ABCNews.com, Hume join in the Edwards "Coif Controversy"
An April 18 entry on ABCNews.com's Political Radar weblog, titled "Edwards Flattens Coif Controversy," noted that a "report filed with the Federal Election Commission last weekend revealed that former Sen. John Edwards' D-N.C., presidential campaign twice shelled out $400 for haircuts he received from a Beverly Hills salon," adding, "ABC News has learned the money will be returned." The blog post went on to say that the "hair cut revelation did little to minimize what some call Edwards' 'Breck Girl' image."
Similarly, on the April 18 edition of Fox News' Special Report, host and Fox News Washington managing editor Brit Hume reported:
HUME: And Beverly Hills hairdresser Joseph Torrenueva has confirmed that he did indeed give Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards two haircuts at $400 apiece. A report from the Federal Election Commission says the haircuts were paid for out of Edwards' campaign funds, along with $250 in services to a spa in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 from the Pink Sapphire in New Hampshire, which is described on its website as a, quote, "unique boutique for the mind, body and face," that caters mostly to women.
The Pink Sapphire's owner says the fees were for doing TV makeup, not facials or cucumber peels. Edwards has been teased a lot for his looks, and is shown on this famous YouTube video primping his hair, and sitting for a hair stylist to help him. The video is set to the music "I Feel Pretty," and goes on for more than two minutes. The campaign has had no comment on the new reports about those $400 haircuts.
As Media Matters for America noted, bloggers Greg Sargent and Glenn Greenwald criticized media outlets such as the Associated Press and The New Republic, which also seized on the haircut story in labeling Edwards "pretty," for "playing the 'pretty boy' game in stories about Edwards, given the degree to which it's become a tried-and-true GOP and winger talking point," as Sargent wrote. Greenwald added that reporting like ABC's and Hume's is devoid of "substantive criticism," and instead "is all just mindless gossipy shorthand intended to fuel right-wing caricatures and platitudes that have nothing to do with substance and everything to do with demonizing the personality of these political figures in order to render them ugly and embarrassing -- hence, Edwards is a girlish fop."
From ABCNews.com's April 18 Political Radar entry:
ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: You can tell it's political season when people are putting a fine tooth comb to, well hair. A report filed with the Federal Election Commission last weekend revealed that former Sen. John Edwards' D-N.C., presidential campaign twice shelled out $400 for haircuts he received from a Beverly Hills salon.
Just as fast as gossip spreads in the fashion salon, ABC News has learned the money will be returned. "As for the haircuts, the bill was sent to the campaign, it was paid in error, and Edwards will be reimbursing the campaign," says campaign spokesperson Eric Schultz.
The hair cut revelation did little to minimize what some call Edwards' 'Breck Girl' image. Earlier this year, YouTube showcased a video of Edwards fixing his hair before a televised interview, demonstrating the unforgiving power of the site[.]
A $400 haircut & a visit to the Pink Sapphire deserves a bit of ridicule.
Edwards is the guy that talks about Two America's. Then stupidly gives a bone-headed example of one of them.
Remember when Bush One seemingly was utterly amazed with a supermarket scanner during a visit to some Grocers convention back during the '92 primaries? Well EXTENSIVE media coverage of that footage [ on network TV] coupled with the running commentary from the print media [starting with the NY Times then snowballing] chided Bush One for being out of touch with average Americans and may have helped derail his re-election.
IF Edwards and his staff are this clueless about how to run a smart campaign & don't know better than to avoid *these moments* then tough sh#t if the media piles on.
You're missing the point. Are all the other candidates going to Supercuts? If not, then why all the attention on Edwards's 'do?
If you guessed "because it furthers the narrative that Edwards is a big gay," you're right!
Well Val, other than maybe Romney who else has a head of hair that could be improved with a $400 haircut? ;-)
When Edwards is referred to as a *pretty boy* I don't think sexuality is being called into it. Nobody with any sense would think Edwards is Gay-not that there's anything wrong with that ;-)
To me two examples of pretty boys would be Paul McCartney in '64 and an Ashton Kitcher today.
Look it's Edward's money, he can spend it anyway he likes, but a $400 haircut is gonna get ridiculed.
I can't even imagine what would make any haircut worth $400
And if Edwards is gonna play up his Two America theme than he ought to be smarter than to blow that kind of money on primping himself. Part of his base probably only makes $400 a week pay.
Bad political move, IMO.
All the other candidates are getting their hair styled professionally, and they are not going to salons to do it. If you pay a very good hairstylist to come to your office, it costs hundreds of dollars. Maybe Kucinich is having his wife cut his hairpiece, but the rest of them are getting pros to do their 'dos.
They all do it. They all do it. It's what you do when you are running for President of a large, media-saturated country. It is not just Edwards.
They all do it.
So as all our Moms used to say when we were kids:
If everybody is jumping off a bridge does that mean you have to do it?
Val, Edwards is running as the man of the common people. Two Americas is HIS theme. It just seems to me that if you're trying to at least give the appearance that you're not some spoiled rich guy you might forego those $400 haircuts & trips to the spa.
Please someone here explain to me the major difference between say a $40 haircut & a $400 one? I mean besides $360? If Edwards is so concerned about the poor, why not donate that leftover $360 after every haircut to help the folks he claims to represent?
"If everybody is jumping off a bridge does that mean you have to do it?"
The better question is, if everybody is jumping off a bridge does that mean we should only discuss when one of them does it and ignore the rest?
I don't see how going to Dr. Taintlich's gay man camp is going to help with that image.
"Controversial?" Embarrassing, maybe.
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR DEMOCRAT!!!
Well there ya go, Brett has found his calling, paparazzi!!! He is now the fashion diva of Fox News punditry!! That bowzer mutt face and kisser he should be a real laugh riot to be sure!!
Fox News can be relied on to produce the really hard news on the campaign trail, like hair, and beauty products used by the candidates!! I'm good with that, so long as they don't trouble the little minds with real policy issues we're in good shape!
Geez people, these buttheads called the 2000 election and got us this nightmare, so please wake up!
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
liberals are kind of like al sharpton and the afro american elite - liberals can pollute, carry guns, and fly in jets but the avg american cant because WE liberals are "more reessspoooonnssiiible"
al sharpton and his crapper rap cronies can cuss, demean women and other blacks but imus cant because blacks understaaaand more and are speaking from the heeeaart from their surrooouunndings.
also isnt it funny how a painting of someone crapping on Jesus is art and libs dont wanna be judgemental about it (because they hate christianity) but they still report Cho's play? Dont you libs considered that ACCEPTABLE ART???? whateever happened to tolerance?
Straw Man argument
Read it. Learn it.
And don't ever use it again.
Thanks.
While you're at it, Deeznuts, why don't you tell some flies not to eat poo.
Edwards says there are two Americas. This event shows us yet again which one he belongs to. I can't believe that MMFA took the effort to post this item. How sad.
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
The man makes his own way the truly American way and refuses to forget where he comes from, and the Ditto-Head would think his draft-dodging-scoundrels who would cheat the taxpayers to make their fortune as more fit for the Presidency!!
The Band-Aid Purple Heart Party, better known as the RNC has demoted themselves to obscurity for the next few decades for their moment of power. 12 years, that was it, and they managed to prove to America that they are unfit for leadership.
So, Kevin enjoy the rest of your life as a irrelevant Republican, enjoy your hours with the mental midgets like Rush Limbaugh, we'll keep American Democracy safe for the duration from threats foreign and domestic like Republicans!
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
Dan,
For all their BS about self-reliance and boot-strap pulling, Conservatives do seem to hate the people who actually achieve the "American Dream" due to hard work and determination.
"Conservatives do seem to hate the people who actually achieve the "American Dream" due to hard work and determination."
Wrong on all accounts. First, there is a particular disdain for Edwards because of how he achieved "the American Dream" which was by being a dishonest trial lawyer (one of the lowest forms of life in my opinion). Second, this guy goes around preaching about 2 America's, which is fine because he came from humble beginnings, but now he clearly lives in the America that he attacks and complains about every day. He engages in the exact same kind of exorbitant spending and lavish behavior that he complains about and denigrates every single day out on the campaign trail. Seems a bit of hypocrisy to me.
Yes, everyone is correct in saying that "everyone is doing it" but what kind of idiots are running the campaigns who would let such a stupid thing like this to happen?
The state of our election process is sad enough but it has reached a new low when the candidate has to decide either to be honest about his regular habits (as out of touch as they may be to average Americans) or to pretend he is a regular Joe and get his locks trimmed at Supercuts.
The whole process is nauseating.
I was leaning heavily towards Edwards but this bit of clumsy stupidity combined with his huge house and the blogger brouhaha is making me reconsider whether his campaign is sharp enough to deal with GOP opposition researchers like the Swiftboat Liars.
Also have to wonder, assuming every man at this level of politics gets expensive haircuts, why do the ones "exposing" Dems seem to get the mass exposure?
Maybe the opposing side being generally less interested in issues creates the demand.And, no, it's not the same as Bush being astounded by a scanner.
Thanks for posting this story. I am going to contact Brit Hume at FoxNews and give him a "Well-done" and for doing this story. We all need to know about hypocrites likes Edwards and their phony and hallow empty noise about caring for the "little guy!"I'm SURE Hume does his OWN hair and makeup. No high priced stylists for him.
Whoever does Hume's makeup should get combat pay.
You can just see what's coming. The Right loves using these stupid made-up "controversies" about a Democratic candidate's hair or whether they drink tea or coffee or to influence voters into voting for a Republican. Then we get another four years of our kids dying in Iraq, war profiteers ripping off the taxpayers, the courts being packed with pro-corporate, theocratic judges, working three jobs with no health care benefits -- and another gigantic case of buyer's remorse.
But guys Edwards got a haircut, from a barbershop, with money!My goodness, the evil of Mr. Edwards knows no bounds.