Being in Shape and Running for Office in 2011

Many of us recall the movie, "The Candidate" in which the poverty lawyer son of an ex governor rises up to defeat the conservative US Senator from California and the packaging of that candidate.  The land of the superficial continues today with the analysis of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declining a run for the White House.  We once had a 'fat' candidate who became president in the robust shape of William Howard Taft.  Taft became a likely target for the media at the time and now the 'fat' issue has raised its head with Governor Christie.

The weight of a candidate is certainly an issue. Here we are in the midst of the worst world economy in history and the images of the fat cat candidate is resurrected from the days of Boss Tweed, Grover Cleveland, and Mr. Taft. We in California are all too familiar with image consciousness.  This why we go to gyms and the highways are replete with cyclists and joggers.  We simply do not want a 'fat cat' President.  If we look at the Republican candidate review, the choices are all in decent shape for their respective ages. Our President is skinny as well.

It is ironic in a land marked by obesity in adults and children, that we are so focused on the skinny of a candidate's appearance.  I guess the Fat Cat still is alive as an example of over indulgent wealth despite our nation's hungry consumption of fat enriched fast foods.  It is always interesting to see these svelt wannabe's funneling down all sorts of fattening foods at these country fairs, yet they are all poised and well appointed when they adorn a rostrum.  The marketing of a candidate does not stop at their issues.  The candidate must be in shape to lead the nation out of the muddy morass of the economy as it languishes from 2008.  So one has to conclude that in order to lead, you must either be in shape ala the 'Governator' or be a gaunt Jerry Brown as opposed to a 2011 version of William Howard Taft.