He doesn't-
JONES: But we want a healthy government, we want a healthy person.
DEUTSCH: No, that's another issue, he doesn't look – he looks like me. But there are two down side issues. Number one, can he handle the physical rigors of a race? And number two, and this is – please, I'm not taking a knock at overweight people because a lot of people have health issues – if it's not something where he can't control it, if he's not disciplined enough to keep himself healthy, is he disciplined enough to make the tough decisions for our country? You know, it's self-discipline. And once again, people who struggle with weight have struggles but you kind of go, 'Wait a second, is he really – if he's not in charge of himself can he be in charge of country?'
GUTHRIE: Is it a health issue?
SNYDERMAN: Well, he's not healthy. I mean, he's probably pre-diabetic. If he doesn't have high blood pressure, he soon will be. I'm sure his knees hurt, his feet hurt, his hips hurt.
JONES: I can guarantee all that.
SNYDERMAN: He's morbidly obese, so I can tell you he's not healthy. But it's interesting about leadership. Do we want our leaders to look like us? If so, two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Or do we want a leader to lead in a different way? And I think we some – we've blurred the lines with that.
DEUTSCH: Yeah, we've blurred the lines, there's two sides to it.
GUTHRIE: But if we vote for people based on cosmetics, I mean, you have to ask yourself if that's what you get?
(...)
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Comments
Donny Deutsch's non
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:35am.
Donny Deutsch's non sequitural remark just shows how illogical the man is.
Hmmm...liberals won't make fun of Muslims, gays, et al but fat people are fair game? Especially fat conservatives? It's the season of intolerant tolerance.
Donnie took over his daddy's
Submitted by Gat New York on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:41pm.
Donnie took over his daddy's agency even though his daddy did not think much of him. And the only reason Donnie was able to grow his agency was because of some partnerships he had along the way.
His remark about Christie's weight is ridiculous. Would they remark about how skinny Obama is and could be borderline anorexic? Or how big Obama's ears are? Or how Obama loves junk food and still smokes cigarettes? Talk about a complete lack of discipline.
Donny Doosh: Mr. Self Control.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:43am.
LOL.
They don't think very well of Americans, do they?
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:55am.
Do this idiots think that Americans are so shallow, so image obsessed, that we'd reject a candidate simply because of their weight? Only narcissists think like that.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
In one word the answer is
Submitted by okie-pastor on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:05pm.
In one word the answer is Yes. They feel they have supported a black man to be president and thereby have Moral superiority capital to spend, why not look down from above on Chris Christie. While you nor I would never mock Obamas skin color, or his children. The left believes conservatives deserve these insults therefore it is conservatives fault that the left insults them. That is the logic of the left.
I don't usually comment on
Submitted by Darth Dutch on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:55am.
I don't usually comment on NB, but after reading the quote of: "...if he's not in charge of himself, can he be in charge of country?", I had to.
I distinctly remember when Clinton was in office and had his daliance with Monica, many people, including me, were asking how we can trust a man who would lie to his wife to not lie to the American people, and isn't it a reflection of his judgement, and how many people rolled their eyes saying that someone's personal life has no affect on their political life and we should stop being judgemental. And these are the same people now making these comments about Christie and questioning his discipline.
I think Christie should lose weight for his own health, much less for some political reason, but it is incredibly hypocritical of these women to say that.
Darth Dutch
Oh yeah. Bubba was in control ... of his zipper.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:09pm.
Did I hear any of these blabbermouths ask about Bambi not being able to quit smoking? I can't remember that coming up except in the context of, "He's really trying hard to quit."
Did anyone ever ask, "Is Obama too black to be president," or better yet, "too stupid?"
Maybe the ladies on MSM shows would like for us to go to a "short arms inspection" of the candidates so they can determine who the "better man" really is?
I'll take smart and fat anytime over skinny and fascist stupid.
Yeah I'll take fat guy over......
Submitted by FistsforLiberty on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 2:54pm.
A sexual predator any day.
Double Standard and Hypocrisy
Submitted by Dominus providebit on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:59am.
Hypocrisy is the ONLY entity in the liberal and progressive movement that has truly become transparent. This tells me that a Republican is free game and that political correctness only applies to minorities, liberals and progressives. Do these kinds of people think that regular Americans do not see this obvious double standard? They, the media and liberals, need to start looking at their own polls and ratings.
Michael Moore: "Most Americans look like me"
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:02pm.
So what's the problem?
Or is there good fat and bad fat?
And he isn't even running!
Submitted by DumbCanuck on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:09pm.
Can you imagine what would be said by these douches if Christie actually threw his proverbial hat into the proverbial ring?
"There... Are... Four... Lights!"
And yet
Submitted by Marsh on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:16pm.
these three panelists cast a vote for the obese Al Gore.
I am amazed...
Submitted by c5then on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:16pm.
That this vapid, leftist show is still on.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
no control
Submitted by ferv888 on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:23pm.
Shut up Moochele and get me another SMOKE
FERV888
are their heads too fat...
Submitted by SouthJersey1953 on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:36pm.
...to be talking heads?
I was disappointed to see a
Submitted by TerryWest on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:59pm.
I was disappointed to see a poll on Fox online yesterday posted front center where real news usually is placed.
The tabloid approach to minimizing someone considered a threat is expected from main stream snickering tabloid journalist and leftist shows, but to find it next to Iran's missile threat was disturbing.
Fox Poll:
Do You Want a Fat President or a "Thin" President?
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/09/28/do-want-fat-president-or-thin-...
Let's reword
Submitted by StarAZ on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 2:50pm.
How about a sickly thin, spindly guy with long spidery fingers for president?
You mean this guy?
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 3:21pm.
You mean this guy? http://www.alienjigsaw.com/images/SBC_2_15July11.jpg
Aw
Submitted by StarAZ on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 3:23pm.
I was too subtle once again. LOL.
Chris Wallace Republicans "Waiting On Godot"
Submitted by laree on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:15pm.
Imus Guest Chris Wallace The GOP & The Theater Of The Absurd.
What is behind the draft Governor Chris Christie Republican push?
Mitt Romney can't poll above 25% that leaves 75% who want someone else for their Presidential nominee. Chris Wallace, made reference to the Republican base "Waiting For Godot". The play by Samuel Beckett, that is performed in the Theater Of The Absurd. The Republicans still haven't found who they're looking for.
Herman Cain endorses Romney while he's running against Romney in the primary - that's absurd.
The GOP needs to get their act together.
We've had portly Presidents
Submitted by rbosque on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:19pm.
We've had portly Presidents before and the did OK.
They're vetting Christie over petty and idiotic things... Why didn't they ask serious questions about Obama BEFORE he ran the country into the ground?
Yet the Marxist Media elites just love
Submitted by Bodini on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:19pm.
their fellow pigs like Nancy Grace and tout how great the little dough-boy, fudge-packed, political genius Barney Frank is, not to mention the late great, compassionate, icon of flab, Fat-Teddy, the Killer from the USA's Royal Family of Kennedy.
Would this conversation be
Submitted by guein on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:21pm.
Would this conversation be out of place if the setting were changed to say...a high school lunch room. Imagine the cool, attractive kids getting together to rip on their less popular, unattractive class mates.
"As it turns out, adult life is just tall grade school." - Dennis Miller
Brilliant!
Submitted by GONAVY on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:31pm.
This group of Mensa masters are absolutely brilliant. I guess the smoking, lung cancer, heart disease thing just slipped their attention. What a group of hacks. Corzine went down this road and look how well it worked for him.
I don't care...
Submitted by UltraC on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:32pm.
... if my president is fat or skinny.
... if my president is black, white, hispanic, asian, or some other ethnicity.
... if my president comes from money or not.
... if my president is male or female.
... if my president is straight or gay.
I just want somebody that's competent.
we can nominate a man or
Submitted by sometimesright on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:35pm.
we can nominate a man or woman, christian or mormon or muslim, liberal or conservative BUT if he/she's heavy well then we'll just have to reevaluate the candidate. these jokers are fishing since they don't want to talk about the O's failed presidency.
donnie
Submitted by D'saredumbpeople on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:54pm.
what a spoiled buffoon...you can tell the spoiled lefties in the dark..... thanks to daddy's business he's not working at 7-11..that star jones looked in the mirrow lately.
donny
Submitted by D'saredumbpeople on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 1:55pm.
he's a male version of MIKA....enough said.....
Did anyone ever bring up Clintons weight when he first ran?
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 2:19pm.
He was quite the fattie-but NOOO, that couldnt EVER be mentioned, because hes TRYING! They only brought it up when he started hitting on the fatties! But its cool, right, libs? I want my President to be PRESIDENTIAL! I dont care if hes 150 lbs, or 450-which is what Christie jokes that he is. He DEF has the 'TUDE to be a KICK-ASS Pres, but he DOES have some liberal demons internally he has to sort out. Otherwise, as someone whos met him and knows of him, he would be LIGHT YEARS better than this yutz, but then again, ANYONE would!
One question
Submitted by telecaster on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 3:03pm.
Who are these losers? Economy in the tank, an proven incompetent in the WH, another at the DOJ, unemployment over 9%, Arab stupidity, European stupidity, and on and on. These rocket scientists want to talk about Christie's weight? Television is an absolute wasteland. KILL YOUR TELEVISION!
Transcript correction
Submitted by Model850 on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 4:20pm.
I think this line is wrong:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I want to move to another pretty controversial topic.
It more accurately should read:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I want to move to a petty topic.
Nancy: DON'T make a complete ass of yourself and the profession!
Submitted by drsamherman on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 4:34pm.
You are the chief medical correspondent for a network that has done multiple pieces on eating disorders arising from media imagery. You are not a psychiatrist, but an ENT surgeon. Stick to your specialty, madam.
Not only should you know better, but you are coming dangerously close to pandering our profession for your personal agenda.
Stick that in your ear and remove it through your feet, dear.
The answer to Gutherie's
Submitted by sharonspt69 on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 4:39pm.
The answer to Gutherie's question is a resounding HECK YEAH!! that's all you get. We have a president who every chance he gets he waves his hand in peoples faces, a wife who every chance she gets she shows her arms, goes from table to table telling people what to eat. What have the looks gotten us?
William Howard Taft
Submitted by Dr. Sandy Kramer on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 5:14pm.
Governor Christie's total lack of telegenicity eradicates any realistic chances of electability. Politics aside, Christie's no William Howard Taft.
Dr. Sandy Kramer
It's a good thing....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 5:53pm.
for TV hosts there's no limit on being shallow, vapid, or vacuous.
Sadly, if Christie were a
Submitted by Reaver on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 6:08pm.
Sadly, if Christie were a democrat this same panel would be talking about obesity prejudice and whether America’s obsession with skinniness would cost him votes.
The old "Some say..." tactic
Submitted by krendler on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 6:08pm.
Gee, never heard any of the dingbats on the Today Show say...
"Some say Hillary is too fat and ugly to be president..."
or
"Some say Michelle Obama despises the United States too much and her ass is way too large to be a first lady..."
Can you imagine
Submitted by peteydee on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 7:19pm.
the group sitting around and talking about an obese liberal woman in such a manner?
Next they will say Herman Cain is tooooo black to be president.
Can you imagine
Submitted by peteydee on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 7:18pm.
the group sitting around and talking about an obese liberal woman in such a manner?
Next they will say Herman Cain is tooooo black to be president.
Would they ever dare say that
Submitted by eaglewingz08 on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 8:21pm.
Would they ever dare say that Chaz Bono or Kirstie Ally were too fat to be on Dancing With the Stars? Never. What happened to all that non judgmental nonsense that spout like Old Faithful from liberals' lips? They are just so filled with self righteous venom, and hypocrisy, it's a miracle of God that they don't spontaneously combust.
Donnie the bitch
Submitted by americanjarhead on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 10:42pm.
What if...... Chisty was black and fat ?
Since you asked.
Submitted by Beukeboom on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 11:30am.
http://www.nflpassers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/fat-albert.jpg
;-)
Too fat? Too
Submitted by Trix Rabbit on Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:26pm.
Too fat? Too undisciplined?
Sometimes, you really have to wonder how people like Michael Moron, Tingles Matthews, and yes Donnie Douche have a certain ... uhm ... condition ... that made them that way.
Granted there are genetic disorders and glandular problems that affect approximately 0.0001 percent of the people who claim to have them, but for the rest, you really have to wonder ... Has "salad" ever been mentioned?
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"
For the love of Leon.
Submitted by Karma on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 8:37am.
It appears Leon finally found his soul-mate in Nancy Snyderman.
Ah,
Submitted by Boudin on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 9:00am.
Very good,,,,,,,,,, ol timer
Ah, yes, it must be the
Submitted by michael lofrano on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 10:46am.
Ah, yes, it must be the season of wondering. I, myself, was just wondering if Savannah Guthrie is too stupid to be a talk show host.
To okie-pastor
Submitted by Virginia Pappy on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 10:56am.
Right on the money there, Rev!
Can't mention skin color, middle name, Connecticut Social Security Number, kids, relatives, Solar Power firms....my, but the list goes on.
Well, let me step up here and ask if the need for two 757's with fighter support and Secret Security detachments are necessary because there's trouble in Camelot, or there's a weight problem if Chelle gets on with everybody else. What's next? Is Air Force Two gonna be a C-5A?
Enlarging the staged photo of the Target shopping bags shows boxes of Little Debbie's.
Christie's wrong on too many issues to be my guy. I don't care if his butt is the size of New Jersey. But if we are gonna discuss weight problems, they've got the wrong size rump cohabitating the White House. (Senator Ted Kennedy was unavailable for comment.)