The Weight of a Nation

I suspect that if you were to analyze early polling data for the 2016 presidential election, you would find that there is an inverse correlation between New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s weight and the likelihood of him becoming the 2016 Republican Nominee. In other words, I predict that the bigger he his, the harder he (his candidacy) will fall.

This week’s Time Magazine makes a not-so-veiled reference to Christie’s weight on its cover. Some political analysts have suggested that the significant amount of weight Christie has lost since having lap-band surgery in February, helped him in last week’s reelection. In fact, some have even hinted that he received a majority of female votes because New Jersey women empathized with his weight struggles.

On the surface, the size of Christie’s waist couldn’t be less relevant to his competence and ability to lead. However, I would be lying if I denied–deep down–having reservations at the idea of the world’s most obese nation electing an obese chief executive. Obesity, unfortunately, has become a quintessentially American affliction. I can’t help but wonder what statement America sends to the rest of the world in the form of the visual image of it’s president.

For example, what, if anything, did electing Barack Obama, a black man with a decidedly non-American name, say to the world about the sensabilities of the American people in 2008? During that campaign, I often made the case that electing Barack Obama would ultimately have tremendous, and long lasting, consequences on the world’s perception of African Americans; consequences that would far transcend politics.

At the time, I envisioned and hoped that the image of a black president would provide a powerful counterbalance to the often negative stereotypes of African Americans that are so broady exported through American pop culture. As an African American, this was of particular importance to me. I don’t think I was alone but, then again, perhaps I was blinded by color.

The larger question still remains, would electing a massively overweight president create or reinforce any American stereotypes? And if so, does that matter?