NJ Governor Race Is One Big Fat Joke; Do Weight-Centric Ads Go Too Far?

by Joe Coscarelli | 1:05 pm, October 8th, 2009

» 2 comments

christie_1902 The New York Times is not happy with New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine, who they charge with exploiting his opponent’s weight on the campaign trail. And to think we thought fat was in. Gov. Corzine’s campaign is currently running a TV spot that features challenger Christopher Christie from a less than flattering angle, and uses puns to highlight his gut.

The ad shows Christie “stepping out of an S.U.V. in extreme slow motion, his extra girth moving, just as slowly, in several different directions at once,” according to the Times. In the voiceover accompanying the clip, Christie is charged with throwing “his weight around” to stay above the law. But that’s not all! And the Times is indignant:

Mr. Corzine’s television commercials and Web videos feature unattractive images of Mr. Christie, sometimes shot from the side or backside, highlighting his heft, jowls and double chin.

Corzine, meanwhile, spends much of his time in public exercising, and his weight jabs seem to be working. According to a poll at a local college, “fat” was one of the first things that came to mind when people were asked about Christie. Still, it’s interesting to see the Times take such offense — enough to fuel a two-page piece — about campaign commercials, which frequently portray opponents in any negative light possible, though their history lesson of politics and weight is well worth a read.

What do you think: Is the Times too sensitive (“all’s fair in love and politics”) or has the Corzine campaign crossed the line? Check out the clip in question below:

Chris Christie, Christopher Christie, fat, Governors Race, Jon Corzine, New Jersey, New York Times

http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

Hello! The New York Times needs to desensitize. Now they want to take exception to political ads based on their ‘thou shalt not insult’ nonsense.

This is politics, not a kindergarten playground, and all is fair in politics. For the Times to waste that much space on a political ad, while ignoring the endless flow of insults and jabs their own columnists produce explains a lot about why the Times is so widely disregarded. It is not the internet, it is their holier than thou attitude towards the rest of us.

If Christie has a problem with the ad, then he can run a response. That is how it works. The kids at the Times need to grow up and step into full adulthood – a place where not everyone is all that nice and insults are more common than compliments.
Katherwaford

I am retired, so I have a lot of time to check out the tv and politic. I am ashamed to be an american. there I’ll say it. I did not know the politics was so ugly, or is it because we have a black President. well if the republican party is a christian party. they have a shitty way of showing it. i KNOW THE LORD IS ASHAMED OF THEM, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BETTER KNOWN AS THE CRYING TAN MAN. ERIC CANTOR WHO IS JUST A DAMNED FOOL. THE OLD MAN MCCULUM BEING A SENOR PERSON IN CONGRES, IS CERTAINLY NOT LEADING ANYTHING BUT THE COUNTRY TO THE SHIT HOLE. THE WHOLE SYSTEM HAS GONE TO THE SHITS. THE RICH OWN THE ELECTIONS AND THE SUCKERS WHO HAVE SOLD OUT ON THE AMERICAN SYSTEM. we are a laughing stock to the world.