Thursday, August 6, 2009
Myron Lowery: I weigh "too much."
Posted by John Branston on Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 10:10 AM
The interim mayor is overweight. Not only that, he's short and overweight. Not only that, his predecessor, Willie Herenton, is tall and slim, and his main rival in the October special mayoral election, Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, is almost fanatically fit and can do his age in pushups.
Asked how much he weighs at in interview Thursday in his new office, Lowery didn't flinch but he didn't offer full disclosure either.
"Too much," he said. Asked if his weight is going up or down, Lowery said, "I'm remaining the same, but I've got to go down."
Lowery is not physically fit. Nor is he pudgy, chunky, or carrying a little too much avoirdupois.
He is well educated, intelligent, polite to a fault, exceptionally well spoken, nattily dressed, and politically savvy. He is also seriously overweight. He is fat. You can't change short. You can change fat.
"That's personal," protested my roommate, who is nicer than I am and not in the news business.
Nope. Not if you're a public figure who is the interim mayor of a city ranked near the top for obesity. Not if you're in the public eye as much as Lowery, a former television news reporter and anchor — another business that puts a premium on appearance. And not if you're a would-be mayor and political leader in a time when America is in the midst of a national debate over health care costs that are driven by, among other things, obesity.
"I've got to deal with that issue," Lowery said. "My doctor says I need to do something about it. That should be my number-one priority. If I'm not around, I can't work for the citizens."
Lowery said he used to play tennis every day 25 years ago but has not had an exercise regimen for several years. He acknowledges a weakness for breakfast and luncheon buffets that are frequent fare for busy politicians.
"My doctor says better eating habits and more exercise are what I've got to do," he said.
There is never a good time to be fat. It's bad for your heart, puts extra strain on your joints, and lots of other bad things. That's just the personal stuff. If you're a politician or celebrity, fat can influence your celebrity and electability, and it's fair game for voters, pundits, and late-night comedians such as Jay Leno, who is reported to have lost weight recently by running four miles a day.
Fat is all right if you're a famous television talk-show hostess who makes an issue and a cottage industry of her weight, or a famous radio talk-show host whose bulk adds impact to his right-wing bluster. Fat is all right if you are a lineman for the Tennessee Titans, Ole Miss Rebels, or Memphis Tigers. Fat is all right if you're a judge with a lifetime appointment.
Fat is not all right if you're in politics at a station higher than councilman or commissioner. In a recession, we must trim the fat. We must cut the fat in budgets. We must eliminate pork. We must be lean and mean. If you say those things in front of a camera, it's hard for voters not to draw certain conclusions.
Fit is much better. Barack Obama is fit. Sarah Palin is fit. George W. Bush is fit. Dick Hackett, Jim Rout, and Bill Morris are fit. Harold Ford Jr. is fit. So is Carol Chumney. If you're in politics (or television), fit can extend your career as well as your life. Herenton and Wharton are prime examples. Whether or not you like what they do, they always look good doing it.
If Myron Lowery wants to pick up votes in the next 70 days, he needs to drop pounds.
Comments (24)
Showing 1-24 of 24
this is not relevant to the man's performance. He admits he needs to change this, but he cannot healthily do so in 70 days. I understand where John is coming from and believe in a healthy lifestyle myself, but being overweight is not a character flaw. it is a difficult condition and does not speak to Lowery's character or ability as mayor. He is doing a great job in the interim. He has proven to be a man of his word and if he says he is going to address this issue, I believe him. Calling someone fat is ugly and cheap.
like
dislike
I'd vote for Jabba The Hutt (the fictional character) if he could make progress on the big issues facing Memphis.
Wow John, you interveiwed our new Mayor and the thrust of your article is that you've "outed" him for being fat. I'm sure he wishes he was bone thin like Willie Herenton, but do you really think that will make him a better mayor? I have respected your work for years but I am shocked and disappointed in this mean-spirited piece. This reader is more interested in learning about Mayor Lowery's goals and accomplishments, not his waist size.
Fat or slim, I would vote for Myron because of his integrity and honesty. He did not attempt to make any excuses about his weight, but is aware of the dangers of being overweight. I, too, am overweight and it is a constant struggle. Myron I would still vote for you to be mayor.
The piece was about getting votes. Not his qualifications. Tubbies need to relax (well, not really I guess).
I heard Myron discarded his new campaign slogan for the October election: "KEEP IT VEAL"
If Memphis is ranked near the top for obesity, wouldn't Lowery's spare tire be an advantage in an election?
Wow..I live in NY (for ya'll down south that's New York City). Now I have the answer to why Memphis can't compete with more progressive cities.
NEW YORK CITY??? Somebody get a rope!
Just had to say that. I have to agree that this article serves no purpose. Ok, so he's overweight. I don't really think this is the time or the forum for it. I am much more concerned about the graft, than the girth of our politicians.
HIS BRAIN IS WHAT WE NEED IN CITY GOVERNMENT NOT COCERN AT ALL WITH THE MAN"S BODY WEIGHT. THE MAN IS A POLITICIAN"S POLITICIAN.
The founding fathers put restriction of a BMI < 24 for all politicians clause into Article 4 of the Constitution.
People these days give William Howard Taft grief for tipping the scales at 300 lbs, but few folks know he was 7'-10". Otherwise he would have been Constitutionally prohibited from holding office.
Fancywabs, Taft never actually provided his Certificate of Body Mass Index, only his Certification of Large Butt. Therefore the issue is moot.
Yeah, this story is pretty pointless. As for the fellow from NY (last time I checked, New York City was abbreviated NYC), the correct contraction for "you are" is "you're." We learned that in school down here. Good luck with your condescending attitude, the world loves that.
I'm listening to what he has to say, not looking at weight. No one else I see has anything more to offer.
Something must have gone wrong with the "comments" mechanism. I don't see anything here from the big bad wheeler dealer who called me up at midnight the other night to complain about this article and ended up browbeating me because I would not join in his condemnation of a colleague's work. It's all I can do to resist the urge to name this habitual midnight caller, as I surely will if he repeats the offense. Meanwhile, I will just recommend self-abuse to him rather than abuse of someone else the next time he gets looped and lonely.
The story is pointless, but it does open a door for me:
Mayor Lowrey, if you're reading, I'll happily challenge you to a "weight-off." I'm a tad more than hefty myself, and I'm getting scared. Maybe if I had the new mayor moving along with me I could get some real motivation going. So? What do you think? Are you in?
Actually, Lowery's weight could lead him to be a great example for the community. Why not a Mayoral Challenge to get Memphis fit? Memphians need to engage in preventative healthcare (myself included) and if someone as busy as Lowery can fit in time to exercise and can make better food choices at all those banquets, then most of us have no excuse. Could be a great public service.
I think Myron being overweight would be a great opportunity to challenge the rest of Memphis to lose some pounds. He could participate and cheer others on at the same time. I think something similar happened with the Mayor of Oklahoma.
See:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22503467/
Make it a positive!
Get off of it people it is one person's opinion, John is a journalist, this is his job. It is an article, and it happens to be true. ML is overweight. As for him having integrity as one of the bloggers wrote, I don't believe he has any, his first days as the interim Mayor have proven that. I would not vote for him, fat or slim. I have decided I will be adding my own name as a write in candidate for Mayor.
Myron.....integrity......hmm. Talk to anyone at Fedex about Myron. After multiple lawsuits they finally bought him off so he would leave. He sued each time he did not get a promotion...and he never showed up for work. Just keepin' it real folks. The man's a phoney...like his predecessor...fat or thin.
Myron's a phony Sailor? The guy has been in the Memphis politics for around 20 years. During that time he may of gained weight, but a third of our elected official have been indicted. He steered clear of the bribes and corruption that you know we have had. He took on Willie on tons of issues, when no one else would. Did you ever hear of AC disagreeing with Willie? No-he towed the line, can't we all get along. From what I have read from you Sailor-we share many of the same opinions and values, but you are wrong about Myron.
My gosh Branston-your usual liberal spew is bad enough. As one of your few republican readers-"Why in the world would you attack this guy?" He has maintained principles and voted down alot of raises for Willie and others. He did not appear to be power hungry to me-he appeared to have a plan. What's your next great article going to be about? Does one of our other officials have fake breast? Now that's something we all really need to know about.
I agree with mkf. Weight does not make a person. Anyone who judges a person that way, needs the crap slapped out of them. Lots of things can cause a persons weight to go up or down. I beleive he can do his job ,no matter what his weight is if he wants to.
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
SPECIAL ISSUES
