The last acceptable prejudice
Friday, May 2, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From CNN’s “Inside JB Pritzker’s public and private efforts to counter Trump and challenge fellow Democrats”…
Several party operatives working their way around the weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner events were gaming when to reach out about signing up with him, while focus group research has already quietly been passed around about whether the governor’s weight is a positive or negative with voters, according to people who’ve seen the findings.
* Therefore…
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) went ahead and came up with his own nickname for President Donald Trump to use against him since the president has already mocked the governor’s weight.
Pritzker joined late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday to discuss his viral speech on Sunday in which he called for “mass protests” against the administration and for Democrats to “fight everywhere and all at once.” The governor called out “do nothing Democrats” in his talk as well, earning praises from others dissatisfied with the party’s efforts to date.
At a rally last year, Trump joked that Pritzker is “too busy eating” to be an effective governor. […]
Kimmel said he was shocked Trump hadn’t landed on a nickname — a longtime signature move for the president — for Pritzker and he pulled out a list of suggestions, all a play on Pritzker’s size.
The names included: JB Pizza, JB Back Ribs, JBiggy, JB the Hutt, JPritz His Pants-ker, Pritz Crackers, Gov. Big Shorts, and JB “The Refrigerator” Pritzker.
The governor revealed he’s already been mulling his own nicknames the president could use and he has a favorite.
The governor has obliquely referenced his size many times, but never like that Kimmel appearance. Click here to watch it.
* I found the interview uncomfortable to watch. But the online vitriol about the man’s weight has got to be addressed. I mean, it’s extreme stuff. Go read the comments on any of his posts. Vile.
But, as the headline says, it’s the last acceptable prejudice. Lots of people, even those who are open-minded types, often believe overweight people are “weak” and that it’s OK to make fun of them.
* Anyway, more from the Tribune…
“I have not even decided if I’m running for reelection as governor yet. So there’s, there’s a lot of time between now and where you’re suggesting,” he said in response to a question from Kimmel about his presidential aspirations.
Asked if he was deciding between a third term as governor or opting out to seek a presidential bid, Pritzker said, “No, none of that has anything to do with that.”
“I love the job that I have. It’s just a question of, you know, it’s a hard job, right? I mean, I’ve been doing it for six and a half years now. And the question is, you know, another, add another well, one-and-a-half plus four, right?” Pritzker said of a reelection bid. “That’s 12 years total, right? That’s an awful long time. But we have a lot to accomplish. We’ve done an awful lot in Illinois, and so those things weigh on me.”
People close to Pritzker say they expect the 60-year-old billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune to seek a third term after the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session ends, which is scheduled for May 31. But some top Democratic strategists have said Pritzker should opt out of a third term, particularly due to potential issues that could develop as the state copes with federal funding cuts being pushed by Trump and Republicans who control Congress.
Getting out while the getting is good has its advantages, but running away from trouble is not a very presidential look, IMHO.
Also, most “top Democratic strategists” in 2017 insisted that an overweight Jewish billionaire had no chance in an Illinois Democratic primary against Robert F. Kennedy’s son. That Pritzker team has never paid much attention to “top Democratic strategists.”
- Bob - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:12 pm:
“Top Democratic strategists” reigned Walz in when he started landing blows. I’m not necessarily inclined to trust their judgement at this point. All they’ve done for the past decade or so is demonstrate that they either don’t know or don’t care which way the wind is blowing.
- sewer thoughts - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:13 pm:
“running away” from trouble in Illinois to the place where all the trouble emanates in DC? sounds about as Presidential as you can get. I’ve already commented my thoughts on the matter so won’t belabor the point, but there is absolutely no need for Gov. Pritzker to stick around and deal with our inevitable Democratic infighting and temptation to lever his campaign for petty gains at home when he can go live in South Carolina and New Hampshire and get on TV every week just by dint of being a billionaire successful former governor running full time to pull the country out of an economic tailspin.
Okay so I labored it a little.
- Dotnonymous x - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:19 pm:
America cares about packaging over content…bigly.
- Steve - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:20 pm:
If Pritzker wants to be president: 2028 is the perfect time. There will be no Republican incumbent. JB is the governor of the 6th largest state, he has money, and has contributed much to other Democratic organizations in other states. He has the progressive record that a lot of primary voters like. If he doesn’t run in 2028 , then he really doesn’t want to be president.
- Dotnonymous x - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:23 pm:
Expensive obesity drugs will soon make obesity a condition suffered only by the poor.
Thinness is the new status symbol…thanks to our friends at Big Pharma.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:31 pm:
===Lots of people, even those who are open-minded types, often believe overweight people are “weak” and that it’s OK to make fun of them.===
Surprised Maher hasn’t said anything. But, then again, he’s had Shapiro and Newsom on, but not Pritzker …
- *ducks* - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:31 pm:
JB’s been pretty clear for about the last two months he personally hasn’t decided what he’s doing yet, notwithstanding the wishcasting/certainty amongst some that it’s a foregone conclusions he’s reupping. My personal feeling is he wouldn’t be giving the qualifier in May if the annoucement was a done deal for after session.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:33 pm:
I have a theory about politicians which is that they almost always have to have some kind of vice.
Therefore I like it when a politician is overweight because I can see what that vice is. I’m less worried about them having a drinking or drug problem or stealing problem or cheating on their spouses if they are visibly overweight. That’s probably irrational though because obviously people can have more than one vice.
In any event, if JB wants to be prez he is going to have to lean into the weight thing like he did on Kimmel. On the stump he’ll have to come up with some punchy line to the effect of Trump has left a big mess and I’ve got the big ideas to fix it. And if Republicans think they are going to push me around well I’d like to see them try.
Pretty sure that’s what his Think Big group name was about too.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:33 pm:
=Kimmel said he was shocked Trump hadn’t landed on a nickname — a longtime signature move for the president — for Pritzker and he pulled out a list of suggestions, all a play on Pritzker’s size=
Agreed that prejudice about weight is awful. But this is a self-own by JB, he or his his coms team should have stepped in - as Kimmel even says that they were talking before the show about nicknames. JB should have set guidelines, or once he saw the list, he should have demurred. It Could be a learning opportunity if he runs for President; even friendly press can be tricky.
- Scoot - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:33 pm:
I think JB did a good job being his first appearance on Jimmy Kimmel. I think JB is a new face on the national stage and he can say I cleaned up my state after a populous governor ran it into the ground…and now I’ll do same for our federal government after a populous president has run our country into the ground.
- Steve - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:35 pm:
I doubt JB’s weight is a negative. Most voters aren’t slender.
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:39 pm:
===Most voters aren’t slender. ===
Neither are Trump and Musk, but they’ve both piled on.
- Electric Mayhem - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
Some years ago, Linda Holmes, a pop culture writer with NPR, wrote a piece called “Chris Christie and Pulling the Red Handle.” It speaks eloquently (I think) to the public people and obesity issue. Give it a read if you have a minute.
https://www.npr.org/2014/01/13/262076085/chris-christie-and-pulling-the-red-handle
- ChicagoVinny - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
As fellow big man, I would like to see Pritzker quite all the doubters.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:45 pm:
- JB should have set guidelines, or once he saw the list, he should have demurred. -
Why? He showed he could laugh at himself, something normal humans can do.
- VK - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:46 pm:
JB Back Ribs is very very good.
- Norseman - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:46 pm:
We now live in a society that rejects decency. Look at the examples our children are seeing.
- Blazzzer - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:52 pm:
Agree with you Rich that the interview was uncomfortable to watch. NO ONE should be mocked for their weight. Frankly, it’s just not funny. In my personal experience, people who mock others’ weight do so because they are incredibly insecure and deficient in both intellect and substance.
- Incandenza - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 1:56 pm:
== Neither are Trump and Musk, but they’ve both piled on. ==
They will always make fun. The best defense is offense. The current president is pretty hideously ugly, he has a poor grasp of the English language, he’s overweight, his hair looks awful. He’s a target rich subject if Dems have the guts to actually realize that voters like the insults.
The best way to stand up to a bully is to fight back.
- Independent - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:00 pm:
Trump looks terribly out of shape on the golf course where he can’t hide it under a dark suit coat. So excessive criticism of Pritzker’s weight could backfire on him or other Republicans.
Shorter people can be lumped in with the overweight for acceptable prejudices. We haven’t had a short man for President in the TV era and it works against female candidates, too.
- Homebody - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:10 pm:
Every time a Dem complains about a Trump or MAGA slur or nickname, they are falling behind.
The best thing Dems can do is ignore that noise. Let it roll off you and just keep your eyes focused on the prize. Biden’s best polling was when he told Trump on national television to shut up.
You can’t act hurt and defensive, or sound like you’re tone policing, because the other side will just go “The Democrats are trying to tell you what you can and can’t say!”
You don’t beat bullies by whining to the teacher that you were called a mean name.
- Roman - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:16 pm:
== “That’s 12 years total, right? That’s an awful long time.” ==
I’m still betting Pritzker runs for both re-election and then president, but his comments to Kimmel make me a little less sure of the former. Maybe I’ve missed it, but that’s the first time I’ve seen him hint at three terms being too long.
- Big Dipper - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:37 pm:
I’m not sure the president’s BMI is all that different.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:43 pm:
I have been called “fat” by a coworker and filed a complaint, and had no action taken.
I was shocked. I agree it is the last acceptable prejudice.
It appears to me that the governor has been losing weight, I hope he is enjoying better health and wish him luck on his journey.
- JS Mill - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:54 pm:
=Agreed that prejudice about weight is awful. But this is a self-own by JB,=
To this I present…
=The current president is pretty hideously ugly, he has a poor grasp of the English language, he’s overweight, his hair looks awful. =
A perfect rebuttal from JB to any trump insult would be a hair or tiny hands comment.
I like JB and his ability to be self effacing. Unlike trump, he isn’t a thin skinned narcissist that has to dim someone else’s porch light to brighten his own.
- Steve - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 2:55 pm:
In 2028, the issue isn’t going to be Trump because he’s not going to be on the ballot. If JB focuses in on issues that he thinks can win a coalition, he’ll probably do well.
- sulla - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:01 pm:
JB should be claiming to be 6′3″ 224 lb with 4.8% body fat at every possible opportunity.
- OneMan - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:11 pm:
As someone who has lost approximately 80 pounds—thanks mainly to modern medications—I still consider myself a “big guy.” However, this weight loss has significantly improved my quality of life and overall health. It has been a game changer, and I’m actively working to lose even more weight. Not surprisingly, I now move much more easily, breathe better, have more energy, and feel markedly better overall.
People treat you differently when you’re heavier; I’ve noticed this personally after my weight loss. I’m currently treated differently from when I was bigger. For instance, I used to travel frequently and had “status,” allowing me to board planes early. The look on other passengers’ faces when they realized they’d be sitting next to me was something they either didn’t try to hide or weren’t very good at hiding. And when I asked for a seatbelt extension, the judgmental looks were clear.
Is this bias unfair? Absolutely. Unfortunately, the bias exists, and I don’t see it changing anytime soon—especially because many people now perceive weight as a matter of personal choice. This is even more true today, given the availability of effective medications.
I am just a few years younger than the governor, and I think it’s fair to say that running for president would be physically easier for him if he lost some weight. I’d recommend it simply for health reasons, even if he ultimately decides not to run.
- low level - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:39 pm:
==JB should be claiming to be 6′3″ 224 lb with 4.8% body fat at every possible opportunity.==
Bingo. Love it.
- Amalia - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 3:46 pm:
and it would be way worse if he was a woman. and not just criticism from men. women can be absolute monsters on appearance. I know two women who claim they were anorexic in the past. it has not helped how they view people, such negative comments. and I don’t bat an eyelash when one of them goes on to me about her health issues. half the US female population is American size 14 and above. Heck, people are so idiotic that they criticize the size of female athletes. stop the shaming.
- Da big bad wolf - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:04 pm:
=== Therefore I like it when a politician is overweight because I can see what that vice is.===
A vice?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:10 pm:
The governor has been looking fit recently. I don’t know how to combat it. Trump has horrible eating habits and is definitely overweight, but does not get the same treatment. The people acting that way on social media might just be living in their own reality, and no strategy is going to help them.
- Iron Duke - Friday, May 2, 25 @ 4:17 pm:
Musk is 6’2 and weighs a healthy 190 pounds
He has lost at least 40 pounds