Globe and Mail calls Rob Ford fat, hilarity ensues
It’s official: after a 10-month mayoral campaign, the papers are running out of political things to talk about, and the media itself is becoming the story. The Saturday Globe and Mail’s city section ran a piece titled “Rob Ford’s not popular despite being fat. He’s popular because of it.” The article argues that voters like politicians with some literal heft to them and that weight loss was pretty much the only thing David Miller accomplished in his seven years as mayor. The piece, written by Stephen Marche, has gone over like a lead balloon and has been pulled from the Globe’s Web site.
According to OpenFile:
“The piece was taken off the site either late Friday or early Saturday by senior editors,” Sylvia Stead, the paper’s associate editor, explained by email on Sunday night. “However we are running a number of letters to the editor complaining about the piece tomorrow and you will see the strong reaction. While we believe strongly in freedom of speech for our writers and our readers both we also felt the piece was offensive in its language. It’s also not what the election should be about.”
She said the paper has no plans to publish an editor’s note to detail the decision. Asked if the Globe would update the article’s online page to explain why it was removed, she said, “I’m not sure about updating the page. It’s a good question and I will look into it first thing Monday.”
This is the Internet we’re talking about, so nothing ever really dies: a motivated person can find a copy somewhere, including on the OpenFile page about the story. Reaction among the twittering classes has mostly fallen along a line between “Um, OK” and “WTF?” Given that most of the press had put Ford’s weight, Pantalone’s height and Smitherman’s homosexuality on the same “off limits” shelf, many found the Globe piece to be a bit of a shock.
Former Globester and über-twitterer Matthew Ingram says that what the paper should do now is have a public chat with the editor about all this. Live chats are something the Globe does a lot, and usually really well. Today, for example, the paper is having a live discussion about small businesses. Somehow, we suspect that won’t get the traffic Ingram’s idea would.
• Globe calls Ford fat, then disappears the evidence [Open File]
What the hell does weight have to do with this election. So he is overweight, who cares, as long as he can stop the bleeding st City Hall. But, then again typical “Liberal sheep” attitude.
Your overuse of “hilarity ensues” is bringing about some ensuing hilarity.
It would be nice to at least see the Globe publish a formal apology.
Oh good grief. I read the “article”, and, while it was another tasteless rumination akin to Mallick’s moronic chew your arm off scenario, it was marginally less offensive, and strained to insist that it was discussing Ford’s obesity purely as allegory. He also mentioned that Miller accomplished eff all except for losing weight. I see Smitherman rocking the jogging suits constantly. This whole election is straight out of a comic book. I hope Cobblepot wins, as his vile nature will be revealed in time to thwart Hudak. I find Smitherman as a “stop Ford” candidate only nominally more appealing than Ford anyhow.
How can someone who obviously doesn’t care of himself take care of city…please.
Rob Ford should lose some weight. Does anyone remember Mayor MacCheese from Macdonald’s? If he wins this ‘race’ it is time for a nice long nap. He has shown that he really cannot add or subtract.
Where’s the buffet?
The Globe is fast becoming another trash and garbage newspaper just like the Toronto Star.In the Stars yesterdays front pg, they had two photo’s.One of Smitherman, the other Rob Ford.The pic of Smitherman looked pretty good but the one of Rob Ford looked awful.Talk about newspapers being low class. So what if Rob Ford is over weight.I don’t see the Globe or the Star calling George Smitherman a queer or a Fag.These two newspapers need to grow up and report the news, not inventing it.I find these two newspapers disgusting, cheap and shameful, especially the Toronto Star.A big newspaper like that, printing such garbage.
Hey, all you idiot supporters of Mayor McCheese and his “i’m with stupid” brother. Here we are Sept 2011 and this clowns campaign o lies has finally been exposed. Gravy ? What gravy ? Can’t seem to find any huh. For all u idiots in the burbs who voted for this pantload, hope your happy. Bet you’ll be even happier when all those cuts McCheese said he wouldn’t do start happening in your crappy little burb. Oh and by the way, HE IS FAT. He’s also a druggie (busted in Florida), and an alcoholic (leaf game fan abuse) Remember those ? Shouldn’t be surprised, he is after all from Etobicoke. Ugh..
letter to the mayor’s office,
Over the last year, I have watched Mayor Rob Ford’s hostility towards cyclists in the city. I watched with great sadness footage of him at city council declaring; “Streets are for cars and trucks” and I have already lamented the upcoming loss of the Jarvis Street Bicycle lanes. I pondered what could be at the root of this hostility; what could cause a man to despise such an elegant invention as the bicycle?
The realization came to me while catching a glimpse of Mr. Ford devouring a Jamaican beef patty on a drizzly afternoon. In that brief moment, as a group of cyclist passed him, I saw lament rather than hate in his eyes. I realized that his antagonism towards bicycles comes not because he resents them, but rather because he physically can’t ride one. The fact is that the average bicycle is constructed to accommodate 250 pounds means that Mr. Ford cannot mount a bicycle without the wheels buckling, a fact of which he is undoubtedly aware. It is no surprise then that the sight of lean and joyous young men on bikes might arouse such a strong feeling of envy which would manifest itself to the current policies we are seeing today.
I have always been a compassionate human being and for that reason I would like to help our mayor. I propose raising money for the construction of a bicycle that would accommodate him, a great beast of a machine that could not buckle under his gigantic body. There are materials, used primarily in space technology, which are made to withstand incredible amounts of pressure and I am currently working with designers for a seat; 3 feet wide, which has disposable covers and self-cooling micro-fiber.
The estimated cost would be a $5000 part of which I plan to raise through a benefit. I have quite a bit of experience with fundraising from having volunteered with Greenpeace “Save the Whales” campaign in 2001, a cause not totally unrelated to this one. I ask you then if you would like to make a contribution of $1000 for this project? Furthermore, I would appreciate if you could provide me with some statistics which might help in the construction. What is Mr. Ford’s favorite colour and his exact weight?
Upon completion, I would like to present it to the mayor as a gift from the cycling community and have a public ride where people, young and old, can ride en masse with the mayor to a park picnic. It will be like Martin Luther King’s march on Washington though I would venture to say that it will be bigger and more important, as getting Mr.Ford on a bicycle is more of a hurdle than the struggle for civil rights. My wife has volunteered to do the catering. (Separately, she asked me to inquire if Mr. Ford has any dietary restrictions? I really doubt it but I thought I’d ask anyway)
I am so excited about this project and truly appreciate any contribution you can make.