It's unreasonable that political leaders suffer criticism about their physical appearance. It it not their job to look like a movie star. Many other leaders have been overweight, and they were respected; weight should not be a judgmental factor. Showing that our country is intolerant of our own citizens will make us look weaker.
This ad reflects a total lack of understanding, empathy and tolerance. No one should be criticized for being overweight. We're all wired to respond to different stimuli -- sex, gambling, alcohol, illegal drugs -- and for many people it's food. I would rather have this problem than some of these other problems. Some of the world's greatest leaders, from Winston Churchill to Ted Kennedy, struggled with their weight. This struggle has nothing to do with leadership abilities. It doesn't translate into a lack of control in any other part of a person's life. In any case, voters identify with people who are honest and open about their struggles. To be cruel to someone because of this struggle is just unacceptable. It shows a lack of understanding about human nature, and about the environment in which we live.
-Andrew Sullivan
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