Rick Santorum:

I will freeze defense spending, but I will not cut defense spending, which is the highest and most important priority of the federal government.

But he WOULD cut the food stamp program.

If hunger is a problem in America, then why do we have an obesity problem among the people who we say have a hunger program?

Causes of obesity are complex and often interrelated. Obesity is related to genetics and the environment. Even things that SEEM like it’s within our power are not always, like what we eat or how often we exercise. For example, living in walkable communities promote exercise, as public health initiatives like Shape Up Somerville realize. Unfortunately, not every community has streets or infrastructure that are safe or conducive to working out. Having access to healthy foods (that is, being in close proximity to healthy foods and having money to afford them) and being in a culture that eats healthy foods are also important to health. The existence of food deserts and the high unemployment rate show that not everyone has either kind of access. 

EVERY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES has obesity rates of over 20%, so this is no small issue. This is a national public health issue, an epidemic, and we desperately need leaders who get just how serious and complicated this issue is. And it’s not Mister Santorum.