Ted Nugent's Latest Diatribe: Obesity
Outspoken rocker and conservative Ted Nugent is angry again -- this time it's about America's obesity problem. "Obesity is a manifestation of a cultural depravation," he tells globetrotting chef and TV host Anthony Bourdain, "in its most vulgar and displeasing-to-look-at form. And it's suicide as a lifestyle."
The Motor City Madman recently expressed his views on the topic in an episode of 'Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,' scheduled to air Monday night at 10 EST on the Travel Channel. In this segment, which focuses on the sights and cuisine of the American Southwest, Bourdain pays a visit to Nugent's ranch in Texas.
During their conversation Nugent describes obesity as an unhealthy choice. "That's a liability," he says. "You have chosen to be a liability to yourself, your family, your neighborhood, and this country."
The two opinionated men talk about obesity's impact on health and the safety of others. Bourdain says he likes the idea of a 'fat' tax and charging someone who uses up an additional airplane or subway seat. Nugent then adds, "It all comes back to the horror, the soullessness of a trend in America that is the abandonment of parenting. Somebody's got to go, 'You can't eat that. You're way too fat.'"
The guitarist is no stranger when it comes to talking about issues, particularly conservative ones, as an advocate for hunting and the right to bear arms. (He is on the National Rifle Association's board of directors and recorded a song called 'I Am the NRA'). Last year Nugent made news with his controversial and very critical remarks about Democratic senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton while holding two rifles.
On his blog, Bourdain says that it was Nugent who approached him about doing something together on television. He recounts a experience from his visit to Nugent's ranch when got a text message invite from chef Mario Batali for drinks. "I texted back," Bourdain writes, "that I regretted being unable to join him as I was currently unloading a belt-fed M-60 machine gun at Ted Nugent's place. His totally unsurprised response was 'Of course you are.'"
Also on the same episode of 'No Reservations,' Bourdain meets up with Alice Cooper at the latter's Cooperstown restaurant in Phoenix. One of the topics of conversation between the two men was less issue-heavy: baseball.
Posted by David Chiu on Aug 4th 2008 3:00PM
Filed under: News, Exclusive, Television
Reader Comments(1 of 21)
Sharonat 8-04-2008
I will never watch Anthony Bourdain again. What does a overweight person have to do with the safety of others????. A fat tax? Better to have a A** Tax for A**holes. There are more of those. Start with the two of them.
raredoneat 8-05-2008
Bitch" Shut up and eat your gallon of ice cream
vriesea26at 8-05-2008
How about being at risk for a heart attack while operating a vehicle or heavy machinery? I guess that doesn't count as a safety issue in your opinion.
ginaat 8-05-2008
How about the people who exercise daily and are in great shape, who have the heart attacks also
Cindyat 8-05-2008
double high fives!!!!!! couldnt have said it better :)
kmmieat 8-05-2008
Sooooo just how fat are you?
cleoat 8-05-2008
I agree with Ted about this growing problem. Obese people do need to take a step back and be accountable for what they put in their mouths. They can't get mad when businesses can't accomodate them because they are too big. What really makes me sick is when I see obese kids. Chiildren should not by all means be obese... whatever happened to good old fashioned exercise? When people go out there and feast on fattening foods, all you are doing is slowly killing yourself. Ever heard of diabetes, cancer, and heart attacks? Obesity is a contributing factor for all these diseases...
His roseat 8-05-2008
I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF!! ONLY YOU SHOULD HAVE ADDED NUGENT ALSO!!
pegaroo1993at 8-05-2008
I agree that obesity is a problem when it is laziness/parenting/control. BUT
What about those of us, LIKE ME, who eat HEALTHY, walk 2 miles a day, exercise, and still could be considered moderately obese? I have to pay the TAX because someone else can not control themselves? sometimes it is not a discipline issue - although most of the time it likely is......
Kennyat 8-05-2008
For everyone too lazy or stupid to look up what a fat tax really is let me explain it for you. It is a tax on fatty foods and products IT IS NOT A TAX ON FAT PEOPLE FOR BEING FAT.
crrouttat 8-05-2008
truth hurts!!!!
cagman50at 8-05-2008
I agree that America has a serios obsesity problem and too few parents provide adequate guidance for their children. Guidance includes making sure kids east more fruits and vegetables. Guidance includes exercise. Parental guidance also includes gun safety and making sure kids and teens can get into gun cabinets. This is an area where Nugent's National Rifle Association has not done enough.
triveeat 8-05-2008
well sharon let me say this, first of i am a 36 year old male 5'10 160lb. I like sports, so i go to games, and with the selfish desires of stadium owners, the seats are close together REAL close together. I dont wanna share my seat with some hefty male or female. I dont want to risk the over weight on an elevator or escalator, shoot even planes and buses because some one is in denial of their size. I strongly agree with them, as here in MI we aren't even the biggest state, yet i feel like a twig in a lot of circumstances, and i am just a few pounds under ideal weight. Health insurance rates go up! I go to buy a used car, and i see that the seat is worn out on the side bolsters, cause the previous owner was 300lbs... there are tooo many people out there WELL above a safe weight for their heart, there joints their lungs etc.... SO sharon whether your big or not isnt my worry, but to think we are ass' for pointing out whats wrong with todays society your the ass, for thinking we are. I might be the bad guy, but this isnt the dark ages where the poor were skinny and sick and the rich or royality were fat and pale.....wake up and see the expanding waist lines!
auburnemberat 8-05-2008
I agree Sharon. Nugent, I gotta admit makes me laugh at the absurdity of someone that ugly talking about the lack of visual appeal with overweight people. I'm not that into how people look normally, I like people, all kinds of 'em! And his comment about them being a drain n their families... please! I'd rather marry a fat guy with a heart then a thin guy with a mouth any day of the week, and I'll bet old Ted's family (minus his money)would too. They've gotta be tired of his rants. Your old and cranky Ted, lighten up.
califloriaat 8-05-2008
Obesity is a Choice (unless you are a fat child... then you are a victim of parental child abuse).
People who are fat/obese want to be fat/obese. If you want to be thin, you will lose weight. To prove this point. If you choose to eat that sausage dog, ice cream, cookie, second helping, etc. you are saying, "I want to stay fat and disgusting". No one is holding a gun to your head. People who are thin chose NOT to eat the crap. It is more satisfying to look good and feel good that have that goopy yum-yum stuffed in their pie-hole.
If you want to be thin, you will get thin. Make a decision and stick with it! It's a No Brainer!!
pnk city lightsat 8-05-2008
This whole article is bullshit. I can't believe people are feeding into this crap. It's possible to be overweight and still healthier than a skinny bitch standing next to you. As for a suicide lifestyle - hardly. I've been overweight for the last 6 years of my life and I've never been happier. I'm just as beautiful as the next person and if he doesn't like that, too fucking bad this. Ted can go to hell as far as I'm concerned.
Snack Assat 8-05-2008
I just don't think it's fair to lump obese people into one large group...lazy. Some people have no control over what they weigh, for medical reasons...and unfortunately with the way the system works, they can't afford medical coverage because they're company pays them too much for Medicaid, but won't offer them insurance. And guess what, fat people are the least of our fucking problems right now.
jagalongat 8-05-2008
lard ass
sweetrainfemmeat 8-05-2008
well said sharon, and, to those who think a 'fat' tax is on fatty foods, think again, it's an added tax on lifestyle, and, although I agree that SOME obesity is a health issue, not all of it is--also, what the heck's with this 'america has the worst youth obesity problem in the world' thing? not so...actually, having just come from the UK I can assure you that there are a higher number of obese teens there than there are here. The average size of our teens in this country has gone from a size 14 to a size 10 and, in my humble opinion, a size 10 is NOT obese...especially as our childrens heights are also increasing.
schlottyneuyouat 8-05-2008
and i'm guessing your BMI is over what it should be...