Kyrillos to top Dems over fat comments: take it back
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterThe chairman of Chris Christie’s campaign stood up for his fellow Republican today, taking a swipe at two top Democrats who called Christie fat.
State Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Middletown) took issue with comments about Christie’s girth from state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) and Democratic State hairman/Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union).
Lesniak told New York Magazine that Christie “looks hideous! And unhealthy... That doesn’t portray the discipline that’s necessary to lead this state.”
Cryan last night asked a crowd of Essex County Democrats “What would it feel like if the next governor weighs 350 pounds?”
Kyrillos today said the comments “shameful,” and blamed Gov. Jon Corzine’s campaign, which created the now famous ad that says Christie “threw his weight around” to get out of a traffic ticket, for setting the tone.
“Apparently, the Governor's millions of dollars in negative attack ads have not been enough to hide his dismal record of record unemployment, hundreds of thousands of lost jobs and his promises to raise taxes even higher,” he said. “The Corzine campaign is now resorting to pitiful, nasty and disgraceful personal attacks. Governor Corzine should apologize for a campaign that is beneath the office he holds and an embarrassment to the state."
Lesniak, who is personally close to Kyrillos, responded that “Kyrillos himself is nasty and disgraceful in making that comment, and it shows the desperation of a failing campaign that he’s managing on behalf of Chris Christie.”
Lesniak said that Kyrillos called him this afternoon to give him a heads up that he was putting out the statement.
“My comment was ‘Gee, Joe, I missed the comment you put out praising me when I came out supporting Chris Christie’s drug court program in Tom Moran’s column in the Star-Ledger this week.”
Lesniak said he just made an observation that “in poll after poll after poll - politics or business – people get... demoted and not hired if they are grossly overweight and look like they don’t have the personal discipline to keep their weight under control, that will hurt them with the electorate.”
Cryan could not immediately be reached for comment.
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Take it back?
Is Kyrillos suggesting that Christie isn't fat? Or that his level of obesity doesn't constitute a health risk? Talk about faux outrage.
I mean, the Dems are acting like idiots with this but I can't believe that there have been no discussions in the Christie camp about how he impacts people visually.
And You Wonder Why People Are Apathetic?
"Substantive debate equals quality governance." A candidate's weight doesn't tell me how they will reduce my taxes or improve the schools in my district. A candidate's weight doesn't tell me how they will improve the quality of life for our senior citizens, or provide top-notch, affordable healthcare for my family. A candidate's weight doesn't tell me how they will provide the leadership, creativity and discipline necessary to govern our state back to fiscal prosperity. The last time I looked, I saw people of all shapes and sizes living in our great state doing wonderful things, both in private and public venues. These folks run the socioeconomic gambit - from blue collar to white collar; they are mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers and sisters. I wonder if Assemblyman Cryan has any relatives that fall into any of the above categories? Is he less proud of them or treat them as unfit in their life roles because of their weight? I sincerely doubt it. So Joe, yes lead your party into election battle as is expected, but be careful which stone you choose to throw first in your glass house - maybe you could drop a few pounds yourself.
The Biggest Losers
Look, Chris obvious has a weight problem, BUT SO DOES 40% of the population.
We have a an even BIGGER problem in NJ with Corrupt party Bosses like Lesniak and Cryan running this State into the ground and taking tax doallrs for themselves.
Cryan is a double dipper and condusts himself like a street thug. Democrats in NJ should be ASHAMED having him represent their party . that is if they have any shame left.
Lesniak ahs been controlling Union County Government for 20 years and taxes are out of control, the highest in the country, YEAR AFTER YEAR.
He has "fattened" his law firm's wallet with no bid contracts for legal council work worth MULTI-MILLIONS in towns, school boards, and Authorities all over NJ !!!
Chris can always drop a few pounds, but NJ voters should drop losers like Lesniak and Cryan before we starve to death.
What I find utterly amazing
What I find utterly amazing is the Cryan would say anything. He is not as big as Christie but he clearly has his own issues with weight. Amazing that someone wearing a size 44+ waste in dress pants is poking fun at anyone else.