I've tired of this cliche: "Romney looks like a president"

[CreekDog]

And now with Clint Eastwood, even just as a joke, talking about Romney looking "like he could be president".

No, I don't think either Eastwood or Dole are racist (in fact, I'm a big fan of Eastwood's), but do I for a moment think they or a DC pundit would say that Hillary "looked like a president" or that Obama "looked like a president"?

I don't even think they realize the problem with saying that someone looks like a president. But it is a problem.

Over half the population are women.

Black people and Asian people helped build this country and were instrumental in our history.

Hispanics now often take the most unpleasant jobs in our economy for the least pay.

And yet the highest job in the land just happens to be seen as natural for a handsome, white male?

It just bugs me, even if it's not overtly racist or sexist, for those of us who don't fit the mold, these occasional "slips" tell us the subtle biases that are ascribed to the powerful positions in society --and time and time again, women and minorities are reminded that, for them, positions of leadership are special, unusual and unexpected.

Of course fewer people now would say what Eastwood and Dole said, and that's good, but this thinking is still remarkably common and I can't wait until it goes away.

[MADem]

1. Clint Eastwood--rich pig. rMoney=President all right...of the Rotary Club in Bumfuck, Utah.

If he's Presidential timber, I'm a goddamned astronaut.

[madokie]

47. And if you're a goddamn astronaut

I'm a fucking saint. Fact is not a damn one of us is what we say and for sure rMoney is not presidential

[spanone]

2. looks like an asshole to me

[Warren Stupidity]

3. he looks white.

at least that is what my DogWhistle 2000 by Babelfish.com said it meant.

[cbrer]

37. ++1000

Preeeeeecisely!

[bhikkhu]

68. White and privileged

the easy road from the beginning. The list of what he doesn't know about people and about life is quite long, I am sure.

[On the Road]

4. Romney May Look Like a President,

but Obama looks more like Morgan Freeman.

[MotorCityMan]

69. Morgan Freeman, who played a president

in the movie Deep Impact (didn't see it, had to google it get the title, I knew he played a president in something)

[phleshdef]

5. Romney looks like every evil politician you've ever seen in any given movie with an evil politician.

[Kalidurga]

6. Looks like a used car salesman to me only not so honest...

If this guy didn't come from money he would be selling lemons on some lot somewhere barely scrapping by with enough money to live on.

[magical thyme]

7. Was Gordon Geckko President of something?

Cuz I think he looks an awful lot like Gordon Geckko.

[lunatica]

8. He looks like platitude to me

Someone's lame stereotype of what a pretty boy president should look like in a B rated movie.

[CreekDog]

10. He doesn't look like a president, he looks like a game show host

[CJCRANE]

20. He talks like a game show host IMO...

Maybe one from the 70s or something, he just has the intonation of one to my ears.

[longship]

50. Who? Wink Martindale?

Or, maybe Mart Winkindale?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. Right. A 'president' sent over from Central Casting.

And not for a big part. More like the president sitting with his cabinet as Dr Evil demands "one billlllion dolars." One line and he tosses the scene to Charles Napier, playing the Joint Chiefs Chair sitting next to him.

[Aerows]

9. He looks like

a lying crook to me. Nothing he has done so far has done anything to dispossess me of this notion.

[surrealAmerican]

11. It's a silly thing to say, isn't it.

It usually promps the question, "which one?" Is it really an advantage to look more like Gerald Ford?

[Tom Ripley]

12. "He looks like an underwear model"

[CrispyQ]

13. I think Romney looks like a crooked banker.

People voted for Bush cuz he was the candidate they most wanted to have a beer with (wtf?) & look how that turned out. So this election, those same people are going to vote for Romney because he looks presidential? Sometimes I question my belief that everyone should have the right to vote.

[ailsagirl]

14. I've never even heard that

because the second he opens his mouth, something stupid comes out.

I see him for what he is, therefore his looks (such as they are--not my type!) are immaterial.

Same thing with The President-- I see him for who he is, therefore he is extremely appealing-- in all ways. He's got so much charm (but it's not fake) and personality-- I don't see how someone cannot be drawn to him. Besides, he can sing.

[bulloney]

16. It rates up there with the canard that we'd rather have a beer with Bush instead of Kerry.

Who gives a rip whether Romney "looks" like a president? If he runs the country like he's lived his life, he'll drive the country right back into the ditch that Bush the Lesser took us into. If it happens, I don't think there will be enough resources and fortitude in this country to get us out of that ditch again. This country's too divided and stupid to know what to do.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

17. Republicans should nominate his hairdo

For some reason, having a certain type of hairdo makes someone look Presidential. Besides being a liberal compared to the average Tea Shit Republican, Dwight Eisenhower could not get nominated today because of his lack of Ronald Reagan sacred hair.

[Warpy]

18. Uh, he looks like a department store mannequin

The one thing that poor vapid man does not look is presidential.

He'd be the front man for the Koch people, issuing speeches and signing legislation they approve of and doing fuck all else except attending the occasional funeral, a State Department team at the ready to clean up his messes.

[Freddie]

19. Warren G. Harding

Was selected to run for high office by the PTB in Ohio *precisely because* he looked like a President, and eventually became one. Republican too. Read your history to see how that turned out.
Romney strikes me as another selected puppet in the same mold.

[mother earth]

21. He looks like an empty suit, talks like one too. nt

[Lizzie Poppet]

22. Of course he "looks like a president."

He looks like a game show host, and to some folks, that's "presidential." The fact that he's a clueless sociopath doesn't really change his looks. Unfortunately, politics is at least as much about image as it is substance.* Romney's appearance (which to me is pure comedy gold) will be an asset to him among precisely the voter demographics he relies on for his base.

*I'll risk a shitstorm by pointing out that image management is one rather important reason why we have the first President Obama and not the second President Clinton.

[MineralMan]

23. He looks like an overgrown frat boy to me.

I don't want another one of those in the White House, thanks.

[RedStateLiberal]

24. The only reason people say that...

...is because they have no legitimate reason to support him.

His policies suck.
His camaign is blatantly dishonest.
He stands for nothing and is the ultimate empty suit politician.
He runs from his experience.
He hides his past.
He has no foreign policy credintials or skills.
He embarrases himself every time he speaks.

He's the worst presidential candidate in modern history.

They hate Obama so much that they'll literally say anything like - "Romney looks like a president."

Anybody who really thinks that's a reason to vote for someone is a shallow and stupid person who has to try to rationalize their irrational opinion that Romney is the better choice.

[lunatica]

26. Actually I disagree that he embarrases himself when he speaks

But he sure as hell embarrasses most Americans every time he speaks. Especially on his Overseas charm offensive. Although come to think of it, it really was literally a charm offensive. He offended everyone with what he believed was charm.

[RedStateLiberal]

28. I find his lies embarrassing

if you know that he's lying - and his speeches are full of lies.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/03/13106907-chronicling-mitts-mendacity-vol-xxviii

[Motown_Johnny]

25. Well, he doesn't sound like one, he doesn't act like one.

I guess looking like one is all they have.

[voteobama2012]

27. Mitt's returns

Now there is a website where you can anonymously post Mitt's returns

[link:http://mittromneystaxforms.webs.com/|

[Tanuki]

29. That's what they said about Dan Quayle, too.

Romney might actually be able to spell "potato," but he isn't any more qualified.

[CJCRANE]

41. Dan Quayle reminds me of Dick Grayson

from the 60s Batman TV show.

[patrice]

30. Eastwood looks like a bitter OLD man. I've watched my LAST Eastwood movie.

Not even in the free stuff I get with my Roku.

This is the last Eastwood thread that I will click on on the internet.

Mr. Eastwood is 0 to me.

[abolugi]

31. I guess

If your into a President that walks like he has a bad case of diaper rash...

[Stardust]

65. Either that or he's trying to hold in a fart.

[ladym55]

32. Mitt Romney looks like my old Ken doll

Only thing is I think my Ken doll had more smarts and more integrity.

[ailsagirl]

43. LOL!!! nt

[Aerows]

45. My Ken doll had

more balls.

[Raine]

49. and more personality too I'll bet! ;-) nt

[bitchkitty]

52. I'll bet that under his magic underwear,

his crotch is as smooth and hairless as Ken's.

[gulliver]

33. He could play the President in a Farrelly Bros. remake of Air Force One

"Ok, where's my escape module?"

"Sorry, Sir, there's no such thing."

"Do these people know who I am?"

"I think so, Sir."

"Looks like I picked a bad day to give up buttermilk."

[ElboRuum]

34. I guess it depends on the definition of President...

If you mean by President, empty suit and well-coiffed hair, I guess I could see it.

It's a style first popularized by Reagan back in '80.

[madrchsod]

35. a 65 yr old guy who dyes his hair? no thanks

[UTUSN]

36. That worked out really well for HARDING. Plus Saul was picked because of his looks

and after the thrill was gone, the Hebrews were said not to apply that criterion again. Besides, what the previous poster said about his mannequin looks is it. He's creepy looking. When he played at doing the wreath ceremony in Poland it was one scary scene, like a funeral director (sorry to all funeral directors). Having to see that for four years ought to give pause to anybody thinking of pulling that lever (anachronism here).


My impression is that Mormons are really "in" to theatrics and the outward appearace of things -- show biz, think the OSMONDS. There was this Mormon bishop who was a public high school teacher and he just threw himself totally into sponsoring a folkloric dancing club. And when Mittens was running in '08, apparently fever was rampant throughout the church because in my remote locale, the adult males were out in force doing the missionary visits. I'm not talking about the young dudes. I was doing my yard when there came FOUR of these adult males, all in long sleeved white shirts and ties, and all looking like Mittens mannequins, BEAMING and group-thrilled with themselves, apparently thinking they looked good and like what would spread across the country if he won like when Jimmy CARTER won and then there were "New South" dudes with blow dried hairdo(s) everywhere.

They were grinning crazily and asked to talk. I said that I was busy working. They semi-sheepishly took their leave.

[LeftishBrit]

38. As far I'm concerned, Romney looks like an utter fool!

Looks like a fool, talks like a fool, and by golly, he IS a fool!

[Fla Dem]

39. Oh Really...which one does he look like? hmmmmm

[Tikki]

40. Did schwarzenegger look like a Governor?...looked like a cheat to me...always....

and still....


Tikki

[Brigid]

42. Sorry, Clint -- you're wrong. This is what a president looks like:

[img][/img]

[ailsagirl]

44. That's our guy!!!

Wonderful pic.
I don't think I've ever seen a bad pic of him.

[Brigid]

46. Bad pic?

Well, I did see one of him wearing a White Sox uniform.

[cheezmaka]

66. Very well put

in addition to this is ACTION to back it up(ie..auto bailout, killing Bin Laden, healthcare for all Americans, etc...)

[Raine]

48. His head is huge and mishapen, I've never seen such an enormous head on anything but a balloon. nt

[Iggo]

64. Or these guys.

[bitchkitty]

51. He does not, he looks like Ken.

Obama looks like a President. Hillary Clinton looks like the next President.

[MotherPetrie]

53. Romney looks like a president the way plastic boyfriends with no genitalia look like Ken dolls.

[dtom67]

54. I'm not into organized religion, but...

The term " Anti-Christ " comes to mind....

[Smilo]

55. "No, I will never be president

but I play one in front of Ann and the boys."

[liberal N proud]

56. Maybe one of those stiff animatronic ones at Disney World.

But even those are not as stiff as he is and they are all a damn site smarter. Even bu$h, Reagan and Nixon.

[alphafemale]

57. If anyone ever LOOKED like a President it was Kerry.

He has a face that looks like it should be on currency,

Fat lot of good that did,

[rurallib]

58. looks like a fucking con man to me

"Phoniest son of a bitch I ever met" guy I sat next to at a Romney event in 2007

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

59. What the hell is a president supposed to look like?

Yeah, there's the central casting "president," the handsome, but not too pretty, tallish, somewhat rugged, graying at the temples, WASP-y guy you'd expect to see in a movie about a president. Obviously, not all of our presidents have looked like that. FDR kind of fit the image, but Truman didn't. Eisenhower was bald but he got away with not looking like a president because he'd been a general. Kennedy fit the image (maybe that's where we're getting it), but Johnson didn't. Nixon looked like a gangster; Ford looked like the gone-to-seed athlete he was; Carter looked pretty ordinary; Reagan the actor could look like whatever he wanted, so he went for the Kindly Grandfather image; Poppy Bush went full WASP; Clinton was good-looking but not in a classical presidentish-way; Bush the Lesser looked like an orangutan; Obama is tall and good-looking but he's... you know...

If you go back farther, there were a lot of unpresidential-looking presidents. Lincoln was fairly homely, as was John Adams. Taft was really fat. Hayes seems to have been sort of cross-eyed. Harrison had a very big nose. Of course, in those pre-TV days appearance wasn't as important as it is now. Even so, looking "presidential," in the minds of some, seems to mean being a presentable, not too short white guy. And if those are the only criteria I guess Mittens fits. But not being an arrogant, entitled asshole strikes me as being a bit more important.

[Wolf Frankula]

60. I'm going to add that to my dumb reasons for voting for somebody

He Looks Like a President.

Ronzo the chimp president was elected twice, and he didn't look like a president. He looked like what he was, 'the hero's best friend'.

Wolf

[eShirl]

61. He looks like a grinning wolf in sheeps clothing.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

62. Rmoney looks like a bloviating ego

Which of course he is

[Iggo]

63. Obama looks like THE president.

Win.

[The Second Stone]

67. Romney looks like Nixon

but doesn't have the brains to back it up. He reminds me of W too. And his staff are all ex employees of the W WH and campaigns.

[Incitatus]

70. Romney does indeed look like a President

that most millionaires would want in office.