Fat Suits

This is a partial transcript from "Your World with Neil Cavuto", March 9, 2004, that was edited for clarity.

Watch "Your World w/Cavuto" weekdays at 4 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET.

NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Want to sue your local fast-food chain because you’re fat? Well, my next guest says it’s not the fast-food industry’s fault, it’s yours.

With us now from Washington, Congressman Ric Keller, who introduced the Cheeseburger Bill to Congress and expects it to pass tomorrow.

Congressman, what is the gist of this bill?

REP. RIC KELLER, R-FLA.: The gist of this bill is there should be common sense in the food court, and not blaming other people in the legal court. I think we have to get back to those old-fashioned principles of personal responsibility and common sense and get away from this new culture, where everybody plays the victim and blames other people for their problems. And hopefully this bill is a step in the right direction.

CAVUTO: So you’re taking the fast-food industry at its word that there are not secret ingredients that might be making people addicted to, let’s say, Big Macs? That they, much like the tobacco industry, might have used nicotine? What do you make of that?

KELLER: Well, you may be addicted to Big Macs, but it is purely psychological. Just like I may be addicted to watching "The Bachelor" TV show on Wednesday night. But that doesn’t mean because it has such good TV programming and it causes me to be sedentary that I can turn around and sue ABC News for a million dollars.

CAVUTO: All right. Now, Congressman, do you eat at fast-food places?

KELLER: I love fast-food places. I challenge you to identify a fast-food place I don’t love.

CAVUTO: Well, join the club, Congressman. So you’re saying, look, it is our responsibility -- it seems common sense -- quit blaming these guys, quit suing these guys.

KELLER: Absolutely. I like to go to all of them. Let’s just take Wendy’s, for example.

When I go to Wendy’s, they have fabulous salads, they have great Diet Cokes. Or you can get the Frosty and the triple-cheese. It is totally your choice. And I don’t think Wendy’s should be sued merely because a consumer repeatedly orders frosties and ice cream and other things.

That is purely a matter of personal responsibility. And where freedom of choice in this country is cherished, nobody will force to you make the right order, just like we are not going to force you to exercise instead of being a couch potato.

CAVUTO: I don’t know how you knew my exact order at fast-food, Congressman, but you did. Thank you very much, Congressman Ric Keller, Republican in Florida. Appreciate it.

KELLER: You bet.

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