Posted by Jed Lewison on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 7:30 AM Pacific

Of haircuts, WMDs, and Faux news

You probably know that John Edwards recently got a premium haircut that was extra-expensive because the stylist had to travel to him and unless you've been on Mars you certainly know there were no WMDs in Iraq when the Republican War in Iraq started.

But did you know that if you know both of these facts you are pretty unusual? The Fox News propaganda network reveals that 44% of Americans are aware that Edwards gets his hair cut by a good hair stylist. Meanwhile, as of last July, 50% of Americans thought that Iraq had WMDs before Bush launched his invasion.

The Republican media propaganda network has presented the haircut as an example of Edwards being out of touch with America. Blow-dried NBC anchor Brian Williams (who lists himself as a member of Rush Limbaugh's radio audience) even asked Edwards about it at a presidential debate!

Meanwhile, when Rudy Giuliani's campaign cancels a media appearance with a family because they aren't wealthy enough to help Giuliani project his message, the mass media is silent.

The question nobody has really raised, however, is whether Edwards' concern for his appearance is rational. Let's face it, if voters are more likely to elect someone who looks good (and has nice hair), maybe Edwards is just being smart.

The 1960 presidential election is generally considered to be the first contest of the television era in which looks could play a role in winning votes. So let's look at pictures of the candidates:

Jfk_2 Nixon        Lbj Goldwater
Nixon Humphrey        Nixon Mcgovern
Carter Ford       Reagan Carter
Reagan Mondale       Hwbush Dukakis
Clinton Hwbush       Clinton Dole
Bush Algore       Bush Kerry

You see? The candidate with better hair has won every single Presidential election from 1960 to present. We're talking about 12 campaigns, which is no sample size. (1964, 1988, and 2004 might have been draws in the hair department and Al Gore did get more votes than Bush in 2000.)

So what would you rather have: a candidate for your political party that tries to look good on TV, or a President who invades a country based on false claims of WMDs, only to joke about it later?

Of haircuts, WMDs, and Faux news

You probably know that John Edwards recently got a premium haircut that was extra-expensive because the stylist had to travel to him and unless you've been on Mars you certainly know there were no WMDs in Iraq when the Republican War in Iraq started.

But did you know that if you know both of these facts you are pretty unusual? The Fox News propaganda network reveals that 44% of Americans are aware that Edwards gets his hair cut by a good hair stylist. Meanwhile, as of last July, 50% of Americans thought that Iraq had WMDs before Bush launched his invasion.

The Republican media propaganda network has presented the haircut as an example of Edwards being out of touch with America. Blow-dried NBC anchor Brian Williams (who lists himself as a member of Rush Limbaugh's radio audience) even asked Edwards about it at a presidential debate!

Meanwhile, when Rudy Giuliani's campaign cancels a media appearance with a family because they aren't wealthy enough to help Giuliani project his message, the mass media is silent.

The question nobody has really raised, however, is whether Edwards' concern for his appearance is rational. Let's face it, if voters are more likely to elect someone who looks good (and has nice hair), maybe Edwards is just being smart.

The 1960 presidential election is generally considered to be the first contest of the television era in which looks could play a role in winning votes. So let's look at pictures of the candidates:

Jfk_2 Nixon        Lbj Goldwater
Nixon Humphrey        Nixon Mcgovern
Carter Ford       Reagan Carter
Reagan Mondale       Hwbush Dukakis
Clinton Hwbush       Clinton Dole
Bush Algore       Bush Kerry

You see? The candidate with better hair has won every single Presidential election from 1960 to present. We're talking about 12 campaigns, which is no sample size. (1964, 1988, and 2004 might have been draws in the hair department and Al Gore did get more votes than Bush in 2000.)

So what would you rather have: a candidate for your political party that tries to look good on TV, or a President who invades a country based on false claims of WMDs, only to joke about it later?

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