The Democrat Party Motto: There is nothing in your life that can not be made better without more taxes and more government control over everything. Just ask the blacks. They used to be slaves, republicans freed them and democrats have delivered equality to them though the govnernment. Now, there is no more racism and nothing, but pure equality in all things for them. Pay, education, family life, homes, schools, no violence... Everything the government touches turns out just as golden as that. I hope one day the government takes over everything for me so I can always make sure that I can be the best I can in my life as a government minion. I can't wait for the day when the government has taken over the last of my personal responsibilities and has delivered me to progressive utopia.

The Republican Motto is much simpler: There is nothing more in life that cannot be made any better so we will leave problems of day to whims of Grand Old Party to mis-manage or profit from. Our Grand Old Party knows better and that the means always justifies the ends in governing - of course, we are always right, regardless what the facts, may it be Watergate, Iran-Contra, or borrowing money without having to ask, because we believe in right-sided of opportunism for all.

If obese people get ADA protection, they will get handicap permits that allow them to get even less exercise by parking right next to the supermarket door - isn't that exactly the opposite of what they need? --- For 98 percent of obese people it is simple math - what you eat but don't burn off by exercise/movement, by expending energy is stored as lumps of fat - you did it to yourself --- should we give drug addicts and alcholics handicap parking permits too?

Another observation...as the primary shopper/cook for my family, I spend time in supermarkets - watching people unload their carts and checkout. Obese people unload lots of stuff like cookies, cheese crunch doodies, frozen pizzas and ice cream. Thin people - fruits, veggies, fish and chicken. --- I'm not a nutrition expert here but I think I see a relationship.

Can this guy be serious?

Surely there is more good to be gained from throwing our efforts into PREVENTING obesity and REVERSING it, rather than simply making sure that it's accepted with a smile and a hearty hand-shake.

The economic and health impacts of this epidemic are self-evident. The solution cannot be found in perpetuating it, while simultaneously wasting public resources.

Somehow I am not too surprised. The Democratic Nannies want to control people and more are willing to allow that to happen.
What ever happened to the phrase 'Personal Responsibility'? Are people unwilling to take care of themselves? Gee, why not let someone else take the responsibility.

Please, give me a break, Richardson seems like he going after the fat vote. Just another Democrat who wants to wipe away personal responsibility and make being fat another avenue for teh trial lawyers to become richer and drain this society. Like Nancy Reagan said in the 80's "just say no" to the 10th twinky. Personal indulgences never kept a society at it best, see Roman Empire in the history books.

Businesses and governments do not have unlimited funds for making accommodations for handicapped people. If obese people are added to the ADA, one effect will be that money that would otherwise be spent on helping the blind, the deaf, paraplegics and quadriplegics, and other people with real disabilities will instead be directed to helping fat people. There are far, far more obese Americans than there are blind, deaf, and paralyzed Americans, and with these kinds of programs the money always flows to the biggest, loudest group. I don't know about you people, but it doesn't sound right to me to sacrifice people with real disabilities to accommodate people whose problem is that they eat too much and don't exercise enough.

My father has been overweight since I can remember and I as well. I think the doctors need to decide if a person should be disabled due to weight. Other wise they just need to get out an get it off. Why should we pay for someone to be lazy.

This guy is a moron. He is trying to distinguish himself by making light of things that he knows nothing about. If he wants to stand out, then why doesn't he stand up and say "Let's figure out a way to end obesity, starting with ourselves and with our children." He is not helping anyone by giving them more excuses. Most americans today are obese by their own choosing (lack of exercise, leading sedentary lives, overeating, and not followin a proper diet). As an exercise physiologist I am sensitive to overweight individuals, but at the same time know that they have the power to change their own lives. And, only 5% of obesity is caused from genetics, the other 95% is caused from overeating and lack of exercise. Thankfully he doesn't have a chance to win. I'm tired of all the excuses and free rides available to Americans.

Being overweight (ok... FAT!) is not the responsibility of the rest of us. Being overweight, unless you have a bad case of diabetes that you were born with (and didn't bring on yourself because of poor diet and exercise habits), is your own fault. Some overweight people probably are discriminated against when it comes to a job BECAUSE they probably do have health problems and the job place knows they won't be as likely to be able to work as hard or they'll be calling in sick or be out on disability. Costing them money. I am SO SICK of the United States coming up with "special interest groups" so more people can be protected under some stupid laws. Basically if you are white, in good health, work hard and pay your bills, you are a minority and deserve no fair treatment in this society.

Yes, obesity is a serious issue. However are the majority of people saying that if they discriminate against an obese individual than that treatment might trigor thoughts of losing weight. Many people seem to think that if the obese are placed under laws for anti-discrimination then such a person will be enabled to remain obese. Then what does that mean? If they are not placed under such laws should their smaller counterparts be enabled to discriminate them? How does that sound? I do believe that healthier choices should be made but smaller individuals should not be enabled to make the lives of the obese miserable.