Do As I Say, Not As I Eat? Questionable Questions Over Surgeon General’s Weight

by Glynnis MacNicol | 2:11 pm, July 21st, 2009

2008196555 It’s hard to know what to lead with here: That people think Regina Benjamin is too fat to be surgeon general, or that ABC News called Benjamin to find out what she weighs (she didn’t return their calls).

The question of whether Benjamin is too overweight to be the nation’s doctor appears to have begun in the comments section of various articles only to be picked up over at Salon’s Broadsheet in a post titled: “Is Regina Benjamin too fat to be surgeon general?”

Salon’s general conclusion is that her credentials speak for themselves. And then there’s this from ABC News:

Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, Obama’s pick for the next surgeon general, was hailed as a MacArthur Grant genius who had championed the poor at a medical clinic she set up in Katrina-ravaged Alabama. But the full-figured African-American nominee is also under fire for being overweight in a nation where 34 percent of all Americans aged 20 and over are obese.
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Bloggers on Salon.com speculated that Benjamin is 40 pounds overweight, perhaps a size 18. The nominee didn’t return calls from ABCNews.com, so there is no information about how much she weighs or her eating and exercise habits.

Does she owe us an explanation? Do as I say, not as I do, must be one of the most sacredly held tenants in Washington. And what of her formidable credentials?

She is an African-American family doctor who has spent most of her professional life serving the people of Bayou La Batre, a poor rural Alabama coastal community. She makes house calls, pays for patients’ medicines, works for free when there is no money. She’s had heaps of honors poured on her head , including a MacArthur genius award.

Can it be this sort of resume is no match for the numbers of a scale? Now might be a good time to point out that none of the last three Commanders-in-Chief have had any military experience. To the best of my knowledge Obama has no idea how to operate any of the equipment our military personnel use despite the fact he is ultimately in charge of all their movements. Is the case of Benjamin somehow so different? If so, perhaps someone should ask Lance Armstrong if he is up for the job.

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3 comments

Janet Goshtaiy says:

July 21, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Fat is last acceptable area of discrimination. You’d be surprised how many people feel that walking up to someone and making pig noises in their face, or commenting about their size is an acceptable behavior. You wouldn’t go up to someone in a wheelchair and say something hateful to them. This woman is well-educated and I’m sure she realizes that her size creates health issues – she’s a doctor!!! But to deny her a position she is overly well-qualified for is sheer discrimination.

Andy LoCascio says:

July 21, 2009 at 4:49 pm

…this is not surprising given the administrations other appointments so far. They are obviously using a phone book, a blindfold, and a pushpin to make these choices. Evidently they are tabbing David Duke as the new czar for ethnic relations, no doubt to be followed by an appointment of Michael Vick (who is now available) as their spokesman for animal rights…

greaterfalls says:

July 22, 2009 at 11:31 am

“…none of the last three Commanders-in-Chief have had any military experience…”

Uh, wait a sec — George W. Bush does, in fact, have military experience as a fighter pilot.

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