Dems Win: Attractive Politicians Have Edge Over-Not So Attractive (WaPo)

[kpete]

Caution: The front page of the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/13/AR2006101301753.html

Attractive politicians have an edge over not-so-attractive ones. The phenomenon is resonating especially this year. By a combination of luck and design, Democrats seem to be fielding an uncommonly high number of uncommonly good-looking candidates.

The beauty gap between the parties, some on Capitol Hill muse, could even be a factor in who controls Congress after Election Day.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/010353.php

[rosesaylavee]

1. Well, maybe if

we ask them to show a little leg too we will win by wider margins. Sheesh.

Honestly, this makes the Washington Post when so much else if swept under the rug? Gawd.

[babylonsister]

2. Sex sells - who knew?

:D

[Cooley Hurd]

3. I'll take any advantage we can get...

:thumbsup:

...although the part that claims "by design" is bullshit! Further down in the article:

<snip>
Democratic operatives do not publicly say that they went out of their way this year to recruit candidates with a high hotness quotient. Privately, however, they acknowledge that, as they focused on finding the most dynamic politicians to challenge vulnerable Republicans, it did not escape their notice that some of the most attractive prospects were indeed often quite attractive.
</snip>

"By design" implies that some candidates were chosen EXCLUSIVELY for their good looks - the passage I noted says otherwise.:grr:

[democrat in Tallahassee]

4. GOP interbreeding is not a pretty thing; no looks no brains either

the big tent approach is much better. Bigger gene pool; aren't Babs and poppy related?

[rosesaylavee]

5. Babs and Poppy were actually

part of an early cloning experiment. Its really much worse than you think. Their clones were first cousins. :)

[sarge43]

10. In their youth Poppy and Big Bar were attractive in a waspy way

Just goes to show Coco Chanel was right; by age fifty you have the face you deserve (and earned).

[rosesaylavee]

11. Thanks for reminding me of Coco's words.

She was very right.

[DavidDvorkin]

6. From what I've read, it's a problem to be too attractive

In both business and politics, attractive people do better than people of average looks, but beautiful people don't do as well. Perhaps great beauty is intimidating, or excites resenment.

I've noticed that very goodlooking politicians, such as Jennifer Granholm, seem to deliberately tone down their looks a bit.

[TahitiNut]

7. Beauty is only skin deep ...

... while Repugly goes clear to the bone. :rofl:

[Cooley Hurd]

9. .

:spray:

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

8. I can't believe

this is a page 1 story. An inside the fold story I could see, but page 1? No wonder so many people go to the blogs for news.

[Hosnon]

12. No big surprise. All things being equal, why not choose the one most

pleasing to the eyes?

However, all things are never equal so the question really is too what degree beauty is important.

[patricia92243]

13. We shoulda run John Edwards as Prez - not VP - based on this criteria.

we would be in the WH now.

:)

[Generic Other]

14. People with positive messages just seem beautiful

People with hate filled, fearmongering boogeymen grins scare us all shitless.

[BlueManDude]

15. Hastert is a hottie. n/t

[ariesgem]

16. and so are his friends