Shields Mocks Christie's Weight: 'Watching Him Get Out of SUV Like Watching Russians Get Out of Afghanistan'

Liberal commentator Mark Shields is hardly the poster boy for health and fitness in this country.

Despite that, the portly PBSer took a cheap shot at Governor Chris Christie's (R-N.J.) weight on Friday's Inside Washington (video follows with transcript and commentary, file photo):

MARK SHIELDS: As for Chris Christie, I mean, I’m the last person in the world who should tell him he should join a gym, but watching him get out of an SUV is like watching the Russians get out of Afghanistan – it took that long.

Yes, Mr. Shields, a guy with more jowls than a Basset hound shouldn't be telling someone else to go to the gym.

Yet the larger point is how comfortable media members are at making such jokes about Christie.

Would they be doing so if he were a Democrat, a woman, or a minority?

As the answer is likely "No," that means Christie's weight is an acceptable target because he's a white, Republican male.

America's tolerance has certainly evolved in recent years, hasn't it?