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Fit for office? Trump and Perry's pull-up contest won't decide the best leader Fit for office? Trump and Perry's pull-up contest won't decide the best leader
(34 minutes later)
Who can do the most pull-ups out of Rick Perry and Donald Trump? Who can throw a football further? Whose dad would win in a fight?Who can do the most pull-ups out of Rick Perry and Donald Trump? Who can throw a football further? Whose dad would win in a fight?
These are questions that we have to consider now that Perry has challenged Trump to a pull-up contest. Trump had said Perry lacked the “toughness” to be president.These are questions that we have to consider now that Perry has challenged Trump to a pull-up contest. Trump had said Perry lacked the “toughness” to be president.
Perry disagreed, and suggested they take the argument to that famous old leveller: the pull-up bar. Perry reckoned that this would prove who was the tougher man.Perry disagreed, and suggested they take the argument to that famous old leveller: the pull-up bar. Perry reckoned that this would prove who was the tougher man.
Never mind how you define toughness. Never mind that Perry shoots coyotes and snakes and doesn’t like “gays in the military” – all things that should mark him out as tough among the thick-necked hardcore Republican crowd. While Trump, in contrast, boasts of going to nightclubs and strolling round golf courses.Never mind how you define toughness. Never mind that Perry shoots coyotes and snakes and doesn’t like “gays in the military” – all things that should mark him out as tough among the thick-necked hardcore Republican crowd. While Trump, in contrast, boasts of going to nightclubs and strolling round golf courses.
But what does it matter anyway? Does physical condition really relate to a successful presidency? Should we do away with the popular vote and just have an arm-wrestling contest?But what does it matter anyway? Does physical condition really relate to a successful presidency? Should we do away with the popular vote and just have an arm-wrestling contest?
Luckily for us, America’s presidents have actually been ranked by fitness. It was done by Men’s Health last year and is entirely unscientific. They reckon that George Washington is the finest specimen to have assumed office, despite paintings showing “a pear-shaped old man with narrow shoulders and matronly hips”.Luckily for us, America’s presidents have actually been ranked by fitness. It was done by Men’s Health last year and is entirely unscientific. They reckon that George Washington is the finest specimen to have assumed office, despite paintings showing “a pear-shaped old man with narrow shoulders and matronly hips”.
Men’s Health quote the breathless description of historian David McCullough in his book 1776 as evidence for Washington’s number one status.Men’s Health quote the breathless description of historian David McCullough in his book 1776 as evidence for Washington’s number one status.
“A strapping man of commanding presence, he stood six feet two inches tall and weighed perhaps 190 pounds.”“A strapping man of commanding presence, he stood six feet two inches tall and weighed perhaps 190 pounds.”
But how effective was Washington? Was he just a pumped up jock? Let’s compare the Men’s Health list to a recent Washington Post survey of the best presidents ever. In that, Washington is deemed the second-best ever commander-in-chief. But how effective was Washington? Was he just a pumped-up jock? Let’s compare the Men’s Health list to a recent Washington Post survey of the best presidents ever. In that, Washington is deemed the second-best ever commander-in-chief.
Meanwhile the second fittest president, according to Men’s Health, was Teddy Roosevelt. And, lo and behold, T Roosevelt is the fourth-best president in the Post’s survey. Unfortunately the comparison breaks down thereafter, with former college footballer Gerald Ford third place in Men’s Health’s list, but only ranking at 24th in the Post’s.Meanwhile the second fittest president, according to Men’s Health, was Teddy Roosevelt. And, lo and behold, T Roosevelt is the fourth-best president in the Post’s survey. Unfortunately the comparison breaks down thereafter, with former college footballer Gerald Ford third place in Men’s Health’s list, but only ranking at 24th in the Post’s.
And Franklin Delano Roosevelt is deemed to be the fourth best-president ever. Despite being paralysed from the waist down. And Franklin Delano Roosevelt is deemed to be the third-best president ever. Despite being paralysed from the waist down.
Trump’s campaign refused to comment on the pull-up challenge. (A pull-up, by the way, is performed by grasping a fixed bar with both hands and pulling oneself off the ground, until your chin comes up and over the bar). A spokeswoman for Trump would not even say how many pull-ups Trump can do – although the answer is probably zero given he is a 69-year-old man who doesn’t look especially athletic.Trump’s campaign refused to comment on the pull-up challenge. (A pull-up, by the way, is performed by grasping a fixed bar with both hands and pulling oneself off the ground, until your chin comes up and over the bar). A spokeswoman for Trump would not even say how many pull-ups Trump can do – although the answer is probably zero given he is a 69-year-old man who doesn’t look especially athletic.
The refusal probably means we will never know how many pull-ups Perry, no spring chicken at 65, can do either. The fact he called for the competition suggests he can perform at least one, but we don’t know this for a fact.The refusal probably means we will never know how many pull-ups Perry, no spring chicken at 65, can do either. The fact he called for the competition suggests he can perform at least one, but we don’t know this for a fact.
For now, then, we will just have to choose the president the old-fashioned way. Going on what they say. Instead of what they can bench.For now, then, we will just have to choose the president the old-fashioned way. Going on what they say. Instead of what they can bench.