I had a different reaction to Edwards clever haircut debate video.

[calteacherguy]

It was really clever. He tried to make it about hair, and not the $400 haircut.

However, watch the video and imagine Edwards $400 trim, and then the victims of Katrina.

Just think how far that $400 could have gone for some of them....

It puts things in a diferent perspective.

[saracat]

1. Boy the Edwards hating is really personal with you isn't it?

It must really bother you that Edwards did so well in the Debate.

[calteacherguy]

2. Not hate, but the $400 haircut makes a difference to me.

As it does for many other Democrats. Yes, certainly hair is not a topic for a serious debate, but that's not the point.

For many people, the $400 haircut revealed something about Edwards, or confirmed something about him, that they do not appreciate in a Presidential candidate.

Edwards suggestion that some are equating the importance of his haircut (althogh strangely it was not his haircut that appeared in the video) with Iraq or Katrina is ridiculous. It misses the point entirely.

[saracat]

3. Not really.As the video shows, there are more important issues.

And I know many women who routinely pay close to that for their hair.And it could be that it is not uncommon for men in the public arena to pay that much.Do the expensive suits the guys wear bother you as well? Some of those suits are over $10,000.Should they be giving that money to Katrina?

[Common Sense Party]

5. Katrina doesn't want the money. She's long gone. n/t

[snowbear]

12. Cal... just out of curiousity, who are you leaning towards?

Thanks for the info..

[emilyg]

13. Not a supporter of Edwards but

his haircut didn't bother me at all.

[insane_cratic_gal]

18. Just curious but have you wondered

how much Hillary's haircut/and color was?

Or how much did any other candidate pay for their hair cuts?

I'd be willing to fathom they don't go to supercuts

[Tejanocrat]

31. This repetitive tedium is exactly why the "ignore" feature was created.

[Common Sense Party]

4. I hear ya, but...

If Edwards had spent only $30 on a haircut, how would that have made a difference in the lives of ANY Katrina victims?

The haircut was quite a bit AFTER Katrina.

You expect Edwards to send off a check for $370...to whom, exactly?

I understand the EMOTIONS, but this is not all about emotions and feelings.

[zalinda]

6. I take it, he's not your candidate

He made his money, he can spend it any way he wishes. He has given a tremendous amount of time and probably money to different poverty projects.

Because he paid $400 for a hair cut, does that mean he should have instead donated that $400 to Katrina victims? What if he paid $100 for a hair cut, is that too much? How about 20 bucks? What if he doesn't get his hair cut at all, will that satisfy you?

You either like his positions or you don't. Trying to make him look bad because he isn't your candidate is really in poor form.

zalinda

[calteacherguy]

8. Well, to be objective here, he must have thought the $400 haircut was an issue

with voters, or he wouldn't have gone to all that trouble to make the video and use his time to air it.

I'll give him credit, he's right on that score. It's an issue with some. The biggest issue, no. But I prefer a candidate who spends less than $50 on a haircut.

It tells me something about his values and priorities. I'm not going to debate it, because I don't think debating it will change anything. There are some for whom it's a factor of many factors (like me) and others for whom it is not.

[saracat]

10. Well, that leaves you with either Gravel or DK.Though how you will

know for sure, I couldn't say.Good luck with tracking down the barbers!

[calteacherguy]

28. Why not Obama? nt

[saracat]

34. I am sure his is not cheap either! Just because it is short doesn't mean inexpensive.

[insane_cratic_gal]

19. I'm sure you won't find anyone w/ a 50 cut

standing on that podium tonight.

Cripes my haircuts (and I'm a woman) can run over 100 bucks I only do it once a year because of it

[zalinda]

38. He didn't think it was an issue

His $400 haircut has been played out across the country, he would be a fool not to turn that negative into a positive. I have to wonder, how much does Bush's haircuts cost?

BTW, if a barber or hair stylist has to spend his/her time away from making their living to give a candidate a hair cut, how much do you think they should be compensated? Even if they only charged $25 a hair cut, but they had to be gone all or most of the day to accommodate the candidate, you don't think that the money they would have made should be paid to them? They have to make a living too.

zalinda

[saracat]

7. And Edwards did do quite a bit to help New Orleans.And it wasn't just photo ops.

I am sure he spent way more than $400!

[w13rd0]

9. And...

...everytime I see someone blow a couple thousand at a casino, or buy useless gadgets, or purchase a Hummer, or go to dinner at an expensive restaurant, or see a bad movie, or get jewelry, or donate to Republicans, or...any of the myriad other ways money can be "wasted"...I COULD get incensed that they aren't spending that money more wisely, for the betterment of society, but that's not the world we live in, and that's not the way I wish to live my life, in a perpetual state of outrage over the little things.

How many billion were lost in Iraq? How many haircuts could that have paid for? How many houses for the Katrina displaced?

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. I though Edwards was great in the "debate"

He looked great and he had a great haircut too. However, some of the other candidates could use the number of his hairdresser.

[Syrinx]

14. as a heterosexual male, let me say...

I think Edwards hair is pretty, and that's why I'm voting for him.

[pnwmom]

15. If a $400 haircut helps ANY Democrat to beat the Repub in 2008,

then it will be a great investment that will benefit victims of Katrina and all Americans in the long run.

This is NOT a reason to vote against a populist candidate. He's always supported average Americans in his policies, and he's donated generously to various causes. He's entitled to spend what he wants on the personal stuff.

Edwards isn't my current first choice, but I think he -- like most of the Dem candidates -- could make a great candidate.

I wish we would discuss the differences that really matter -- not things like haircuts.

[terisan]

16. I like seeing a hairdresser get a $400.00 payday much better than seeing a CEO get millions for

obtaining a no-bid government contract or a VP making millions out of his former company's success in obtaining no-bid govt. contracts.

Lots of Democrats claim to be for the working people up until the point where the workers make some decent money. How many other haircuts was the hairdresser able to do on that day; did the hairdresser have to travel to the candidate? If so did the hairdresser get reimbursed for the cost of travel seperately? Most hairdressers are independent contractors and have to pay their own health insurance and other costs out of their gross pay.

Let's applaud the success of a worker, and the willingness of a rich man to pay for service. Would you prefer he paid a lot less and tipped him a dime , like John D. Rockafeller used to do?

Heck, Edwards should have said that he could afford to be generous to a hairdresser because Bush gave him and other rich people a big tax cut, but he would still rather that Bush gave the hairdresser a big tax cut instead.

I suspect JFK would have laughed and said that if the Republicans were upset about his possibly overpaying a worker, he sure wasn't going to tell them what he tipped the hairdresser.

If Democrats don't learn to reframe junk stories like this , we will lose.

Note: At the height of the French-bashing by Republicans during the lead-up to the Iraq invasion, I read only one news story that pointed out that G W Bush had a French tailor and French chef.

[MaineDem]

32. Good point! n/t

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hieronymus]

20. The haicut issue is bullshit. Romney spent $300 for a makeup consultant.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

41. Cal talks a lot about Democrat JE's haircuts

How many times have you seen him talk about Republican Romney's $300 makeup session?

[aquart]

21. It wasn't about hair. It was about priorities.

But you are now making the argument of Jesus' disciples, just before he was betrayed. They argued that the fragrant oil/ointment should have been sold to benefit the poor instead of being poured over Jesus.

Jesus answer was, frankly, stupid and along the lines of let it go. But your argument isn't much better. No one with money should enjoy a dime of it because it indicates an impure heart and that person's unfitness to serve or lead or care for people. Jesus' disciples thought exactly as you do. They were far more pure and orthodox than Jesus in their opinion.

Since every one of our candidates is NOT POOR, perhaps you can go raid a manger and find a candidate worthy enough for you.

[cboy4]

22. I wouldn't expect to hear anything different coming from an

Obama supporter like yourself.

And I couldn't care less what he spends on his hair.

[Nutmegger]

23. Don't you ever take a break from the hating?

:eyes:

The haircut is a non-issue, along with his house and the type of light-bulbs he uses.

Sheesh!

[w13rd0]

26. Wait a second!!!

What type of light bulbs does he use? Low wattage energy saving light bulbs are not only inexpensive, but last longer than ordinary light bulbs. I would hope that he has enough sense to be intelligent about his light bulb selection...

</sarcasm>

[Maddy McCall]

24. What's the point.

//

[draft_mario_cuomo]

42. Cal is simply trying to revive the $400 haircut issue and the implication JE is a hypocrite

In other words, the thread was posted to advance right-wing talking points on Edwards...

[MessiahRp]

25. A $16 Cost Cutters Haircut is overpriced, so what?

Consider it an unfortunate investment in his attempt to get the job of President so he can perform the greater good he wants to perform (specifically in relation to poverty).

Could the money have gone to better use elsewhere? Sure. But so could the over $100 million he will have to raise and spend just to make his campaign viable. It's the way the election system is set up that forces this kind of situation on the candidates. And John Edwards knows more than most that having a slightly off hair day is just media attack fodder for the embarrassing press that doesn't cover real issues anymore.

Rp

[Hippo_Tron]

27. We live in a very shallow country, people vote for candidates based on how they look

Edwards isn't spending $400 on a haircut, he's spending $400 on an appearance that will get him a lot of votes.

I don't support Edwards but I think that attacking him for his haircuts is lame.

[tkmorris]

29. Of course you did EdwardsSmearGuy

Edwards could save a legion of infants from a blazing inferno and you would find something not quite right about the shirt he chose to wear for the occasion.

Give it a rest won't you?

Oh, and by the way? Edwards has shown more interest in New Orleans and the Katrina victims than any other candidate, although Al Gore has done well in this area too. These people were ignored and allowed to die, than the survivors were exported from the city ON PURPOSE in order to improve it's tax base. Do you imagine any other Democratic candidates giving a tinker's damn about the plight of the truly poor? Who?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

43. Good post. For all of cal's faux interest in New Orleans I have not seen him comment on JE's NO plan

[mitchtv]

30. So he paid "tourist prices" for a Beverly Hills

BFD! the guy had to close his shop and travel Welcome to Calif. Get real.

[jsamuel]

33. You are just making yourself look very disconnected.

[JANdad]

35. I think when Obama metioned last night

that we need better teachers in this country...oh fuck it...what's the point...you are now officially on ignore...

[penguin7]

36. Edward's 28,000 Sq foot house is an issue

I dont see environmentalists supporting Edwards with any enthusiasm.

Comes the GE, if through some disaster, Edwards gets nominated, his negatives will be enormous. He made millions of dollars as a personal injury lawyer. Edwards will try to make this some Robin Hood thing, but in general Americans do not like lawyers. I could go on and on here about lawyers myself as politicians are for the most part lawyers. If the fox is writing the laws for the henhouse, you will not find a hungry fox. But lets not make this about lawyers. Let's just agree that it is a major negative in the general election.

Edwards voted for the patriot act, the bankruptcy bill and the Iraq war. I dont see these votes helping in the general.

The people that dont like Edwards think he is too slick. During the debate he spoke in platitudes, which perhaps is a good way to go if people are willing to swallow it.

The bottom line is people do not like a too slick lawyer that builds a 28000 sq foot mansion for himself and gets $400 hair cuts, and then goes on a poverty tour. I think Edwards is the weakest candidate.

[zalinda]

37. Tell that to people who still love JFK or his brother Bobby

I think Edwards has been the most honest of all the candidates. He could have pandered to those who are gay, but he didn't. As for being slick, well, hells bells, any one looks slick against Bush.

How big is Crawford ranch? Will it accommodate all the secret service and others who come there? The mansion was built while he was/is running for President. He built in things that he would need for being President, that's forward thinking. And, besides, how do we know that he didn't build Elizabeth her dream house, because he realized that life is too short for her not to have her dream.

As for being a lawyer, he was for the little guy, helping them fight against the corporations. Now, what's wrong with that?

I'm guessing he's not your candidate. As for me, I am registered Independent, so I will not be voting in the primaries. I don't have a candidate for the primaries, I will vote for whomever gets the dem nod.

zalinda

[Adelante]

39. His Yucca Mountain vote has to hurt him with environmentalists

And his record on mountaintop removal mining.

Re the OP: I thought the video was good. It would have been better a couple of months ago before so much damage was done.

[mitchtv]

47. His answer on the debates about nuclear power was far superior to Barak's

who would include nukes in the max. I liked JE's POV more

[draft_mario_cuomo]

45. Recapping the right-wing talking points in this "new" poster's post

1) Edwards is an ambulance chaser
2) Edwards made his money leeching off hard-working and honest corporations
3) Lawyers are evil
4) Edwards is slick
5) Edwards is rich and hence a hypocrite because the rich should not care about the poor

[penguin7]

49. I am not right wing

I supported Jerry Brown when he ran for president. He was a lawyer. If I refused to vote for lawyers I wouldnt be voting very much. I don't like our legal system. It is seriously corrupted.

Further, if by some horrible chance Edwards wins the nomination, the fact that Edwards is an ambulance chaser will become a major issue. I might welcome that, but the GOP won't really present the issue fairly and the campaign will just become dirty on this issue. The GOP really likes a corrupt legal system as much as the Democrats.

lastly, building a 28,000 foot house is clearly hypocritical with his stance on the environment.

The haircut and house issue may only be a bad style point when it comes to poverty.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

40. Another "concern" post from someone who does nothing but attack Democrats

Wake up people. Who benefits from calteach's "work" at DU?

[mitchtv]

48. On most issues, too

always the RW POV never a Democratic point of view. Very smart however, we'll have a special pizza waiting.

[Beaverhausen]

44. Must be nice for you to not have the capacity to care about what really matters

That way, you can keep slinging right-wing talking points while avoiding the real issues troubling our country.

Ignorance really is bliss, I guess.

[applegrove]

46. If you think the haircut is bad...wait till you find out what they spend on clothes!!!