WP,pg1: With parade of attractive candidates, Dems play politics of beauty

[DeepModem Mom]

Democratic Faces That Could Launch Thousands of Votes
With a Parade of Attractive Candidates, the Party May Benefit From the Politics of Beauty
By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 14, 2006; Page A01


Indiana sheriff Brad Ellsworth, left, a Democratic challenger for Congress, is among the candidates whose looks are turning heads this election season. (Ellsworthforcongress.com)

AUBURN, N.Y. -- Maybe Democratic candidate Michael Arcuri is running strong in this Republican House district because he pledges to expand health coverage, balance the budget and raise the minimum wage.

Or maybe it's his piercing Italian eyes and runner's physique....Attractive politicians have an edge over not-so-attractive ones. The phenomenon is resonating especially this year. By a combination of luck and design, Democrats seem to be fielding an uncommonly high number of uncommonly good-looking candidates....

***

Democratic operatives do not publicly say that they went out of their way this year to recruit candidates with a high hotness quotient. Privately, however, they acknowledge that, as they focused on finding the most dynamic politicians to challenge vulnerable Republicans, it did not escape their notice that some of the most attractive prospects were indeed often quite attractive.

There is a certain logic to the trend. Back in 1994, when Republicans seized power in Congress from Democrats, the GOP had a number of fresh-faced challengers who knocked off incumbents who had grown worse for wear after years of committee hearings and fundraising receptions....

***

The list is decidedly unscientific, but it includes several whose names come up often on Capitol Hill for reasons other than their policy platforms. Among those on it, in addition to Arcuri, are Brad Ellsworth, a swaggering Indiana sheriff; businesswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who has chiseled features and rides a motorcycle; and Heath Shuler of North Carolina, a strapping former quarterback for the Washington Redskins. In Tennessee, Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr., a lean and stylish 36-year-old, has drawn admiring looks...."I know I'm not as good-looking," (Ford's opponent Republican Bob) Corker said. He hopes his business experience will compensate....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/13/AR2006101301753.html?nav=hcmodule

[aquart]

1. Are they saying Republicans are ugly?

Are they saying Democrats are shallow?

[DeepModem Mom]

2. They're giving us a compliment on page 1; I think we should accept. nt

[grytpype]

5. What do you think?

I could go on...

[DeepModem Mom]

6. LOL!

[DeepModem Mom]

7. And then there's...

[grytpype]

9. That's actually a good picture of him!

[KingFlorez]

10. Kinda looks like

[DeepModem Mom]

11. I'm afraid there is a resemblance. nt

[TroglodyteScholar]

26. Nah, there's MUCH more humanity in the monkey's eyes.... n/t

[KingFlorez]

8. ROFL!!

[snowbear]

37. There's a place in HELL waiting for that man!

:grr: :grr:

[Greeby]

47. But he might not look upon it as a bad thing

Here's a visual demonstration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoH5W6hKioU

[calimary]

12. Well, if they don't, I'll be happy to. republi-CONS are UGLY.

Both outside AND inside. Their ideas are ugly. Their attitudes are ugly. Their results are ugly. Their priorities are ugly. Their allegiances are ugly. Their lies are ugly. Their greed is ugly. Their cheating is ugly. Their nastiness is ugly. Their double-dealing is ugly. Their powermongering is ugly. Their piracy is ugly. Their cronyism is ugly. Their arrogance is ugly. Their scheming is ugly. Their criminality is ugly. Their judgmentalism is ugly. Their bullying is ugly. Their sanctimony is ugly. Their treachery is ugly. Their meanness is ugly. Their selfishness is ugly. Their cowardice is ugly. Their unkindness is ugly. Their stingeyness is ugly. Their hypocrisy is ugly. YES. republi-CONS are ugly.

[KingFlorez]

3. Interesting

I never thought about that before

[DeepModem Mom]

4. I read somewhere recently -- a Democrat writing -- that our candidates...

too often look like the most likely target for the school bully. We don't want a bunch of dummies and bimbos, but, all things being equal, I don't think it hurts to have some appealing candidates. I think a good example is John Tester in Montana. Not a pretty boy -- but school bully, watch out!

[IntravenousDemilo]

13. Michael Arcuri may be pretty on the outside, but according to these folks,

he's pretty ugly inside. They believe that he will pull a Lieberman and support Bush, and they state that Arcuri has spoken in support of the president's "Habeas Corpus? What's That?" torture bill. I don't know if that's true, but it's worth a look.

http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2006/10/02/arcuri-fascist-movie-6166/

[gumby]

14. Page One?

The WaPo continues is's light-speed-dive into the sewer.

Let's see.. The Gingrich thingy was a "revolution."

The Democrats are a slut-factor.

How low can the WaPo go?

[DeepModem Mom]

15. I don't think they're calling us sluts. I think they're calling us smart.

"The research is unambiguous that Ferrin is right: Attractive politicians have an edge over not-so-attractive ones."

[FrenchieCat]

16. This is about it.......Guess that Democrats are into the "Hottie"

"thing".....but at least we don't protect phedophiles, so I don't know what the WAPO is talkin' bout. Guess it must be nothing!

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Frenchie -- You don't think Clark's hunkiness adds to his...

electoral appeal?

[FrenchieCat]

18. well, it shouldn't hurt....but it's not what sold Wes Clark, to me anyways

But IF we had an educated electorate......

then....

being the most decorated officer since Eisenhower and wearing 4 stars should also help, especially if one looks at our place in history at this time.

as should being a Rhodes Scholar.....

and having negotiated a peace treaty would also count for something...considering that peace should be an "attractive" priority that should entice us.

Just as Being able to articulate a complete sentence in a few languages should be a good thing.

Coming out against rushing into a war of choice....like early.....maybe back in 2002, should also be a good sign that beauty is not based on looks alone, and that leading from the front instead of the rear should be an attractive asset that we would value in a leader for our country.

And at this time, having planned, led, and won our last successful war fought without any U.S. Soldiers dying should be ranking pretty high...considering the fucked up mess that we currently face. And Doing so while holding a 19 nations coalition together, all the while having Pentagon Knives twisting in your back....and still come out of it looking like a winner; well that should be priceless!

What turns me on about Wes Clark is not so much how he looks (but yeah, I consider him to be an attractive guy), but very much more because of how intelligent and accomplished the man is.

Guess I'm into the complete package....rather than just a pretty face. If an election was compared to American Idol (and it almost is...which is sad)...let's just say that I would vote for the one that could actually sing before any other attribute! LOL!

Look, if someone's a "hottie" that certainly cannot hurt....but if that's all there is.....the fascination can only last for so long and if it continues, that would involve only the most shallow (and yes, there are a lot of those in these United states--Hell, we're raised to be that way).

So yeah.....Wes Clark's "hunkiness" does add a factor to his appeal....but it is not the sum of why he would be an appealing candidate, IMO.

[Eurobabe]

20. I'm not ashamed to say that this almost 67 yr. old grandfather

HAS IT GOING ON!! Look at those chiseled features, the bone structure. Definite drool factor.



And he looks smashing in a tux!

[FrenchieCat]

32. Wes Clark will be 62 in December......

He is not 67! Don't age him any faster than required....please! :hi:

[Auntie Bush]

40. Thanks Frenchie for the correction.

I was shocked that he was 67! Thanks goodness he's only 61! He'll still be in his 60's when he retires from the office of the President of the United States! Whoopee!

[Eurobabe]

44. SORRY Y'ALL!!!

Jet lag and math problems don't mix. LOL.

[Eurobabe]

43. Oh yeah, shit, my mom was born in 41, my math is wrong.

67, 62, in Wes's case it's all relative. He'll be handsome whatever age he is!! ;)

[DeepModem Mom]

23. Same here. I was a pretty active volunteer for Clark in '04.

Brillance, and "beauty."

[Duer 157099]

19. The caption to that photo is funny

"Indiana sheriff Brad Ellsworth, left..."

For an article with that title, did the photo caption really need to state the "left" part?

Just sayin

[bklyncowgirl]

21. Message: Dems don't have to chase page boys.

They're cute enough to get laid on their own. Oh, but then there was Clinton--nevermind.

[snowbear]

22. This thread is too funny...

Let's see...


Bob Ney's replacement? Joy Padgett (R) v. Zach Space (D)

Santorum (R) http://homepage.mac.com/jholbo/nutwork/images/Santorum,%20Rick.jpg v. Bob Casey (D)


Mike Dewine (R) v. Sherrod Brown (D)

Bastard Hastert (R) v. John Laesch (D)

Nope... nope..

Huh.

I don't see it..

.......................... (( ))

[DeepModem Mom]

27. Thank you for the pics -- and for being able to "lighten up" a little...

around here!

[Eurobabe]

45. What a great group of groupies we have....LOL

The choice is clear. I vote for attractive candidates. Har-Har

[Totally Committed]

24. Attractive:

Uh... Not Attractive:







Okay... That works for me!


TC

[Arugula Latte]

28. How about adding John Edwards? nt

[Totally Committed]

29. You know... I just totally forgot him.

I KNEW I'd forget soemone! LOL!

Here ya go:



Sorry for the omission.


TC

[Eurobabe]

46. Did he remove that growth yet?

otherwise he is a good looking man. Sorry, he distracted me at the mole.

[DeepModem Mom]

31. Thanks for the pics! nt

[WildEyedLiberal]

33. Say no more!

VERSUS





















1000 words, indeed.

[lwcon]

25. But the article says we weren't always better-looking

In 1990, political scientist Lee Sigelman, then at the University of Arizona, posited that Democrats were losing ground nationally, despite an advantage in voter registration, because their looks were a turnoff. He rated all governors and members of Congress on an ugliness scale and found that of the 26 least attractive, 25 were Democrats.

Underneath all this beauty-contest silliness lies a serious question: in the 1990s, who was the Democrat's gubernatorial hottie?

___

Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[janx]

30. NM District 01:

Heather Wilson (R)







Versus


Patricia Madrid (D)

[Jeffersons Ghost]

34. "has anybody here seen my old friend John," can you tell me why he won?

maybe because he was debating against this...

in the first nationally televised debate.

[FrenchieCat]

35. You're not giving JFK enough credit. I'm certain, again that his

looks didn't hurt him, but remember that he was a war hero, had written a book about his mission in where he almost died on PT109 in WWII, became a Pulitzer award winning author while serving in the senate with his book "Profiles of Courage", was from a prominent family with lotsa money, and a pretty charismatic fellow in his articulation as well!

In essence, the man was accomplished in many ways beyond his great head of hair and his beautiful photogenic family!

The era of Television had begun, and JFK did take advantage of that....but without his other accomplishments, I doubt he would have won the race he almost didn't win!

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0060955449.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Jeffersons Ghost]

48. I'd never discredit JFK... like most Dem pres hopefuls he was brilliant...

I was very young when those debates took place but I still remember how everyone raved about his looks, while comparing him to the Nixon troll. Even the hottest rock-stars never made the gals swoon like John.

You are right, however, the guy had a LOT going for him, like some modern Democrats that come to mind.

Why is it that Democratic candidates for president, like a more modern "John," rarely need to glance at their speeches, as the residential chimp not only can't read fluently but also mispronounces words? Can you say, um, uh, Nuclear?

Why is it that Democratic hopefuls for president are addressed as "Doctor" and "General," while top Republicans get nick-names like "The Hammer" or "Duke?" Can you say, shallow end of the gene-pool?

[savemefromdumbya]

36. Mayor O'Malley MD Gov candidate

more attractive than GOP Gov Ehrlich!

[WCGreen]

38. What do you mean... PEter King is a hotty....

:puke:

[Bucky]

39. What bullshit

Sorry, but I like my Democrats ugly and ungainly. Tip O'Neill ugly. Hubert Humphrey ugly. Walter Mondale granite-face ugly. I'll endure all these GQ sheriffs like Brad Ellsworth and sleek sexy grandmas like Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi if it'll save the Republic. But goddamn it I joined the party of Barbara Mikulski and Henry B "Turtleneck" Gonzalez because they looked and talked and worked and thought like ordinary working people. That's what made me a Democrat. I want my party back the way I found it--no one prettier than Barney Frank admitted.

[JI7]

42. it's not that Republicans are "ugly" as in just their looks, but more

about the looks they have. they always have a mean hateful angry bitter look about them.

i think others have said this but they could often figure out when watching Cspan and other political shows which one is the conservative and which one is liberal even if they don't know them. Mitt Romney is considered attractive by some but he has the same creepy Republican look about him.

Lincoln Chafee is one of the few who don't have that typical Republican look but he isn't right wing.

i agree about all the Dems you mentioned. the all have been a huge influence to ourparty and we wouldn't be as good without them.

[powergirl]

41. I LOVE ASKING THE REPUBS WHERE I LIVE TO NAME A GOOD LOOKING REPUB

I live in a predominantly conservative county here in Texas. I am openly DEMOCRATIC. So, I"m like the crazy liberal in the neighborhood ( by the way anytime one of these Repubs has a problem , like getting their mom into a nursing home or something, they always ask the crazy liberal for help). Anyway, when they want to make stupid comments like blaming Clinton for Repub pervs stalking teen aged boys, I ask a bunch of "stupid" questions. One of my favorites goes as follows:

I'll tell them that Democrats are better looking folks than Repubs. They get offended. Then I ask them to name an attractive Republican office holder or high profile supporter. The only names I"ve gotten are Ann Coulter (yikes!) and Texas Governor Rick Perry. So, I will rattle off names like: John Kennedy, Jr., George Clooney, Warren Beatty, John Edwards, Barrak Obama, Candace Bergen, etc. ,etc. It usually ends that conversation. You can also have the same conversation by asking them to name "funny or comedic" Republicans - I don't think they exist.

Anyway, I find it common knowledge that Democrats are better looking folk across the board. Like all of us hotties on DU!:toast: