Spending $400 for a haircut epitomizes everything wrong with American politics today.

[Clarkie1]

It's all image, not substance. If I was a donor to the Edwards campaign I would be calling to demand my money back. There is no way anyone who spends such an obscene sum for a haircut can have any credibility discussing ending poverty. On top of that, it shows a tremendous lack of judgment. If he cares so little about how he spends hard-earned donor money, how can Americans trust him to spend hard-earned tax payer money wisely?

He should have gone to Supercuts....seriously.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The fact that people are getting wrapped around the axles

about something as trivial as the cost of a haircut bothers me more. The only thing I give a rat's ass about with respect to any candidate is his/her position on the issues. I care not at all whether they live in a big house, dye their hair, get a nose job, wear a girdle, or spend too much on a haircut.

Here's what I care about: Iraq, universal health care, poverty, the right to form unions, the constitutional separation of powers, womens' reproductive rights, the Bill of Rights. Stuff like that.

I've already contributed to Edwards' campaign and no, I'm not asking for my money back.

[Clarkie1]

2. To me, the haircut negates everything he says on the issues.

Words are cheap. I can't take someone who spends $400 for a haircut seriously, or anything he says seriously.

[kiahzero]

3. Clark probably gets expensive haircuts too.

I say that as a Clark supporter.

You're being silly.

[Clark2008]

12. And I'd say that doesn't matter one whit in this discussion.

Clark's not running (yet). Edwards is.

You're being judgmental.

[Clarkie1]

24. If he pays $400 for a haircut I simply cannot take Clark seriously.

Hope he doesn't, or he would lose my support. I think how much one is willing to pay for something like that says a lot about a person and their priorities.

[frogcycle]

8. well, then we understand just how shallow you are

[Clark2008]

13. Edwards gets two $400 haircuts and you're calling the OP

shallow??

That's rich (no pun intended).

[frogcycle]

40. "the haircut negates everything he says on the issues"

and a blowjob made Clinton impeachable.

anyone who uses one factoid, however stupid, crass, or vulgar to "negate everything he says on the issues..." is incredibly shallow.

I happen to like Clark.

He picked his nose, so I cannot support him. Sorry.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. But you don't support him anyhow.

If he'd decided to cut his own hair in order to save money, with the result that he looked like he'd stuck his head in a blender, you'd probably bust on him for being cheap and looking unprofessional -- right?

Probably it wasn't the most politically adept move.

But I really don't give much of a damn about it.

[Fresh_Start]

6. "position on the issues"

as if their words is the same as their actions.

When you see someone acting contrary to what the say, they are hypocritical at best and deceitful at worst.
WORDS are not the test. Actions are the test.
And this is one action that does not put him in good light.

[RiverStone]

31. The cost is trivial - paying for it from campaign donations is not

I don't give a rat's ass what John wants to spend on his hair...

$400 seems silly for an easy haircut, but to each his own.

What I find incredulous is his campaign paying for it! That IS the issue.

[RiverStone]

32. oops - duplicate

[Fresh_Start]

4. Lots of DUers are Bushie-like in their inability

to accept criticism of their candidates.

It was a stupid move and he did it twice in the first quarter.
He's a gorgeous man, he didn't need a Hollywood stylist.
But having a Hollywood stylist distances him from the vast majority of Americans.
Totally hypocritical after the two Americas speak.
Feeds into his prettyboy, spends an inordinate amount of time admiring himself in the mirror, image.
Really dumb after Clinton $200 haircut BS and Kerry grooming BS.

[Robson]

9. He needs a talking to.

I like Edwards a lot, but I see no reason why it is to his benefit for him to personally demonstrate that there are two Americas....us and him. It was politically foolish of him to put himself in a huge house and now ultra expensive haircuts. Someone needs to tell him straight up about the bear in the woods.

[Fresh_Start]

10. yes exactly

you don't want to cede an inch to the other side
he's playing into their hands
its foolish

And right now he's my candidate of choice, so yes it upsets me.

[Clarkie1]

25. Two Americas, indeed. $400 and Supercuts. nt

[Cobalt Violet]

30. Supercuts is a sweatshop!

I'm glad he doesn't go there.

[Clark2008]

35. Is Ross the Boss better, then?

$30 for a haircut. $7.95 at my local barber shop (not a sweat shop - and I know because I take my son there and my son's hair is MUCH 'cuter' than Edwards').

[Cobalt Violet]

37. Never heard of them. How are they at color?

I hope Edwards does have to get the haircut of a Cute Little Boy to please people.

[pinto]

5. I'm out of the loop on this, but it seems a shallow bit of controversy,

given the *bigger* issues. :shrug:

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Bigger? Like His House?

That's bigger, for sure.

Casa Mother Teresa is one huge structure.

[RiverStone]

11. yes and no

Is a haircut debate a shallow item all things considered? Yes, absolutely!

Did John do anything to prevent such a shallow item from becoming a controversy? No, absolutely not!

Damn, WTF does he hire political advisor's for? Someone needs to tell John that he does great on the big stuff (2 America's speech) but blows it on the little stuff ($400 haircut).

[Clarkie1]

26. Of couse there are bigger issues, but it reflects on Edwards the candidate.

These kinds of actions, trivial though the may seem, tell us something about the candidates. In that sense, they are important. To me, it's not so much what a candidate says, it's what a candidate does.

Two Americas, indeed.

[Atman]

14. It demonstrates an out-of-touch candidate...But Rudy got a pass on the milk.

I, for one, didn't buy the crap that it made no difference that Rudy thought milk was only $1.79 a gallon. It makes a HUGE difference when the leaders don't have the slightest inkling of a notion what REAL AMERICANS face every single day. I'm not exactly pissed off at Edward's expenditure; he's a multimillionaire. Many will argue that that is what we work so hard to make all that money for, so that if we every are fortunate enough to be in Edward's shoes financially that we no longer have to wait in line at SuperCuts or behind some screaming snot-nosed brat whining for candy at the grocery store. I mean, let's be serious...if you had Edward's money, would $400 seem like anything but sofa change to you? I cringe at paying $15 for a haircut. But still, it showed bad political judgement. Rudy didn't demonstrate bad political judgement, he demonstrated utter cluelessness as to the plight of working Americans.

Bad and badder?

.

[gravity]

15. What about paying millions for TV commercials?

The truth is that the $400 dollar haircut helped his campaign, well at least until the media started reporting it. His image is shown in the media everyday, and it's good for him to look flawless for it, since every little bit counts.

Politics is all about image today, like it always has been. If people voted on candidates solely based on the issues, then there wouldn't be a need for campaigns in the first place.

It's all apart of the game, and if you don't play along, then you are left behind. It sucks, but it is the way it is.

[Clark2008]

18. How did a $400 haircut help his campaign?

His hair never looks any different (not in the sun, in the rain, in the wind - dang it, it never MOVES :evilgrin: ).

[gravity]

22. His hair never looks any different

not in the sun, in the rain, in the wind - dang it, it never MOVES

I think you answered your own question.B-)

Nixon's five oclock shadow could have cost him the election, so appearance does matter.

[Forkboy]

17. I'd be curious to know how many people who thinks it's fine were upset at Laura's bill.

And I wonder how many will tell me how it's different in any way.

I can't say this is a deal killer for me,though.I can be sure I'd find something like this in every campaign.But it's a sad example of how even one of the best candidates on poverty really doesn't know what it's like.And that's just a sad statement,period.If this is an example of one of poverty's great political champions I think it says a lot about why poverty is such a problem.

I think he's a good guy and truly means well on the poverty issue.But this was dumb,just like every other pol who does this stuff and wonders why people think politicians are out of touch.It was stupid politically because it tosses a gimme to the Rightwing,and stupid because it insults a lot of people who can barely pay their heat or rent,let alone spend $400 on a haircut.

[Cha]

19. Jesus H Christ.

:nuke:

[Clarkie1]

27. ...never paid $400 for a haircut?

Uh...what exactly is your point?

[Omphaloskepsis]

34. Where did he get his haircut?

Maybe he had someone drop by his place and cut the locks. I imagine the cost of security for a trip to Supercuts would have cost more.

[Cobalt Violet]

33. You can say that again. n/t

[jobycom]

20. Did you leave off the sarcasm smiley on purpose? Cause not everyone got it.

:shrug:

[Horse with no Name]

21. I wonder how many government freebie haircuts ole Wesley has gotten

I expect you to research it and get back with me, ummkay?

[Clarkie1]

28. Probably a lot of crewcuts, but that's apples and oranges.

And no, I will not be getting back to you, silly.

[LisaL]

23. I would say him spending so much campaign money on

haircuts does not look good.
Did people who donate think he was going to spend so much on haircuts?
Would people still donate to him if they knew he was going to spend so much on haircuts?

[Cobalt Violet]

29. Supercuts is a sweatshop!

Many of the people who work there are earning so little that they qualify for foodstamps, medicaid, subsidized housing and childcare. Kind of like Wal-Mart. Is that what he should be supporting? Would it be good if he bought his clothes from Wal-Mart too? Is that what you find more consistant with his anti-poverty talk? The last person that makes any money from supercuts is the stylist. The billions in profits go to Regis Corportation. The taxpayers subsidize supercuts work force so Regis can continue of offer cheap haircuts.

I'm glad he spends good money to look as good as he can instead of exploiting the slave labor service class.

[Omphaloskepsis]

36. There was a thread in the lounge about..

hair care. Some people paid 250$ for a dye job and a cut. It isn't that insane.

[Cobalt Violet]

38. No it's not insane.

Services cost money. Services providers are human and deserve a living wage.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

39. arguing about haircuts reflects all that is wrong with politics today.

we take away from the politics of a politician and focus on the personal.

[Clarkie1]

42. It's the personal that tells us the most of what's important. nt

[GreenTea]

41. Who are you a donor to-And I'll find some frivolous bullshit they spent to tear them apart...Ready?

Dennis Kucinich is the ONLY exception. That's why I support & donate to his campaign just as I did in 2004.

But those who have their heads up their ass as if Edwards did something so different than the rest...

So Clarkie, old boy...Do let me know your candidate AND how much would be appropriate for a haircut in a Beverly Hills Salon - a 100 bucks & tip? If that's where you happen to be for a fund raiser as was Edwards, Obama & Hillary?

[Blackhatjack]

43. I for one am TOTALLY SHOCKED that Clarkie1 will not be supporting Edwards..... NOT

Gee I guess you are late to the party and haven't read a thing about this issue before posting this.

And to think you were so strongly in Edwards' camp before you learned about the haircuts.

I guess Edwards giving specifics on issues like healthcare reform, ending the war, closing the wage gap, etc. all must take a backseat to your discovery of the 'haircut scandal'.

Must be something in the water that some 'Clarkies' drink.

BTW Did Wes Clark officially announce he is running for president in 2008 and I missed it?

[LaPera]

44. Seems duplicity runs rampant...with not even an understanding or look over ones shoulder...

Man, a republican trait bred and fed...amazing to watch who gobbles it all up with such glee & righteousness.

[Norrin Radd]

45. It wasn't the cut that cost $400.

It was the bowl. It was very fancy bowl.