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Cliff Schecter's post | Latest updates on Sulia

The Myth Of Chris Christie

Last night's Chris Christie paean to Chris Christie (and by extension, not Mitt Romney) was actually pretty funny, as it reminded everyone what the polling numbers already tell us: Nobody really likes or respects Mitt Romney much. He was that dick you went to high school with who always had to continue arguing with the teacher after the bell rang, when you wanted to go to lunch. But perhaps as amusing was Christie himself. I wrote a book on John McCain, so I'm familiar with the "truth-teller" genre of politician. It is just a variant on the maverick. Or Independent. McCain's faux-authenticity was derived from being a war hero (or bad pilot who was subsequently and sadly tortured beyond what any human being should have to endure, depending upon your pov) and Charlie Keating handmaiden who became a supporter of campaign finance reform. Christie's is that he bullies constituents and is fat. And no, I'm not joking. In a country increasingly suffering from an epidemic of obesity, the fact that Christie doesn't do whatever is necessary to be in at least somewhat better shape than he is, makes him authentic somehow. A regular dude. Not his policy ideas, nor his speaking skills. Just that he is fat and yells a lot. It may not be pc to say it, but it is what Christie might call "truth-telling."