Can we can the "Fat Hastert" jokes?

OK, we all see Dennis Hastert is overweight. Yes, media imagery sets up overweight as ugly, disgusting, an indication of personal weakness, etc. But that's not a fair image, and we shouldn't go along with it. Most overweight people struggle to be thin - partly for legitimate reasons, and partly for this media frenzy. The struggle often drives people to viciously destructive eating  disorders and even for the rest creates unfair self-loathing and body image problems. We shouldn't enhance that.

Dennis Hastert's weight, whether choice or biology, has nothing to do with his fitness as Speaker. He's an evil man, yes. He still supports the War in Iraq. He supports torture. He undercuts our Constitution. He protects sexual predators and encourages them to run for Congress. Attack him for that. Don't attack him for an irrelevant physical characteristic shared by tens of millions of Americans.

•  Thin myself, but this is wrong

  by curtadams on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:28:35 AM PDT

  •  As a formerly fat person, I agree.

    As a formerly fat person, I agree.  I've been thinking that I should speak up, but I haven't.  Thank you for doing so.

    by Bearpaw on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:30:58 AM PDT

    •  As a formerly fat person...

      I couldn't care less.

      Just me.

      by chuckles1 on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:53:08 AM PDT

  •  I had gastric bypass three months ago..

    ... as a person with a family history of obesity [including some family members who were 'super-obese' like-you-see-on-Discovery-channel types] - who was on "weight control watch" the entire time I was in the military, who has been on anti-hypertension meds since I was in my mid-twenties, and who finally got approval from my insurance company for surgery after 20 years of failed diets/pills/medically supervised wieght loss...

    I can tell you there are just as many mean, greedy, shallow, out-of-control, putrid and rotting-inside people out their who just happen - because of genetics - to be predisposed to a thin body.

    So, yeah - let's focus on Haster's actions rather than his DNA. For shit sakes - we can all agree that being GAY is factored by genetics, and it's unacceptable to make fun of someone's sexuality ... but their freakin' body size is fair game?

    Sounds like G.O.P.-style hipocracy to me -

    by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:05:02 AM PDT

    •  As I mentioned downthread

      I can't beleive that this diary was even necessary, although I'm glad someone said it.

      Come on people - your're supposed to be PROGRESSIVES. That means not being predjudiced about things that don't matter.  People are fat for all sorts of reasons, and it really isn't any of our business; it's their PUBLIC ACTIONS that are our business.

      Can we can the predjudice against people's weight, and focus on criticizing their actions?

      And Jesus H. Christ - why do we even have to waste time SAYING such obvious things here??

      by ChaosMouse on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:07:53 AM PDT

  •  Can I still call him

    Chair of the "Poster Child for Sex Without Partners" caucus?

    by LunkHead on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:04:06 AM PDT

•  I could care less that Denny Hastert is

  an obese tub of lard who needs a forklift to get out of bed in the morning.

  by nicejoest on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:29:43 AM PDT

  •  and you are a child...

    are you in 8th grade on the playground or something?  

    The diarist is completely right, we make ourselves look foolish with this sort of crap.  Grow the fuck up and pick on hastert for substantive reasons.

    by Jambro on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:35:19 AM PDT

    •  Hasterts

      Hasterts so fat that his cerial bowl comes with a lifeguard.

      by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:50:12 AM PDT

      •  Do Grow Up

        by Alegre on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:23:50 AM PDT

  •  So prejudice is ok?

    because that is what it is... or do you not think so?

    by Brother Dave on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:43:25 AM PDT

    •  Don't know that anyone will ever read this,

      but 24 (plus) hours later, I'm not really proud of what I wrote. I just saw the diary there and couldn't resist taking the cheap shot. I don't feel really bad about it--it's hard to feel any pity for Hatert--but I probably wouldn't do it again.

      by nicejoest on Sat Oct 07, 2006 at 09:00:57 PM PDT

•  the focus should be on his actions

  or lack thereof.  there's plenty of fodder there.

  by 73rd virgin on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:30:47 AM PDT

•  I agree n/t

  by takeback on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:31:43 AM PDT

•  I also agree

  That grease-guzzling, lardass, beached whale blubberbutt,waddling sack of fat Hastert has more important issues than a few extra ounces. Besides, he has a metabolism problem, he doesn't eat too much.

  by AWhitneyBrown on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:35:52 AM PDT

  •  There was a SNL skit

    where he is in the background while Bush is giving the State of the Union speech and Denny boy is pillaging a bag of Doritos and dozing off afterwards...got to admit it was funny...

    by surferal on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:54:28 AM PDT

•  I agree. Looks and weight don't matter.

  Get over it.

  by DABush on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:37:07 AM PDT

  •  yes...yes they do!

    This is completely IMO:

    When I see a relatively unkempt Congressman, specifically his weight, I also (right or wrong, I cannot help it) "see" a man unable to control his greed, his arrogance, or his emotions.

    I think there are myriad assumptions one makes based on appearance, and when I look at Hastert, the overweight, sweating appearance he portrays tells me he lacks control of MANY things, outside of his appetite. FWIW, I think he's looked very unfavorably b/c of this weight issue.

    by topicalstorm on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:48:35 AM PDT

    •  Yup.

      And guess what, that makes you a fucking bigot.

      Sorry to be the one to break it to you.

      by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:11:49 AM PDT

      •  color me...

        ...a bigot then.  Hastert's a greedy fuck, be it money or food or power or arrogance.  For that I make no apologies.

        by topicalstorm on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:14:51 AM PDT

    •  So do you cross the street...

      when an African American approaches you on the street?  Do you think that your country club has the right to bar membership to Jews?  Do people with southern accents strike you as less intelligent?  You surely must belive that Asians are smart but terrible drivers!  Oh it must be pleasant to be able to draw so many conclusions about a person by their looks or speech.  How is it to be a bigot, because you are one?

      by Brother Dave on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:48:21 AM PDT

      •  Tell it, Brother!

        by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:57:35 AM PDT

      •  How dare you

        accuse me of being a racist, a anti-semite, a Klansman, and god knows what else!!!

        Seriously, STFU.  This is outrageous.

        I don't like Hastert.  My point was that his weight, and his overall appearantly poor health, leads some of us to believe he isn't serious about his health and fitness.  I made the connection that such an apparent disregard for the health of his body may lead many, like myself, to question his committment to the health and fitness of our country.  Shorter--if he cannot control himself, how does he exercise control of his greed and arrogance?

        I'm NOT saying all overweight people are bad, mean, lazy, etc.  And--Jesus--I said NOTHING of anyone else.  I find your accusations thereof to be cruel and hostile.

        by topicalstorm on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:59:12 AM PDT

        •  Deal with it.

          You're a bigot.

          by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:01:36 AM PDT

          •  Just STFU. Please.

            You toss around insults like they're candy.  Your inability--apparently--to read my explanation above is evidence that you're hear just to infuriate others; you care not a whit to understand what I said.  I'm not hear to converse with name-callers.  Good day.

            by topicalstorm on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:09:02 AM PDT

        •  When you ascribe...

          charchteristics to the "other" you are a bigot!  And the one who should STFU is the one that does not recognize this important distinction in prejudice.

          by Brother Dave on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:17:45 AM PDT

      •  you compare obesity to race?

        And this ladies and gentlemen is how the Politically Correct Left lost the arugument and the country.

        by El Perro Patron on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:30:44 AM PDT

        •  No I do not compare obesity to race...

          the same way I do not compare gender to race, sexual orientation to race, or disability to race, or religion to race, or ethnic differences to race, or any thing else that distinguishes as different.  I do however make efforts not to use language that is offensive to others becuase that is a step towards prejudice.  When I can assert a negative or suspecious quality to a person for superficial reasons and not the content of their character, I am doing soming wrong.  It is not political correctness gone amiss it is humanity trying to be lived in the best way possible.  Quit trying to look for excuse for treating people badly for shallow reasons.

          by Brother Dave on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:54:06 AM PDT

    •  Say

      You say, "I think there are myriad assumptions one makes".  Please say "I" instead of "one" and own your projections.

      --Fat, unapologetic, liberal Dem here.

      by Blissing on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:07:33 AM PDT

•  Even if it's a funny joke?

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by Inland on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:37:53 AM PDT

  •  I'm OK with an occasional joke

    I'm no PC Nazi, by a long shot. But we've already had plenty of jokes, and it's mostly just snide and hateful.

    by curtadams on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:00:31 AM PDT

•  handsome is as handsome does

  I think when you really despise someone's actions and what they stand for, you come to despise their appearance as well. If a person is loveable and kind, you love how they look too, or you just don't notice or care how they look.

  I think that's where all of this hateful "fat" talk is coming from.

  During his press conference yesterday I looked at him carefully and noticed something sad. He really has a hump in his upper back, and can barely move his head around in a normal way. I wonder if he has osteoporosis. Also his breathing is shallow, a bit gasping, it seemed to me. Certainly he has the appearance of someone who doesn't exercise or take care of himself.

  by sillia on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:38:47 AM PDT

  •  Third in line

    I also noticed his labored breathing and how incredibly unhealthy he appears to be during his PC yesterday.  It occurred to me that he is third in line behind Bush and 5-heart-attack-history Cheney.  I believe we should consider health as a factor in our leadership and it is truly frightening what the health status is of our line of succession.  It actually makes me glad to think of that footage of Bush out biking all the time.  If anything were to happen, our next-in-lines appear to be dangerously unfit, physically speaking.  It is a bit scary.  

    This is also going to be a consideration for McCain, I believe, if he runs.  I have been told by people active in politics that McCain's health is mediocre, at best.  It could hurt his chances if he comes out as a strong candidate next year, which inevitably takes a toll on the health of those running, considering the major demands physically and mentally.

    I wish them all good health and long lives, even given their awful political stances, but I would like to see health as a priority for our leadership.  We could certainly use more good examples.

    by Pennsylvanian on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:51:03 AM PDT

    •  Some people would argue that ...

      ...Mister Bush's obsession with exercise betrays a psychological condition (and an addiction) that is as unhealthy as Hastert's obesity.

      by Meteor Blades on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:57:18 AM PDT

      •  Agreed

        I think Bush has more psychological issues than pathological issues, so I am not concerned about him dropping dead of any physical ailment anytime soon.  If only Bush were as interested in the fitness our country...

        by Pennsylvanian on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:20:42 AM PDT

    •  And that...

      ... is a way to address Hastert's size without going down the purile & infintile "Yo Mama's So Fat..." road.

      Yep, an overweight, weezy, pasty-faced and bloated looking man who is thrid in line for leadership of our country should be an issue.  The issue is not constructively addressed by talking like third-graders on a playground.

      by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:14:49 AM PDT

    •  I agree

      ...I would like to see health as a priority for our leadership.

      I would like to see it as a priority in our schools, in our grocery stores, in our mega food conglomerates, in our factory farms... I'd like to see it everywhere.

      And not just because the media tells me "fat is ugly." Fat is unhealthy. It costs more money to be fat. It costs society to be fat, not only in doctor's bills, but also in lost potential.

      "Healthy" people come in all shapes and sizes, but focusing on being healthy is pretty scatter-shot in our society, even within us as individuals.

      Cheers

      by Still Thinking on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:21:48 AM PDT

      •  The "obesity" epidemic

        is due to our food "products".  
        My kids' elementary school is on a big kick for the "Box Tops for Education" program this year, bribing the little ones with bracelets for every 25 of these things they bring to school.  I'm going to look for a link to the products that carry the symbol, but the one they sent home is nothing but crap food.  Cake mixes and frosting and cereal and "prepared" foods.  All the stuff that is not only bad for you, but expensive as all get-out.  Just another way of getting their customers young.

        I went out and bought a package of the bracelets for my daughter who is most interest in the whole thing.  She shouldn't be left out because we choose to eat more healthfully than the crap on the list.  I've also requested a breakdown of the money the school gets from this advertising program.

        by PsychoSavannah on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:33:22 AM PDT

        •  Kleenex are now on the list

          Just don't eat them! :-)

          I agree totally with your post.

          by Still Thinking on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:45:44 AM PDT

          •  Yep :-)

            Here's the list of stuff....even the "disposable" stuff drives me nuts!

            http://www.boxtops4education.com/...

            by PsychoSavannah on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:47:12 AM PDT

            •  Pillbury flour used to have box tops, not anymore

              I guess it might be used to make something healthy!  The prepared Pillsbury products like cookie dough & biscuits are on the list though!

              by matx on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:24:02 AM PDT

              •  Old El Paso Salsa, a few of the cereals

                (heck, Cheerios aren't THAT bad), some low fat mixes.... (or I think they might have NO FAT angel food mix). So there are a few decent choices.

                It is disgusting, but for some school districts, they actually get some useful stuff. My son's school got some computer software and a couple of document projectors...

                Not trying to justify corporate America, but just sayin....

                by nicejoest on Sat Oct 07, 2006 at 07:40:34 AM PDT

        •  And kids are vulnerable...

          ... research is starting to show that our bodies digestive and nutritional systems reach a sort of maturity way before puberty, and that what we eat [actually, are fed] as children can set you up for life for the type of body you will have.

          And, as we all know, you could set a toddler down with a pound of sugar and they would sit there and eat the whole thing, if unsupervised.

          Once your body has adapted to one set of nutrional habits, it becomes close to impossible to correct.  Add to that any genetic predisposition to maintain calories as fat rather than burning them off, and you have an obesity epidemic.

          I read once that there is actually a higher probability that someone could kick heroine cold-turkey & unaided that for a person who is significantly overwieght to lose the excess weight and keep it off for 5 years, even with medical help, short of surgery.

          While medical science may know a lot of things, I think we are still in the dark ages when it comes to nutrition, weight and long-term, chronic disease.

          by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:47:17 AM PDT

    •  Maybe they did consider it

      Cheney is #2 (heart condition), Dennis Hastert is #3(well, he is overweight, which carries health risks),  Ted Stevens is #4 (he's a bit long in the tooth)and #5? Condoleezza Rice!

      by matx on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:13:05 AM PDT

•  if the

  if the man can't respect his own body, how can I expect him to respect anything else?

  by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:42:00 AM PDT

  •  Would you say that about...

    John Goodman, Mama Cass, Michael Moore ....?

    by jct on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:50:16 AM PDT

    •  yep

      yep

      by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:52:16 AM PDT

      •  Then with all cordiality

        Fuck you.

        by boadicea on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:56:45 AM PDT

        •  right

          right back at you slim

          by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:59:41 AM PDT

          •  Some words to the Wise

            I am a Human. Until every person sees themselves first and foremost as a human we will have strife, war, racism, etc etc.

            Until everyone sees themselves as brothers and sisters of the same species, wanting the same things, we will have this same old millenia of problems.

            When you label yourself ANYTHING, you limit yourself.

            People will label themselves as a jewish american, or a black muslim american, then when other people limit and stereotype you because of your self imposed definition you become angry.  Why not see yourself as a human. All other details are just that, just little details.

            Wow, who said THAT?

            by boadicea on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:11:24 AM PDT

            •  Oh snap!

              Live by the keyboard, etc.

              by Still Thinking on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:22:59 AM PDT

            •  Beautiful

              by Alegre on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:27:30 AM PDT

            •  yep, I said that

              So?  Haster is a human that is fat,  someone asked me a question and I answered it.  In my opinion MY OPINION I think people should themselves first and foremost, allowing your body to go to hell in my book is not self respect, just my opinion.

              by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:47:08 AM PDT

              •  typo (should "respect"themselves first and..)

                by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:48:13 AM PDT

              •  So you didn't mean your essay then

                Good to know.

                by boadicea on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:51:04 AM PDT

                •  i sure did

                  I sure did, I just don't accept "fat" as a character trait.  You can't choose you skin pigment, you can't choose where you were born, you can choose however whether to get up and excercise.

                  by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:01:07 AM PDT

                  •  It is not always that simple.

                    You really should reread that essay. It contains some good stuff, which you are completely undermining by clinging to your prejudice here.

                    by boadicea on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:03:01 AM PDT

                    •  I think

                      I think we are talking past each other here. I don't disrespect the average person just because they enjoy food or are over weight, Hey to each their own, but we are talking about the Speaker of the House, this man needs to be held to a much higher standard.  Our leaders should be people we aspire to be, and in Hastert I see a man I neither respect for mentality, spirituality, or physically in so much as the way he treats his body.

                      As for everyday life, I agree 100% that calling someone fat in public is ridiculous, we all have our problems,  but if you plan to lead me and represent me, well then you better be damned prepared to be scrutinized for every flaw.

                      by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:27:02 AM PDT

                      •  You included more people than Hastert

                        in your list.

                        Tell me, where do you draw that line on the scale?  That line where what a person does no longer matters to you-only what they weigh.

                        by boadicea on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 12:10:27 PM PDT

              •  Hypocrite

                that is enough said.  Human aonly by the standards you define I see!

                by Brother Dave on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:51:45 AM PDT

        •  At least you didn't comment on his looks.

          Because THAT would be rude and uncalled for.

          by Inland on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:00:38 AM PDT

      •  Then you sir

        ... are an ass.

        by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:57:45 AM PDT

    •  I would tell them

      to put down the ham sandwich and grab a salad.

      Oops, too late for Mama Cass

      by El Perro Patron on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:34:04 AM PDT

  •  Because the focus is not always the body...

    you moron!

    by Brother Dave on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:49:57 AM PDT

•  Nope.

  Sometimes, people are obsese because they struggle with their weight and are genetically inclined to being obese.  For those people, it's a daily battle to lose the weight and improve their health.  I wish these people all the best.

  Sometimes, people are heavier than the "governmentally defined accepatable weight" and are perfectly happy with their size and health.  More power to them.  The world is a better place when we have all sorts of people.

  Sometimes, a person's rediculously overweight size is a physical indication of their gluttonous, never satisfied, always-wanting-more personality.

  Dennis Hastert is a fat gluttonous power hungry pig who is never satisfied with how much he ingests - whether it be deep dish pizza or the powers he inhales at the expense of the well being of children.

  He's a big fat cat tub-of-lard fatty fat fatty.

  And he is a disgrace to his office.

  by mikel1814 on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:42:40 AM PDT

  •  Deep Dish Pizza

    And you know this... how?

    by Alegre on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:28:30 AM PDT

  •  Enlighten me.

    Based on your stated postition here, explain how you're any different than the ignorant assholes who make n*g*er jokes.

    by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:52:57 AM PDT

    •  you compare obesity to race?

      And this ladies and gentlemen is how the Politically Correct Left lost the arugument and the country.

      by El Perro Patron on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:36:16 AM PDT

•  You're right. I hereby withdraw my...

  ..."Will he have Princess Leia on a Leash?" comment just prior to his press conference yesterday.

  by dov12348 on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:43:01 AM PDT

•  I'm not so sure about that

  Its one thing to pack on an extra 10-30 pounds.  Its quite another to allow oneself to become MORBIDLY OBESE.  It betrays a lack of self control. An inability to resist the temptation of immediate gratification to the detriment of one's own health.  Addiction to food is no different than addiction to alcohol, gambling, porn, danger, etc.

  Look, my three favoite things to consume are pizza, beer and chocolate.  I could eat and drink them everyday.  But I don't. Why? Because I don't want to look and feel like Hastert.  I have self control and respect my body.

  by El Perro Patron on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:45:13 AM PDT

  •  Many people who overeat are ...

    ...like addicts in that they can't stop. Unlike alcoholics or cigarette addicts, you can't go cold turkey on food. Recognize, too, Perro, that different people have different metabolisms, and as you age, you may or may not find it so easy to keep those pounds off, whether you respect your body or not.

    by Meteor Blades on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:54:53 AM PDT

    •  myth

      http://www.cbass.com/...

      and there are plenty more new research to show that the metabolism cop out is just a myth.

      by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:07:14 AM PDT

      •  And you got your MD from where..?

        by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:16:42 AM PDT

        •  md's

          md's, since when does a doctor know anything about nutrition?  I think they are no required to take 1 , that's 1 course on it.

          As a former competitive bodybuilder I know a few things about sculpting, metabolism, fat, muscle etc and the human body.

          by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:51:29 AM PDT

          •  and this...

            As a former competitive bodybuilder...

            explains quite a bit, I think -

            I guess since you are free to make assumptions based on someone's appearence, I am free to assume that all those steroids you must have taken have somehow impeded your ability to reason clearly?

            I mean, since body appearance is clearly the definitive marker of moral and mental 'fitness', then I can assume that some pea-brained, obviously steroid-poping muscle-head is, indeed, a pea-brained, steroid-poping muscle-head?

            by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:33:39 AM PDT

      •  That's what I believe as well

        if metabolism was the cause of obesity, then why isn't it a problem equally across the globe?  And why are people in the US, especially kids becoming fatter and fatter? Are you telling me that more and more or born with a "fat gene?" This makes no scientific sense. No, the reason we are getting fatter is we buy more processed fatty fast foods and spend more time in front of a desk or television.

        period.

        by El Perro Patron on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:17:16 AM PDT

        •  News for you..

          ... there are fat people in every country, not just the US.

          The less developed the country is, the less food, so of course you have fewer fat people.  But you can find fat people almost everwhere you go.

          Are there lots more in the US and the developed world? Sure - logically, there's lots more food here.  Are some people fat due to genetics, while some are fat due largely to poor eating and exercise habits? Absolutely.

          But unless you have magically developed the ability to tell who is fat due to heredity vs habits, snarking on someone for their weight is somewhat like snarking on someone for any other genetic factor.  

          by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:25:25 AM PDT

          •  Bingo

            But unless you have magically developed the ability to tell who is fat due to heredity vs habits, snarking on someone for their weight is somewhat like snarking on someone for any other genetic factor.

            We accept the realities of genetic diversity in everything from height to skin color but if you're fat you're automatically a morally flawed loser and worthy of derision on that basis alone.

            The self-justification of many on this thread only underscores the bigotry at work.

            by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:38:50 AM PDT

          •  sure?

            yeah the animal kingdom is just full of FAT creatures?!? Nature did not intend for its creatures to be FAT, for the sake of being fat.  Large and powerful for sure, but if they are fat there is a survival reason behind it, in our case it is just the opposite, fat increases the likely of death , going against evolution.

            by pissedpatriot on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:55:22 AM PDT

            •  No, "moran"..

              .. fat storage increases the likelihood of survival in any famine condition, as probably 95% of humanity has periodically experienced throughout evolutionary history.  That we now live in an era of excess caloric availability, where reduced physical activity is socially and financially rewarded, is actually the anomaly.

              Are you really that out-of-touch with history to make that kind of stupid statement?

              by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:19:36 AM PDT

            •  BTW -

              ever been to the zoo?  Seen the animals there..they are much 'fatter' that counterparts in the wild.  In fact, zoological nutritionists are often consulted to deal with the problem.

              Oh, I guess those 'fat & lazy' animals should just be ridiculed ... if they are too 'weak-willed' to stay trim.

              Geeze...

              by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:22:42 AM PDT

          •  yep, more food = more eating

            overeating leads to obesity, not just genetics.  I'm not saying genetics has nothing to do with it, but you can't just blame genes.  Most people can drink alcohol in moderation and not have it affect their lives adversely. Some people cannot.  It is up to those people to avoid drinking.  It takes will power, not sitting back and whining about being a victim of one's genes.  Sorry if the truth hurts here, but obesity is on the rise in America due to behavior, not genes.

            by El Perro Patron on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:55:34 AM PDT

            •  It's not just behavior

              The white flour, white sugar, corn syrup...all the processed foods that are the cheapest things in the market...the quality of food for the average person is going down in this country.

              Without high quality protein in the diet, people become addicted to the sugars...the more they eat, the more they eat.

              If any of you have ever been to a food bank or worked in a food bank, you would be appalled at what is given out to the poor in this country.

              I DON'T think Mr. Hastert's problem is the quality of his daily fare...he is the epitome of "fat cat", whatever the reason for his weight.

              by trinityfly on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:12:27 AM PDT

              •  yep, perfect example of a gout patient

                don't they call that the rich man's disease because it is caused by too many rich and fatty foods?  This is a man who can afford to eat like a king, and obviously does.  Check out paintings of people from hundreds of years ago.  Who were the fat and obese? The rich, that's who.  Hastert is the epidomy of the fat rich aristocrat. I agree that the nations poor eat high startch and high fat diets.  Perhaps that's all they can afford.  But it doesn't disuade from the fact that it is the types and amounts of food eaten, not just genes.

                by El Perro Patron on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:22:25 AM PDT

      •  A woman's metabolism on average...

        ...declines by 2-3% per decade, partly due to less activity but partly due to muscle loss that is a natural part of aging. For men, the percentage is somewhat less. The body's hormone levels - in both men and women change - and this DOES affect metabolism.

        Depending on your genetics, some (but not all) of that muscle mass may be retained by maintaining physical activity at the same level as when you were young (which is easy for some and harder for others - like those with joint and other problems, some of which are caused, ironically, by intense physical activity at a younger age).

        I'm not arguing that an overly sedentary lifestyle and gorging on pizzas are good things. But judging people on such matters - without knowing the personal circumstances - is a tad harsh, especially when we have their perfectly awful politics to judge them by.

        by Meteor Blades on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:36:58 AM PDT

  •  For many people

    with morbid obesity its not a choice.  Many are dealing with severe endocrinological imbalances, insulin resistance, heart problems, depression--the seeds of which feed into weight gain, with weight gain then fedding the underlying illnesses.  I think you would be surprised at how many larger people don't eat pizza, beer or ice cream (at all, let alone daily), and at how many are perpetually dieting.  A lot don't lose weight except by having large portions of their gut removed surgically.

    The self control myth is fallacious and very hurtful.  Be glad you have good genes and the stamina to exercise and keep them expressed.

    by barbwires on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:06:42 AM PDT

•  Probably...

  ...around the same time we can the "fat Limbaugh" jokes.  I'm not as much bothered by it here than I am when I see it coming from the likes of Keith Olberman and other high-profile individuals.  It seems that the overweight may be the last group that even "good liberals" are allowed to be bigoted against.  

  by Bill W on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:45:17 AM PDT

  •  Yup

    It its sadly rampant.

    by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:18:53 AM PDT

•  I admit to writing Hastert shouldn't be around

  kids because he might crush them. That was wrong.

  As much as I detest Coulter--the "really a man" jokes are wrong, the Rita Crosby/Robert Kennedy Jr voice jokes when they do have a physical disorder (spastic dysphonia), and so on are wrong.
  Even saying that Bush looks like a chimp is wrong because it does insult the intelligent chimpanzee.

  I don't like getting into physical appearances. Once I mentioned I was quite short and someone on Kos used it to insult me when he didn't agree with an opinion I had. I also have spastic dysphonia and it can be torture getting the words out without sounding like a cold is coming on all the time.

  Sure some say, "Don't be so sensative..." but why should we? That is the trouble with the world--we aren't sensative ENOUGH in regards to each other.

  Good reminder, diarist.

  by vassmer on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:46:36 AM PDT

  •  Ed Schultz...

    ...does a spot-on Rita voice.  It's like a hoarse man is trapped in her stomach, producing all the audio coming out of her top hole.

    by topicalstorm on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:51:33 AM PDT

    •  I don't know how she got

      to be a TV journalist with that horrid voice of her's. I don't think it's the disorder vassmer mentioned though, she just has a bad voice. And it is supremely annoying to hear--the sound of a freight train is Mozart to my ears compared to her voice pollution.

      If I was a TV News executive or radio, she would never have been hired with that voice. She should have been a gossip columnist at the New York Post since that's all she covers anyway...

      by michael1104 on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:56:55 AM PDT

•  Interesting Topic

  About 5 weeks to the biggest election democrats haver faced in decades and today's diary topic is????

  That's right, "Stop Being Mean To Worthless Republican Scum"

  That clown is a poster child for everything the GOP stands for, Greed, Corruption, Lying, Pedophilia, and Racism and I need to worry about being scolded about making fun of his weight???

  How's this? When Hastert starts giving a Sh%T about anyone outside his corrupt circle of asshats then I'll worry about whether or not I call him a 400-lbs sack of donkey excrement. Deal?

  by savvyspy on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:50:46 AM PDT

  •  Stop being mean to the millions

    Who share the characteristic you mock.

    by curtadams on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:03:02 AM PDT

    •  You have my answer

      I'll stop being "mean" to Hastert when he starts giving a crap about America.

      And you're going out on a HUGE limb assuming 1 million overweight Americans want you to lump them in the same catagory as this GOP scumbag.

      by savvyspy on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:26:31 AM PDT

      •  Lump Me

        Feel free to lump me in with the fat human category.

        by Blissing on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:13:02 AM PDT

      •  I call him a traitorous warmongering pedophiliac

        And you accuse me of not being mean enough? I have to call him a fat traitorous warmongering pedophiliac or I'm going soft?

        (pedophiliac = somebody who likes pedophiles, not a pedophile himself)

        by curtadams on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:54:09 AM PDT

        •  Yes & No

          On Regular People (fat or non-fat): You are being the mature and more compassionate person in this exchange and it is favorable evidence to your good character. Although, I would probably never tear a regular person down because of their weight either.

          On Worthless Traitorous Warmongering Pedophiliacs in the House Leadership: Yes, I think you're being soft. I don't give a rip what anyone calls this clown and frankly, he can rot before I worry about him for 2 seconds of my life.

          The second the GOP sold out to Karl Rove, the "religious right", and the NeoCons is the day my compassion for ANYTHING republican left the building.

          by savvyspy on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 12:54:57 PM PDT

  •  This is NOT about being mean

    to Republican jerks.

    This is about mocking people for a physical characteristic that has NOTHING to do with their actions.  We have no idea why Hastert is fat, and frankly, it's none of our business.  His public actions are out business - why can't we stick to them?

    How about we start making fun of Rice for being black, and use some racial slurs?  Is that okay? I mean, she's  a pretty bad person, and she happens to be black, so why not make fun of her blackness?   Or how about we make mysoginistic jokes about Republican women?  That okay too? I mean, they do bad things - so why not make some vulgar jokes about their anatomy?  If other women and black people are made to feel bad by having to listen to - or in this case, read - juvenile insults about blackness and femaleness, well too bad, right?

    There are plenty of nice, fat people in this world.  Being fat does not make someone a bad person.  How about we concentrate on what DOES make Hastert a bad person, instead of something irrelevant?

    What really astounds me is that this point even needs to be made on a progressive blog, where people are supposed to try and get beyond superficial insults, and worry about what matters.  I have news for you - Hastert's weight is not what matters.

    by ChaosMouse on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:03:01 AM PDT

•  Fuck Hastert (figuratively speaking, of course)..

  by darthstar on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:52:40 AM PDT

  •  This isn't about Hastert

    Its about the millions of people who are not Hastert that get have to deal with the hateful prejudice being pertetuated.

    by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:21:43 AM PDT

    •  I understand that.

      by darthstar on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:23:27 AM PDT

•  Sorry, the image of a pumpkin rotting gradually...

  ... from the inside, then abruptly imploding in one swell 'floop', is just too timely and compelling.

  No aspersions on overweight people in general, but Hastert is the perfect visual emblem of an institutional pattern of deferred maintenance run amok.

  by RonK Seattle on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:55:40 AM PDT

•  It's true, Hastert's weight is of concern

  only to himself and people trapped in his gravitational field. And to Fermilab, which complains that his prescence in Batavia affects  their experiments. That said, people are keeping on topic.  

  IMO, if you want to see dKos people throw off restraints, put up a criticizing diary specifically on the subject.  It's waving a red flag at the bull.  It's about Hastert, not about his failures, and jokes and snark fill a vacuum.  Meta off.

  by Inland on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 08:56:52 AM PDT

  •  So, please do share your own personal flaw...

    You know, the one you really struggle with and never seem to get ahead of. The one that your friends who pride thenselves on their compassion snicker about-- but never to you, because you're one of "the good ones". 'Cause, you know, I can probably come up with really degrading fucking jokes about it. Come, share!

    No? No flaw like that? Then STFU.

    by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:27:25 AM PDT

    •  Mine is DailyKos

      OK, Friday half-snarkiness. Sorry! I'll STFU and GBTW now. :-)

      by Still Thinking on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:29:40 AM PDT

    •  Hey, show me Hastert struggling with anything

      and I'll give him props for the effort. I don't understand the concept of assuming that because a person is fat that he struggles with his weight.  By which I mean getting rid of weight.

      As for my friends snickering about my flaws behind my back, you might note that I'm snickering about Hastert's flaws behind HIS back.  Snickering behind my back, hey, that's what friends are for.  If they were really serious flaws, my friends wouldn't be my friends or they would do an intervention.

      Meta on.

      But somebody is taking it personally, or more likely, somebody is taking it as an opportunity to be a hot steaming Pile O'Outrage and take the moral high ground over someone like me on an idiotic question.  There's about as much chance as my showing up to a Purity Troll Challenge as there is in Hastert showing up for windsprints.

      Meta off.

      by Inland on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 11:25:29 AM PDT

      •  Not the Purity Troll type

        And I humbly suggest suggest you take a moment read my comments and diaries before whipping out that assertion.

        And you're damn right I take it personally. The bigotry you excuse under the banner of Teh Funny-- the bigotry that suggests that obesity is an indication of anything more than body size-- has real-world consequences that effect millions, myself included.

        by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 01:17:02 PM PDT

•  Bummer

  Hastert is REMARKABLY fat and ugly. That is a fact. Hastert is also a shrub toady, sycophant and major player in the dismantling of our Constitution. Therefore a reasonably inference can be drawn that he's also evil.  But that fact remains that he is a REMARKABLY fat and ugly republican in a sea of physically ugly republican collegues. Sorry if that offends anybody's PCness, but it's the truth.

  by DDA on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:01:56 AM PDT

  •  He's also almost bald...

    ... don't see a whole lot of people goin' to town on him for that, tho'

    Oh ... and he's WHITE, too.  Maybe we should start in with the "Greedy, power hungry White people" jokes.  After all, they did keep slaves, way back when.

    And he's male, and as we ALL know, males are universally self-centered pigs.

    Gee - he has SO MANY negative physical characteristics ... it's just the gift that keep on giving!  We can ignore his ACTUAL failings, and just focus on the easy stuff.

    Isn't that the way we show we're better than they are, anyway??  I mean, Rush has built a whole career on it...

    by Timoteo on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:10:18 AM PDT

    •  Rush

      Now there's a whole other kettle of fish (grin).

      by Alegre on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:33:20 AM PDT

    •  My experience with the KOS community...

      is one that is cynical and cruel about weight.  This community that prides itself on liberal ideals leaves behind its commitment when something as shallow as appearance can drive commentary to be hurtful about members of this community who relate to the comments made.

      Calling Hastert on his weight is not substantive or representative of what is wrong with him.  It is a simple minded and prejudicial means of advancing an argument - one which I had hoped would never fly at KOS.  But our community accepts simple minds as well as wise ones.  Usually simple minded folks are relegated to troll status.  But weight prejudice is the acceptable exception.

      I am fat.  I have heard such ridiculing and punnishing comments my entire life and believe me, I am not affected by them - mostly.  But when I am in an environment where such comments are supposed to be unexpected, I am not offended as mush I am shocked or surprised.  A place where bigotry is not accepted is not where I expected to read offensive and derisive humor about physical appearance.

      Even a body thought to be beautiful can house a sick and bigoted mind, a awful illness, or a pure heart.  Of those, a pure heart is as much a choice as many of you believe the question of body weight is.  When you choose the pure heart - I will go on a diet!

      by Brother Dave on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 10:07:43 AM PDT

•  Hastert Facts

  -His ass has it's own Congressman
  -He has several littler Congressmen orbiting around him
  -He fell in love and broke it
  -He wakes up in sections
  -George Bush told him to haul ass and he had to make 2 trips
  -He went to the pony rides and you could hear the horse under it's breath say "please god no"
  -He wore a Malcolm X jacket and a helicopter landed on his back
  -He's not Speaker of the House, he IS the House

  by skidrow on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:06:11 AM PDT

•  Something for America to be proud of -

  SuperSize ME -

  At least one company is catering to the Murkan consumer crowd!!

  http://greatjohn.com/...

  by FakeNews on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:18:44 AM PDT

•  Absolutely!

  Just because Hastert physically embodies a certain stereotype doesn't mean we should dwell on that.  We should focus on his lying and illegal activities.  There are plenty of greedy immoral politicians who are "trim" and photogenic.  Juvenile name-calling undermines the importance of the real reasons Hastert needs to go.

  by matx on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:27:31 AM PDT

•  I Am Fat...

  ...and I don't mind the joke...just the implication that I share ANY characteristic with that asshat.

  For the record, fat is just a description, like white, wears glasses, etc.  I lost 75 pounds and I am still considered fat.  So be it.  

  Just describe me as that fat, white, incredibly intelligent and intuitive woman over there with grey hair.

  I'm also an engineer, but you wouldn't know by looking...the pocket protector stretches out the cashmere sweater.

  by InquisitiveRaven on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:33:50 AM PDT

  •  I feel for you, Ms Raven

    Our culture is deeply screwed up on the matter and the fat predjudice tends to go double against big women.

    Its saddends me that, in this day and age, on this site of all place, otherwise decent people who abhor racism and sexism nevertheless feel no compunction whatsoever about engaging in precisely the same hateful, shallow categorization errors when it comes to fat people.

    by kingubu on Fri Oct 06, 2006 at 09:48:22 AM PDT

    •  Hey! I Draw the Line at "BIG!"