UC Berkeley nutritionist emeritus Joanne Ikeda drew some attention from the media when she was quoted referring to President Obama's pick for Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, as "fat." Later, she regretted using a term many consider pejorative, but her frankness - a trait much appreciated in the news media - supplied other opportunities to make her point.
For example, Ikeda was quoted extensively by the Washington bureau reporter of the Alabama Press Register, a newspaper in Benjamin's home state.
She said any debate about Benjamin's appointment should focus on her qualifications for the job.
"I think it's a shame that here we have someone who has a strong value system in terms of helping people ... and instead we're focusing on something as silly as her weight," Ikeda told the Press-Register.
The reporter asked Ikeda if she believes Benjamin would be taking criticism if she were a man. Ikeda pointed to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who remained portly throughout his eight-year tenure despite having previously suffered several heart attacks, the article said.
"Did anyone ever make a comment about Dick Cheney?" Ikeda was quoted. "Largeness in men is equated with power and strength."
(In this article, more dignified euphemisms for fat - "overweight" and "above her ideal body size" - were used to describe the Surgeon General-designate, and the terms "portly" and "largeness" in the part about Cheney.)
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