It's all stars and stripes, spangles and spandex for anti-fat crusader Richard Simmons, who hinted at a desire to run for Congress while speaking on Capitol Hill Thursday. Testifying
before the House Education and Labour Committee, on the issues of
battling childhood obesity and increasing school exercise programs,
fitness guru Simmons, 60, said in a half-kidding tone, "I want to have
the respect of a Congressman, I want to talk like a Congressman, and
maybe, someday, I'll be a Congressman." Then, answering about
three minutes of follow-up questions, Simmons adopted a politician’s
rhetoric to address the press. Simmons said at one point that he would
be available for the people. "However I can be of use," he said, "If my country wants me, I'll be there for my country." Sticking
close to his life-long purpose of awareness, education and
implementation of healthy eating and exercise, Simmons said, "(The new
president) is going to have to look at the statistics of what's
happening to our kids," Simmons told CNN Radio. "And then he's going to say who we can turn to? And it certainly isn't the Ghostbusters." Using professional wrestler turned Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura
as an example of a celebrity figure who successfully transitioned to a
politician, Simmons said he’s not ruling the idea of running for Congress out. Simmons closed the hearing by saying he would defer to his advisers to determine how to proceed. “After
this Congressional hearing, I will go home," Simmons said, "I will talk
with my Dalmatian dogs, I will pray to God and then I'll see what else
I can do to help." 
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