Harry Reid faces issues heavier than an alleged bias against fat

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "has an intolerance for fat people, manifested in asides to aides who seem to be getting portly and an office staff that is suspiciously slim." Or so says a 5,000-word profile of Reid running in Sunday's New York Times Magazine.

In a back-and-forth Wednesday, Reid's folks said that's inaccurate, while Times political writer Adam Nagourney stood by his story. The article was released for preview earlier this month.

There are no direct quotes about Reid's supposed intolerance of chubbies and chubbettes.

But nobody is denying the senator called President George W. Bush's Scottish terrier Barney fat, which does seem to suggest an obsession with weight.

The profile tells the tail ... oops .. tale. Nagourney wrote: "When Bush invited Reid for coffee in the Oval Office in the final weeks of his presidency, the president's dog walked in, and Reid insulted the president's pet. 'Your dog is fat,' he said."

There have been weightier issues for the senator to address recently, but when I asked for a response to whether he is fat intolerant, Reid spokesman Jon Summers replied by e-mail Wednesday: "The characterization in that report regarding an alleged intolerance and suspiciously slim staff is inaccurate. That said, personally, Sen. Reid has always been a big believer in living a healthy life, which is why he has run 15 marathons and continues to exercise every day."

Any other beefs with Nagourney's extensive piece addressing the conflicting challenges Reid faces? "No," Summers answered.

Nevadans packing extra pounds (and I am one of them) aren't going to appreciate even a perceived anti-fat stance toward people or pets.

Maybe we should. It is a valid public health issue -- some 26 percent of adult Nevadans are considered obese.

Michelle Obama is making childhood obesity her advocacy project. She's drawing attention to the nearly one-third of American children who are overweight and the related long-term medical costs.

I've shared this tiny part of the well-written and extensively researched profile with a few folks over the past few days. Names won't be revealed, but one gentleman of my acquaintance immediately looked down at his stomach and frowned.

Did Reid just lose a GOP supporter? No.

But everyone at the table agreed: It was weird.

I'll predict Reid's alleged intolerance for fat people is going to lose him more votes than his comments that President Barack Obama is "light skinned" and can turn the "Negro dialect" off and on at will.

African-Americans apparently haven't taken umbrage over that quote in "Game Change."

But the overweight won't like hearing about an "intolerance for fat people" especially as prejudice against fat people is one of those forms of discrimination that many find acceptable. Fat jokes are commonplace.

People are still buzzing about Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's crack at a charity dinner Nov. 21, where after riffing on Bette Midler, he called a woman bidder a "short, fat Bette Midler."

Goodman, bolstered by booze and apparently going for the cheap laugh, embarrassed the woman at a charity auction to benefit the Meadows School founded by his wife, Carolyn. The event honored Marla and Tom Letizia and also raised money for Congregation NerTamid. Sure, that's when you'd want to make a fool of yourself, all in the name of "fun."

A video still on TMZ.com captured it, making it impossible for the mayor to deny what he said.

In Goodman's case, it's just one more example of alcohol mixed with bad judgment combining to make people lose respect for him and realize there's no way he's gubernatorial material.

In Reid's case, it's another example of a comment made in front of a reporter, this one creating an impression that he doesn't like fat people. You can believe it or not.

But calling the former first dog fat is heartless.

It's one thing that the Democratic senator called the Republican president "a loser" and "a liar." But picking on a man's dog crosses a line that should not be crossed.

Fact: My cat is not fat. He's phat.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.