I don’t like the idea that people in general hate fat people. The only hatred I’ve seen against fat people is by liberals, some of them on this message board*. Usually, the fat guy is the life of the party.
In general, people don’t so much not like fat people as much as find them physically unattractive. And image is a big thing ever since television came in. Politicians aren’t exactly highly attractive, usually, but they have to be of sufficient attractiveness to win. The balance is made between unattractive people, who are assumed to be more intelligent and hard working, and attractive people, who are assumedto be better at everything else. Overly fat people fall outside this range, and that’s where the disadvantage lies. Not in some irrational hatred.
*I don’t remember who, and, as far as I know they’re long gone.
Rubio isn’t just Hispanic, although I doubt that would hurt. He’s Floridian, which helps a lot in trying to pull Florida, and helps a bit in the South. He’s born again (iirc), which will help with the evangelicals, at least to spur turnout. He’s handsome, smart and politically savvy, not an idiot like Palin. He’s an “idea guy”, as I’ve heard Gingrich* billed. And he’s a Tea Party darling. He could probably help Romney more now than in the General Election, but I do think he’d help more than hurt. Still think they’d lose, but the only way Rubio turns down Romney if he offers is if he has plans to try and get the nod himself in 2016, or sees a different path for himself to the White House. (Don’t take any of this as support or endorsement, the guy just comes across as a very savvy political climber; I’ve had a lot of exposure to his tactics and he just destroyed Charlie Crist).
Yeah, again- this is all based on demographics. I understand why Rubio is seen as an appealing choice. It’s not illogical. I’m just saying that I think how much he would help is being overstated. Born again or evangelical and Southern voters go strongly Republican anyway. I’m not sure nominating a Hispanic guy wins them a lot of Hispanic votes given how anti-immigrant the Republican party has become, which is seen as anti-Latino in some quarters. Does he help them in Florida? Maybe we’ll find out.
There’s the big jolly chubby guy who always brings the beer to the football parties, and then there’s the guy so morbidly obese that he can’t walk 100 feet from where his helicopter landed to the stands of a little league game, and needs a limo waiting to take him that far. There’s a big difference.
:eek: Holy shit, if the Republicans can get Big Jolly on the ticket, the Democrats are fucked! The election is right before the holiday season and most stores will already be playing his music–the election campaign practically writes itself. What are the Dem going to do, get Kwanzabot?
I think Newt Gingrich would make a smart choice. He’s taken a lot of heat lately and I certainly don’t agree with him on social issues, but I think overall he would be a better Number 2 than Rick Santorum. Rick Santorum speaks and all the unborn babies cry.
