Cornett appeared on the “Ellen” talk show to speak with Ellen DeGeneres about the Web site www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com and other initiatives designed to help people lose weight.
The mayor on Dec. 31 challenged Oklahoma City resident to lose a combined 1 million pounds. The challenge is in response to lists that have ranked Oklahoma City as one of the fattest cities in the country.
Cornett pointed out that Oklahoma’s capital ranks highly for some of its positive aspects, such as for its downtown. The challenge, along with efforts to build more sidewalks in the city to encourage walking, is designed to help improve the city’s ranking as far as the number of overweight and obese residents.
Before the segment, DeGeneres joked, “Wouldn’t be funny if he was just asking them (overweight residents) to move? That’s not the way to deal with it.”
When the comedian/host teased Cornett about possibly naming one of the city’s new sidewalks “Ellen Lane” after her, the mayor said he couldn’t do that. But he offered her a consolation prize, reading a proclamation declaring Jan. 26, DeGeneres’ 50th birthday, Ellen DeGeneres Day in Oklahoma City.
“I’m thrilled,” she said, taking a bow, blowing kisses at the camera and thanking the city.
The host also asked Cornett about his own weight loss efforts, and showed before and after photos. “Mayor Mick,” as DeGeneres called him, said he has lost 38 pounds since starting his own fitness plan.
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Cornett's a joke. Statistics have shown that cities with mass transportation have slimmer people because they walk a short distance from ride to ride but at least they walk. Here we're destroying Union Station for a bigger highway so people drive more. Intelligence doesn't mix too well in Oklahoman politics.
Paula, I don't know where you get it that I am a cartoon character. I am a propane salesman from Arlen Texas. I am married with one son and have one dog named Lady Bird. I love my guitar Bessie and I love the Dallas Cowboys.
A. Anyone arguing with "Hank" needs to realize they are arguing with a cartoon character. Literally. Hank Hill is a cartoon character from the show King of the Hill. All the people and places he's mentioned in his posts are characters and places in that cartoon. ___________
B. Once again I see so many names on here of people who contradict themselves. If you're going to have two or three or more different identities online, it pays to keep track of which ones are for/against the topic, what they've said, and be 100% sure you are posting under the correct one. Otherwise you get "john doe" saying he hates gays and three minutes later "john doe" says he is gay. If you want to troll that's your business, but at least do it right. Otherwise it's not even remotely entertaining to watch.
Candy
Maybe you need to get off your lesbian chubby ass and do something other than complain. I would refuse treatment from you if you were my nurse due to your sexual orientation.
Candy, you are an angry lesbian. Please stop the hate. If God intended for us to be gay, he would not of made Adam and Eve. Not Adam and Steve.
Hank
I 100% agree with you. Candy needs to get a clue.If Bobby ever "came out" I stand behind you if you decide to do the flogging method. homosexuality is intolerable and we as Americans shall not stand for it.
HaNK, I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU. PEGGY CAN JOIN US IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
The joke from the On-Strike Hollywood writers is: What does a lesbian and Mayor mick Cornett have in common? They were both on a television program together!
Here's another: The Mayor of Oklahoma City and a lesbian are on a TV show, and everyone in Oklahoma asks, "Is this a joke or something?"
The only reason Cornett wants us to lose 1 Million pounds is so we can fit into the seats at the Ford Center.
So....did Cornett dance? Sorry, I never watch Ellen.
Hank Hill is not an intolerant person. Look at my neighbor Minh Souphanousinphone. He tries to push his buddhist beliefs on me and I just take it like a grain of salt. Same goes for John Redcorn and his native american beliefs. I have no shame in being a God fearing heterosexual man. God bless America and God Bless Tom Landry.
Anthony, how right you are. And I personally apologize to everyone for my part in this debate.
Being a nurse, I see the devestation that obesity can cause in a person's life, health wise and socially. I appaud Mick Cornett in his efforts to make OKC a little healthier. I know I could stand to loose a few (or 10 pounds LOL!) My partner, children and I will definately be out there beating the pavement with OKC's finest!!! GO MAYOR MICK CORNETT!!!! And thank you for taking the opportunity to make OKC a little bit healthier!!
I would like to take a moment to thank Ellen Degeneres for her support in the "Healthier Oklahoma" project that Mayor Mick Cornett has begun. Ms. Degeneres is an amazing woman, that has given more than her share to *every* community.
Hate to break it to you, Hank, but we gays are everywhere. I'd like to ask you and everyone else who has said something negative or intolerant about gays--stop, think a minute and ask yourself, what if your kid or a family member came out as gay (don't think it can't ever happen--people come out at all ages--and showing an interest in the opposite sex--I tried that--it didn't work)--how would you feel if you heard some of the intolerant remarks that you have spouted off? Imagine those sort of comments being directed at your kid. When it comes to people, isn't the most important thing is the good in a person's heart? Is it being good-hearted spouting off remarks of intolerance? I won't even get started on those who promote intolerance in the name of Jesus. . .
Candy, I sell propane and propane accessories here in Arlen at Strickland Propane. Everyone I work with including Mr. Strickland, Joe Jack, Donna and the rest of the employees know that I am a red blooded heterosexual man. I love my propane, I love the Dallas Cowboys and last but not least I love my wife Peggy and my boy Bobby. Just because I choose to not agree with someones lifestyle up there in Oklahoma City is my business. Just don't bring it down here to Arlen and try to shove it down my throat.
Hank, just because someone is different than someone else, doesn't make them "questionable". Questionable would be a more like criminal. I dunno, it just makes me extremly sad to see people treat others the way that you obviously do. People are people. No matter what their religion, race, gender, sexuality is. We all bleed the same. We all have feelings, we all have hope for a better future. I wish we could all live as one. I wish life were that simple. If you were to see me on the street, you would never be able to guess my sexual orientation. I agree that "questionable" people should be avoided, and most should be kept from our children. I'm very out in my life. I'm a nurse, but I don't advertise my sexuality to my patients. I'm a mom, I don't advertise my sexuality to my kids' school. Those who know me well, don't care what my sexual orientation is. And those that do care about my sexual orientation overlook it because I am a good person. I have one of the most redneck backwoods families in Oklahoma. They know who I am, and they know I'm a good person. You stereo-type the entire "gay community" and you are doing an injustice to yourself, and your family.
Candy, Bobby gets enough exposure on TV and I don't like it. He isn't much into athletics and aspires to be an entertainer. I don't have a problem with that because he has shown that he is interested in girls such as Connie next door. No one is as bad an influence on him as his grandfather Cotton. I try to keep him away from him as well. That is my choice not to "subject" him to alternative life styles or anyone questionable for that matter.
Simple fact of the matter is that we *gay people* are here to stay. There is nothing that you (or anyone else, for that matter) can do about it. The fact that you choose not to "subject" poor little Bobby to people like us, just ensures that he will be raised with the same closed minded views as his father. Lets just hope that you, Tim, or any of the other closed minded people out there don't end up in prison for committing hate crimes against people like us. Case in point, Matthew Shepard. I suppose you think that he "deserved" to have an untimely death?? Why can't we all just get along. We aren't going anywhere. Oklahoma, Texas, the entire country for that matter, we are everywhere. Don't worry, being gay isn't something that is contagious. :-)
If people want to be gay and not shove it in your face then I don't care. I don't want to celebrate it or be forced to condone/support it. I don't want to live in the "San Francisco" of the southwest. If that's what you're looking for why not try the real thing and move to SF.
Mayor taking diet to 'Ellen' 01/15/2008 Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett's call for city residents to go on a diet has been heard from China to England. Since he announced a weight loss Web site...
Mayor goes on TV to talk about diet plan 01/18/2008 Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett shared his vision for a healthier community — and his own weight loss success — with a national audience Thursday...
50
Featured Video
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
I myself am a Cowboys fan, and I love apples.
B. Once again I see so many names on here of people who contradict themselves. If you're going to have two or three or more different identities online, it pays to keep track of which ones are for/against the topic, what they've said, and be 100% sure you are posting under the correct one. Otherwise you get "john doe" saying he hates gays and three minutes later "john doe" says he is gay. If you want to troll that's your business, but at least do it right. Otherwise it's not even remotely entertaining to watch.
Maybe you need to get off your lesbian chubby ass and do something other than complain. I would refuse treatment from you if you were my nurse due to your sexual orientation.
Candy, you are an angry lesbian. Please stop the hate. If God intended for us to be gay, he would not of made Adam and Eve. Not Adam and Steve.
I 100% agree with you. Candy needs to get a clue.If Bobby ever "came out" I stand behind you if you decide to do the flogging method. homosexuality is intolerable and we as Americans shall not stand for it.
HaNK, I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU. PEGGY CAN JOIN US IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
Here's another: The Mayor of Oklahoma City and a lesbian are on a TV show, and everyone in Oklahoma asks, "Is this a joke or something?"
So....did Cornett dance? Sorry, I never watch Ellen.
I don't like the Ellen SHOW so I didn't watch/record it.
Being a nurse, I see the devestation that obesity can cause in a person's life, health wise and socially. I appaud Mick Cornett in his efforts to make OKC a little healthier. I know I could stand to loose a few (or 10 pounds LOL!) My partner, children and I will definately be out there beating the pavement with OKC's finest!!! GO MAYOR MICK CORNETT!!!! And thank you for taking the opportunity to make OKC a little bit healthier!!
I would like to take a moment to thank Ellen Degeneres for her support in the "Healthier Oklahoma" project that Mayor Mick Cornett has begun. Ms. Degeneres is an amazing woman, that has given more than her share to *every* community.