October 29, 2009
Posted: October 29th, 2009 03:38 PM ET

From
Chris Christie wants Jon Corzine to 'man up.'
Chris Christie wants Jon Corzine to 'man up.'

(CNN) - Chris Christie wants Jon Corzine to "man up" and come right out and say the New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate is fat.

Speaking on Don Imus' morning show Thursday, Christie called alleged efforts by the Corzine campaign to subtly invoke his weight "silly."

"If you're going to do it, at least man up and say I'm fat," Christie said on the show. "Afterwards [Gov. Corzine] wusses out and says, 'Oh no, no, I didn't mean that, I don't know what you're talking about.' Man up - if you say I'm fat let's go, let's talk about it."

In a Corzine ad released last month, a rotund Christie is shown emerging from a car in slow motion shortly after the narrator declares the former federal prosecutor "threw his weight around" to get government favors.

Corzine has insisted the ad is not meant to be a reference to Christie's weight but rather what the New Jersey Democrat describes as the "special treatment" he procured from his position.

But in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Monday, Corzine said that in retrospect, the ad should have used different wording than "threw his weigh around."

Filed under: Chris Christie • Jon Corzine • Popular Posts


SayWhat?   October 29th, 2009 12:53 pm ET

How about this: I'll do it for him..."Christie, you are fat". You are not a big man....you are a fat man. A big man would never stoop so low as to make this an issue.

Fitz in Texas   October 29th, 2009 12:50 pm ET

That's the only thing these folks from the left do good......insulting others when you don't agree with them.

Debbie from CA   October 29th, 2009 12:48 pm ET

Having visited New Jersey lately I saw all the ads on TV.

The truth is my impression was Chris Christie is fat! My impression was that if he is always eating and can't find time to exercise then he thinks of his own desires first. I wondered where that would leave the needs of the people of New Jersey.

I also noticed that the people of New Jersey had the same issues of the people of California...stop taxing the middle class. So a heads up to the people of New Jersey...a politician will promise you anything to get elected. Once elected the bottom line is a state needs taxes to run. You can cut everything but that kills jobs. So don't think either one of your Candidates will really cut your taxes. The better question to ask is: since I am going to pay these taxes which candidate will get the state the most bang for its buck.

suck-it up   October 29th, 2009 12:48 pm ET

Oh come on, he is useing this as a crutch, get over it for goodness sakes if you are fat you're fat stop whinning let a winnie the pooh, big baby,
enough is enough. I'm fat, and i'm a woman but i don't whine like christie.

kaleto   October 29th, 2009 12:48 pm ET

Just goes to show how desperate Corzine is.

Ted Tartaglia   October 29th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

If Christie wants someone to call him fat, I will.

Christie, your're fat! Are you happy now?

Sniffit   October 29th, 2009 12:46 pm ET

"So what, he is fat, on to more substantive issues! "

Well, on those he is a bit thin.

Clint, Lynnwood, Wa.   October 29th, 2009 12:46 pm ET

Yo, FATSO, what's you point?

Glen Beck is king of the morons   October 29th, 2009 12:44 pm ET

If you dont have the will to stay at a healthy weight you dont need to work for me.

Annie, Atlanta   October 29th, 2009 12:44 pm ET

Throw your weight around is an old saying, and doesn't mean your fat, whether you are or not. Are we getting to be so politically correct that we have to throw away all the old sayings, or as someone suggested, is Christie using this as a diversion?

Republicans are the American Taliban   October 29th, 2009 12:44 pm ET

Christie weighs even more when he wears all those teabags on his head...oh by the way...what is his opion of healthcare reform?? Nothing like dodging the real issues...a classic Taliban tactic...

Jean   October 29th, 2009 12:43 pm ET

Christie was on the Don Imus show. HELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Red Flag.
Can you take any of this seriously, especially Christie.
Talking about being fat and "When is that old election?"
Idiot

your crazy   October 29th, 2009 12:42 pm ET

Come on you Democrats, you should be smarter then this. I am reading people saying Republican are avoiding the issues. New jersey has th highest properties taxes in the country, The jersey toll have gone up more then $2 since Corzine has been in. He is taxing everything and everyone. It's the Dems that dont want to talk about the issues. Smartin up man have some common sense before you write anything. I mean you guys have the biggest distraction coming this sunday Obama. What is he going to Corzine is the man that gave you high unemployment and raise your taxes. yea right

me happy- at 4:20 each day   October 29th, 2009 12:41 pm ET

"call me fat." Ok, here you go: You Are Fat!

Who cares?

johnny   October 29th, 2009 12:40 pm ET

Christie may be fat, but at least he wears a seat belt. Talk about poor judgment.

Corzine broke NJ. This race isn't about R or D or Obama or abortion or social justice - it's about taxes and jobs close to home. Corzine raised the sales tax to promise a property tax rebate then pulled the carpet out from under us, in a year when people needed the rebates more then ever because of job loss or pay cuts. Well done, governor. Now go away and spend your Goldman millions in retirement - don't spend my tax dollars.

Christie = Karl Rove   October 29th, 2009 12:39 pm ET

Christie's diversion unfortunately seems as similar to Karl Rove as his ethics violations. Sad.

Bev   October 29th, 2009 12:39 pm ET

Ummmm......Christie is NOT losing in the polls--the polls are tied!!

And, the fact that these polls are tied, says a LOT--as New Jersey is a Democrat stronghold state!!

If Christie wins this election--or even comes VERY close in a Democrat stronghold state--it will be a very clear prediction as to what is going to happen in 2010-–which is that the Democrats are going to get clobbered in 2010 AND 2012.

Wake up New Jersey citizens--a vote for Corzine or Daggett--is a vote toward destruction of New Jersey!!!

Zach K   October 29th, 2009 12:38 pm ET

I think people are starting to see who Christie REALLY is. A Palinesque Personality.

Mitch   October 29th, 2009 12:38 pm ET

Give then both a time out! Both are a big joke!

Garrett   October 29th, 2009 12:37 pm ET

Corzine is a little chubby too... but this isn't the issue. The issue is that NJ needs leadership that doesn't keep raising spending and taxes. NJ needs a change, no more Goldman Sachs losers....vote for Christie!

Jason Burn   October 29th, 2009 12:36 pm ET

Of course he meant to invoke thoughts of him being fat, to suggest otherwise is just intellectually dishonest. It gives liberals problems they are all about image and they don't want to admit that they are mean spirited.

Debby   October 29th, 2009 12:35 pm ET

Christie may be fat, but Corzine is butt ugly. LOL

Mitch   October 29th, 2009 12:34 pm ET

Maybe they should give the little fat boy a time out or both for that matter.

Mike in Dallas   October 29th, 2009 12:31 pm ET

What is there to talk about? Look at him. He hasnt missed a between meal snack in years. Its hogs like him driving up the Health Insurance prices. GET SOME EXCERCISE.
Have you noticed all the fat Police and Security officers. Who can they defend?
"STRAIGHT DEM TICKET IS THE ONLY WAY OUT THIS HOLE THE REPUBS GOT US IN."

sam   October 29th, 2009 12:29 pm ET

its absolutely absurd, corzine never meant that he was fat. but so what even if he did? he is fat.

vote corzine. christie is a liar and a bush crony.
dont support health care reductions and education spending reductions.

frank   October 29th, 2009 12:29 pm ET

I have serious issues about the fiscal judgement of a candidate that spend40+ million on a job that pays 175,000.

DJ   October 29th, 2009 12:28 pm ET

this is so childish – not a good strategy

Jay   October 29th, 2009 12:27 pm ET

Of course as a typical Republican you have no common sense tactics and you drop down to elementary school name-calling. Hope you lose big guy.

Jeff Brown in Jersey   October 29th, 2009 12:27 pm ET

Hi Chris....
Your are fat!
Have a nice day...
Jeff

carlos, THAT one   October 29th, 2009 12:24 pm ET

well you are fat, obese....what else should Gov. Corzine call you? i have a few names but I would digress.......and as far as the mc done misogynist in Virginia, it is beyond comprehension why would anybody vote for that oportunist...really

Mickey, NY   October 29th, 2009 12:24 pm ET

Again, here we have Republicans trying to distract the American voters from the issues.

GOP: Evolve or die...

ThinkAgain   October 29th, 2009 12:22 pm ET

Boy, Christie must be pretty desperate if he takes the time and energy to hold a press conference to ask Corzine to "man up" about using a turn of phrase which has always meant using power and position to influence others.

And if this is Christie's idea of "manning up," I suggest he go to Iraq or Afghanistan to gain some much-needed perspective.

Terry from West Texas   October 29th, 2009 12:20 pm ET

Attention Tubbos:

1. I am one of you.

2. "Fat" is a descriptive adjective like tall, slender, short, bold, or cranky. If you weigh much more than the doctor's chart says you should, then you are, in fact, fat. I am, in fact, fat.

3. I am fat because I eat more than I should if I want to be as healthy as possible.

4. Do not expect others to pretend you are not fat when you are, in fact, fat. It is not a slur like a racial ephthet is a slur; it is a simple fact. It is not offensive.

5. What adjective should we use to refer to a person who it fat? Rotund? Under-tall? Many-celled? Over-eater (kind of like over-achiever?)

The Republican candidate is fat, but everyone should vote against him because he is a Conservative. A fat liberal is always preferable to a slender conservative.

Tate   October 29th, 2009 12:20 pm ET

He can always lose weight corsine cant grow hair and not look like a muppet.

Mickey, NY   October 29th, 2009 12:20 pm ET

...move along, nothing to see here...

david, CA   October 29th, 2009 12:19 pm ET

OK... you're fat

Martin Townsend   October 29th, 2009 12:18 pm ET

Americans love people who are big in heart and substance. Picking this details makes Christie small and petty. Its a popular expression, if he said it was not a subtle dig then dont join in even talking about it. Be big and keep your eye on the ball!

Look how Obama always agreed with his opponents during the campaign that references that could be subtly interpreted as racial were actually not. If you must, let surrogates do the push as they have but stay above it. Christie may be big in size but he obviously is small in thought based on this exchange.

No More Incumbents   October 29th, 2009 12:17 pm ET

Sorry John, your credibility is stretching thin.

Eric in Denver   October 29th, 2009 12:16 pm ET

To the voters in NJ if you vote for Corzine you will replace the Minnesotans that voted for Franken as the dumbest voters. This guy has taxed your state more times in his term than most states do in a few decades. Unemployment doubles, real estate taxes double, state taxes increase. This guy makes Obama look like a fiscal conservative.

rita   October 29th, 2009 12:15 pm ET

Naturally he would deflect from the main allegations of procurement of special favors and zero in on the weight issue instead, even if he has to take a personal hit to his physical and self image. It might be harder on his self-esteem, but it is easier on the campaign than deflecting accusations of wrongdoing. Addressing that could get messy. Addressing the weight issue instead turns him into a victim. Great campaign advisers!!!!!! Great politician!!!!!

mr2percent   October 29th, 2009 12:15 pm ET

That's funny, I remember a day when the phrase "throwing your weight around" referred to using your power and position to influence others/events.

...but when you say it about an overweight guy, you're obviously just calling him fat.

Christie, this is a non-issue, and good representation of why you are struggling in the polls. what a distraction.

Afatboy   October 29th, 2009 12:14 pm ET

He should have told him I may be fat, but your ugly, and I can lose weight.hehe

Bren   October 29th, 2009 12:14 pm ET

Those of you awake and aware in New Jersey.......You know that Corzine has DESTROYED New Jersey.

New Jersey has the highest taxes in the country-state, sales, real estate, etc. Since Corzine took office, the unemployment rate has doubled.

If you vote for Daggett, you are giving your vote to Corzine!!

Help to save your state-vote for Christie!! He has promised tax cuts during his first year in office.

LacrosseMom   October 29th, 2009 12:13 pm ET

Seriously? This guy is complaining about this?

lance corporal   October 29th, 2009 12:12 pm ET

chrisie IS fat, that level of corpulence is indicative of a lack of self control/an inability to make good choices and a level of unhealthyness in both mind and body, many of us carry a FEW extra pounds but this guy is educated and should have the information about how to maintain his health and yet CHOOSES not to, one has to wonder if that sort of behaviour will not carry over to other aspects of his decision making, corzine doesn't need to "man-up" he has made his point without rubbing people's faces in it

Independent Senior in Bandon, Oregon   October 29th, 2009 12:10 pm ET

I feel sorry for New Jersey voters.

They are getting a choice between two kindergarteners.

Lynne   October 29th, 2009 12:08 pm ET

So goes the "political" discourse in America!!!

MARK   October 29th, 2009 12:07 pm ET

Corzine is a loser! If NJ reelects him, then they are losers too.

Rodney - NC   October 29th, 2009 12:05 pm ET

"Throw weight around" is an expression that has been used forever, and ususlly in the context of use or abuse of power.

Sounds to me like Christie either: a) will stoop to using ANYTHING for political leverage or b) has some serious insecurity issues.

Get a life CC

David   October 29th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

Okay, that is just crossing a line with alluding to the guys weight. How many fat people are changing their vote now? How insensitive to do such an ad in America.....land of the obese. Sorry, I didn'y mean it like that!?!?!! Whatever.

David in Houston   October 29th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

"Man up – if you say I'm fat let's go, let's talk about it."

Is there really anything to talk about?

The sky is blue. Water is wet. Chris Christie is...unhealthy.

Suzan   October 29th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

Boy if this guy doesn't sound like a little kid crying in the school yard.......I read the article he is refering to and I took it just as Corzine said "Pushing his weight around" this saying has been around for decades about people that try to use their position or power to get what they want.........and Christie has done a lot of that........now if Christie takes this as him being FAT then he must have a complex about his weight.......if this is the case than lose weight.......but don't start putting words in other peoples mouths as to what you think they meant..........this is how the GOP deals with their issues.......when they don't have anything else to offer us, they give us childish crap like this......

Minnesotan   October 29th, 2009 12:00 pm ET

Corzine acted in bad taste and is now being called on it. I can't stand Christie but he's right. Now Corzine's stuck in the corner trying to maintain deniability but the truth is he was subtly trying to invoke Christie's weight in that add.

Greg, San Francisco, CA   October 29th, 2009 12:00 pm ET

You're fat Christie, and you're not going to win,

g   October 29th, 2009 12:00 pm ET

this is stupid they split americans buy color,religon, now wieght , whats next hair color

T.G.   October 29th, 2009 11:58 am ET

Christine Cristie must be very sensitive about his weight.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   October 29th, 2009 11:58 am ET

Well you are a fat Tony Soprano look alike. At least Tony has class.

We Won Get Over It   October 29th, 2009 11:57 am ET

So the guy is loosing and he wants to start something, thinking if he can lie and say he was called fat he might ramp up his numbers.

No the people of New Jersey see him for the bush wannta be he is and they saw WE DON'T NEED THAT HERE IN NEW JERSEY...

D. Tree   October 29th, 2009 11:55 am ET

Is there now such a thing as playing the Fat Card?

dissillusioned   October 29th, 2009 11:55 am ET

Why would anyone from NJ vote for someone that gives Imus the time of day? We don't care about Christie's weight.. the people he associates with are alot more disturbing.

C. Farrell, Houston, Tx   October 29th, 2009 11:52 am ET

I'm sure it's not the first time this man has been called fat and it won't be the last time. He needs to get over it or lose weight.

Donkey Party   October 29th, 2009 11:50 am ET

Nothing to see here folks, move along. Just more red meat that CNN throws into the political arena for the right and left to feed upon. Ok, so Christie is fat and greasy, Corzine is balding and has smelly socks. Bid friggin deal. Remember when news organizations brought us the news?

Ohio Man   October 29th, 2009 11:48 am ET

wow... sounds like a Playground fight to me ...

GI Joe   October 29th, 2009 11:46 am ET

Corzine did NOT call Christie fat. He said throws his weight around and the media picked up on an unflattering picture to put with the statement.

Throwing ones weight around is a term for misuse of power in politics.

Come on idiots, quit with the sensationalism.

Lisa B   October 29th, 2009 11:44 am ET

Hey Christie, you big baby, I'll say it - you're fat. And if all you have to talk about in the last few weeks before your election is the fact that you think someone might have been picking on you because you appear to lack good health, self-disclipline and self-control, I think that should be very telling for the voters of NJ.

JayG   October 29th, 2009 11:44 am ET

Corzine doesnt stand a chance. Christie is the man. Its only the beginning of the Dems unraveling process.....stay tuned

The Party of No = The Party of Nobody   October 29th, 2009 11:42 am ET

Oh for goodness sakes, Christie, stop playing the victim!

Christian Values   October 29th, 2009 11:39 am ET

"Speaking on Don Imus' morning show Thursday, Christie "

The show of choice that a republican sits in on, is a racist domestic terrorist. No further proof that republicans are pure and utter scum is needed.

Case closed.

Thomas   October 29th, 2009 11:37 am ET

Can we not all just grow up?

"throwing his weight around" has always meant using position/rank to influence decisions or actions. It has never been used to indicate actual weight.

If you change the context of the saying to mean actual weight, the saying no longer makes sense.

Dave   October 29th, 2009 11:35 am ET

Hmmm, of course CNN makes no mention of the story today on POLITICO about how the Obama administration is involved in the New Jersey race, to the extent that they have Obama's polster and cronies working to make sure that the crook Corzine gets elected.

grannyv   October 29th, 2009 11:34 am ET

Whine, whine, whine, whine. I only hope Christie doesn't have a fat chance of becoming governor. His distortions of fact and his insistance that coincidence equates with causation make him an unwise choice. If Jon Corzine really was referring to Christie's girth, he was at least accurate.

Dar   October 29th, 2009 11:33 am ET

Ahhhhh, did someone get their feelings hurt, poor baby. What a bozo.

Randi L.   October 29th, 2009 11:31 am ET

"He's making fun of me! He's making fun of me!" What a crybaby.

Time for you to man-up, Christie. Stop whining and address the issue of your preferential treatment when you drove the wrong way on a one-way street, caused an injury accident and didn't even get a ticket for it.

JAWBREAKER   October 29th, 2009 11:31 am ET

When a Republican is about to unseat an incumbant democrat gov. in the most corupt democrat state in the country, liberals should be afraid. there wont be a marxist left in the house in 2010.

Open Your 3rd Eye   October 29th, 2009 11:30 am ET

Ok, this is stupid.

But fine, you're fat!!

Robert   October 29th, 2009 11:30 am ET

Fat is fat. I personally think that if you don't have a medical reason for being fat, you should not be fat. It greatly increases the drain on the health care system, which in turn costs me money. It is a fact that fat people have a much higher rate of many different diseases and health complications.

bam   October 29th, 2009 11:28 am ET

Corzine's ad was pretty funny, considering that absolutely nobody could disagree that Christie has plenty of weight to throw around. For Christie to now challenge Corzine to outright call him fat is ridiculous. Corzine has better things to do; and it's quite obvious that Christie is overweight.

Debi   October 29th, 2009 11:26 am ET

Oh the children are not playing nice.

Christie – man up and stop acting like a child with self esteem problems. Tell people what you are going to do instead of attempting to have your opponent say something that can be used as propeganda later.

reality check   October 29th, 2009 11:26 am ET

Christie really wants the better goverment question answered on the basis of whether Corzine called him fat or not. Is this the best he can do.

T'SAH from Virginia   October 29th, 2009 11:23 am ET

Wow – this is HEAVY!!

This subject should be DROPPED and CNN should stop reporting on it because the POINT was made!! CNN has a tendency to LINGER every little tidbit they were the first to discover. No one was thinking about WEIGHT until Wolf brought it up... NOW, CNN cannot let go and wants to drag it to KINGDOM COME!!! Jeez!

Fools and their freedoms are soon parted   October 29th, 2009 11:21 am ET

Gotta love Jersey....

felicia   October 29th, 2009 11:21 am ET

Well he is fat, frankly i don't care about either one or the other, i just hope a democrat win.

ThinkAgain   October 29th, 2009 11:20 am ET

So what, he is fat, on to more substantive issues! Oops, did I just reference his weight? :)

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