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Fat Hatred and Eliminationism

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Clarissa

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OK, I get that the following comment by Michele Bachmann is beyond silly:

I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’ Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we’ve got to rein in the spending.

But how is it about “fat hatred and eliminationism“? What is eliminationism, anyways?

And why is the person in the comments (comments 1 and 2) apologizing for the expression “fatten the family wallet”?

P.S. In case anybody is wondering, nobody would refer to me as a thin person under any circumstances.

8 responses to “Fat Hatred and Eliminationism”

  1. Patrick Avatar
    Patrick

    The blog linked to is unreadable (physically). Even as a conservative, and someone who would likely be Republican in the US, I have to ask:

    What are you thinking, Bachmann? Let’s take as fact that God is trying to get our attention with hurricanes and earthquakes. Why be so presumptuous to assume the message is in support of your viewpoint? Could it not as easily a warning to the left to run you and the like out of town?

    As a man of faith, it drives me right around the bend when people try to speak for the intent of god.

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      I re-entered the link. Can you tell me if it works now?

      “As a man of faith, it drives me right around the bend when people try to speak for the intent of god.”

      -Hear, hear.

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  2. Patrick Avatar
    Patrick

    Link works – thanks.

    Can’t help answer your question though – while interesting for quote mining, the blog is otherwise unreadable.

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      They use this very weird jargon that is supposed to be progressive. But it must be some other genetic strain of progressives than the one I represent because I can never figure out what it is they are trying to say.

      I only pray I never meet this kind of Liberal in real life.

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  3. Niu Verds « Priyanka Nandy

    […] has a post on something Michelle Bachman has said about the US, obesity, and godly smiting (bless her devoted […]

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  4. Jonathan Mayhew Avatar
    Jonathan Mayhew

    “Eliminationism” is the belief that one’s political opponents are not just wrong, but should not exist at all. “Fat eliminationism” would presumably mean the desire to stamp out fat people, or force them all to be thin (somehow). Using a metaphor that equated obesity with something else negative (government spending in this case) would thus be an example of prejudice against the obese, and hence the first step toward their elimination?

    (My best guess as to what is meant here. I could be wrong.)

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  5. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    Well, for one thing, a “morbid obesity diet” isn’t a real thing, and it implies that morbidly obese people got that way by overeating. Many of them didn’t.

    Secondly, it seems clear by the quote that she’s taking the idea that fat is a bad thing for granted–if she’s equating overspending with being obese in order to try to prove a point that overspending is a bad thing, then she’s kinda assuming her audience will already think that being obese is a bad thing.

    Now, is that the worst thing about that statement from her? Not even close. But it is in there. An extra element of shitiness. (Is that word? Whatever, I’m using it anyway. 😉 )

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      ” it implies that morbidly obese people got that way by overeating”

      – Not really. A diet is a food regimen that, in itself, doesn’t have anything to do specifically with over-eating. I’m on a diet for my high blood pressure, for example.

      ” then she’s kinda assuming her audience will already think that being obese is a bad thing”

      -I don’t think anybody can argue that morbid obesity is a good thing. “Morbid” in itself doesn’t have any positive connotations.

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A conservative literary critic and college professor

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