Free Republic

With Mike Huckabee's sudden prominence in the 2008 GOP Presidential race has come greater scrutiny, of both the man and his record. Prominent in both is his famous weight loss saga, and as such it too merits scrutiny. In June 2003, Mike Huckabee was an obscure and obese (290 lb.) Arkansas Governor. By June 2004, Huckabee lost 110 lbs., which he attributed to diet and exercise. This feat naturally attracted media attention as a human-interest story, to which Huckabee added a public policy angle by also touting his anti-obesity public health initiative called Healthy Arkansas. This program included public service...

The 322-pound, redmeat-loving Dorchester dad who stuffed his face with pizza, steak tips, prime rib and fast food in a final fling before stomach-shrinking surgery, found out yesterday that the gravy train has reached the end of the line. His surgeon won’t operate until he drops 40 pounds and gains some new perspective. “It couldn’t have went any worse,” said Chris “Tiger” Stockbridge, 34, who claims he’s a changed man, finally ready to follow doctor’s orders and submit to a life of oatmeal, salad and fish, if that’s what it takes. “I felt a little bit ashamed of myself,” he...