The 'fat guy' won in NJ and that is huge

November 4, 11:45 AMSpiritual Life ExaminerRabbi Ben Kamin

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The skinny out of New Jersey last night is that Republican Chris Christie defeated incumbent Democratic governor Jon Corzine in the latter’s bid for reelection.  True, there was some discussion during the campaign about the recession, leadership skills, and the fact that New Jersey has its highest unemployment rate in three decades. 

Maybe that is why Governor Corzine saw fit to run a series of television ads that pummeled and demeaned Mr. Christie for his weight.  Chris Christie, like so many Americans, is overweight.  Key words were chosen in the text of sarcastic announcements, along the lines of, “Isn’t this election too weighty a decision for the people of New Jersey…?”  Video imagery of Christie climbing out of his automobile, with the camera mercilessly focused on his stomach, jowls, and even his buttocks, were shown to the television audience.

Gov. Corzine even admits to calling Chris Christie a fatso.

The Business Insider reports this morning that Gov. Corzine even admits having called Chris Christie, now the first Republican to win statewide office in New Jersey in decades, “a fatso.”  This is shameless, schoolyard behavior that demeans any serious debate of the social issues that plague our society and trivializes a real health concern that afflicts this fast-food, sugar-consuming, languid nation in need of leadership.

The same publication, incidentally, along with others, speculates that the defeated governor may quickly return to his previous digs as a corporate executive at Goldman Sachs.  Obviously, everyone has an appetite for something,

We cannot help but note with relief here that Gov. Jon Corzine survived a devastating traffic accident on April 12, 2007 on the Garden State Parkway, while traveling in a state vehicle at excessive speeds (90 mph) and not wearing a seat belt.  In fairness, he endured a painful recovery, including the use of a breathing tube and the refitting of several broken bones.  His behavior was deemed reckless and he paid his medical bills himself.  He also made a couple of television spots exhorting New Jersey’s young people not to act as he had.

Time for a new ad, Mr. Contrition?  All politics aside, using state office to degrade a person for his or her weight also adds up to state wreckage.

Image: Gov.-elect Christie and family (AP)

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