DNC: Bush Should Stop Playing Games with Physical Fitness

The Democratic National Committee has taken the occasion of President Bush’s physical to chide him for cutting funding for school P.E. programs.

DNC: Bush Should Stop Playing Games with Physical Fitness (YahooNews)

The following is a fact sheet released today by the Democratic National Committee:

The White House this weekend announced that President Bush received good news during his annual physical. Doctors pronounced the President to be in “superior” physical condition, which media reports attributed to his rigorous, six day a week exercise routine. While President Bush has made physical fitness a personal priority, his cuts to education funding have forced schools to roll back physical education classes and his Administration’s efforts to undermine Title IX sports programs have threatened thousands of women’s college sports programs.

“President Bush’s has dropped the ball when it comes to fully funding physical education in public schools and women’s athletic programs at the college level,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Josh Earnest. “His personal habits indicate that physical fitness is not just fun and games for him. Don’t our kids deserve the same opportunities to be physically fit? President Bush should stop running from his responsibility and make sure that all American children have access to physical fitness programs.”

First they put Howard Dean in charge and now this. Are the Democrats trying to make themselves look foolish?

Let’s leave aside, for now, the question of whether the federal government has any business subsidizing gym classes for tykes or mandating intercollegiate athletic programs for women.

President Bush is fit because he is blessed with good genetics and spends a lot of time doing vigorous exercise, not because of government programs. Our kids are fat because they eat a lot of junk food and spend their after school hours watching television and playing video games, not because we’re cutting funding for P.E. These trends have been in evidence since long before Bush was elected governor of Texas, let alone President of the United States.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Indeed. My kids aren’t fat because they play outside a lot and we try not to over-indulge in unhealthy foods. And this would be the case with or without federal PE funds.

    Further, I am about 10-15 lbs overweight because I don’t exercise enough (trying to rectify that, however). Indeed, the bowl of ice cream I am eating at the moment may have something to do with that problem.

  2. And what is with the obsession of late about how much Bush exercises? What, they would prefer he spend that time chasing interns?

  3. FormerHostage says:

    What was the title of the fact sheet?

    “Prez Pikes Tykes and Dykes!”

  4. Ernie says:

    My kids were in High school 1995-2001, they were required to take 1 PE class during the three years. I would think this is Clinton’s fault.

  5. denise says:

    I was in high school ’81-’84. I was required to take only one semester of PE. So it’s Reagan’s fault.

  6. Patrick McGuire says:

    I was in high school before all y’all, it was Nixon’s fault.

  7. jim says:

    I was in high school in the 60’s and required to take P.E. every year. I’m still fat. Maybe it’s my fault.

  8. Just Me says:

    I had PE everyday when I went to school.

    My kids have PE once a week, but they are all fit-mostly because they are very active, and actually get excersize in places other than school.

    I really don’t think it is the school’s job to make sure my kids are healthy and fit-I thihnk that is the job of mom and dad.

  9. Herb says:

    The DNC The Supreme Court. Democrats in Congress and the entire Liberal bunch would do well not to play games with Our Constitution as they have been doing for years now.

    The physical fitness PR scam is just one more example of the hate the Democrats have for America.