…. around the issue. ‘Why are we so interested?’ I was asked in the interview. “Well, because we love a make-over and everyone wants to know the secret of rapid weight loss and also because politics is otherwise fairly boring.” I replied. ‘But she’s a succesful business woman,’ continued the interviewer. ‘Why do we focus on how she looks rather than what she’s done?’ I didn’t really have a great answer for that so I gave this one: “It must be enormously difficult being a first lady – you’re not an elected official but you have all the scrutiny that goes with being one. Just ask Michelle Obama and her arms.”
Then she asked me about whether first ladies had a responsibility to be role models and ventured that perhaps by being possibly overweight, Therese Rein was setting a bad example. I wasn’t buying that. “We don’t know whether Therese Rein was actually overweight before and even if she was, I sincerely doubt whether there are women around Australia looking at Therese Rein and making dietary or lifestyle choices based on what they see. Agree?
this week. Just as the US first lady is constantly dogged by
speculation about her toned arms and fashion choices, so too is Rein
being pestered about her recent weight loss and stylish makeover. First
lady correspondent Josephine Tovey reports that at a launch of an
indigenous literacy project yesterday, she was bombarded with questions
about her diet, which she ignored. But she chose an unfortunate book to
read aloud to the audience: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle,
a story that is essentially a list of food items gorged upon by the
insect: “One slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop…”
So why DO we care so much? I know we SHOULDN’T but it makes news and it’s disingenuous to blame the media for fabricating interest. I don’t believe that. People ARE interested, but why? Because we love a makeover? Everyone wants to know the secret to weight loss? Or is it just that politics is usually so dry and dull, we’re hungry for a bit of frivolous diversion from less sexy stories like the GFC and carbon emissions?
Top Comments
OMG - Krudd's stance IS hilarious. I'm cacking myself.
Good on her though - she looks great.
I was not going to post on this but after reading Jaz's comment about KRudd I can't stop laughing...