(Shallow but important. ) Kucinich actually looked handsome on Leno.

[Armstead]

I will admit this is in the realm of shallow. But unfortunately, it is also important in terms of "electability." Especially in the case of Kucinich, whose looks and shrilness have been one of the points that's often brought up about him.

I am one of those who believe DK really has the message and agenda the country needs. I also believe that it could resonate with so-called mainstream voters, if it could just get through the media filters...Unfortunately, sometimes Kucinich's persona has gotten inthe way of that on debates and other media venues.

But he really looked good on that silly skit on Leno last night. The slit itself was idiotic, but the fact that he seemed to be a good sport and even enjoying himself was a definite plus in the image department.

Unlike the sometimes strange persona that has come out in the debates, he looked relaxed and his smile really beams. And that gave him a different presence and charisma. He also looked handsome -- not in a "perfect features" way, but in the way of a normal very attractive guy.

I've never seen him in person. Perhaps that is the real Kucinich, and the awkward and shrill and kind of "pixieish" image is just a fault of the camera on his presence.

But if the way he came across last night was seen more, I believe he could get over that image barrier that has held him back.

Again I realize this is really shallow. But since politics has become treally shallow, these things matter.

[tinanator]

1. Even better!

Theres a GREAT article in todays paper about it. Absolutely excellent.
Much better than the reception on this board (to be expected sadly enough) Totally worth it for this kind of coverage :)

[revcarol]

4. Link?Would like to read it!!

Dennis in person is so personable and real. He really needs the mods of the debates to give him his fair amount of time, so that he doesn't have to compress complicated issues into one sentence;;;;;which by the w;ay, the mods will NEVER DO.

But I hope shows like this will show him as the person to have a beer with that Joe Six-pack likes. No mask-persona for DK!!

[tinanator]

6. here ya go

http://www.fresnobee.com/state_wire/story/8119309p-8974458c.html

[CWebster]

2. he does have a nice smile

He doesn't smile alot, but when he does it lights up his face. It has almost a child-like authenticity.

[goodhue]

22. He smiles a lot in person!

There is something about TV camera in the presence of other candidates that brings out that defiant grimace which although understandable is best left unrevealed.

[RichM]

3. Did he get a chance to talk about serious ideas, or was it all silliness?

Is there perhaps an Internet link to that segment?

[Armstead]

8. I didn;t see it all

What I saw was just silliness.

But in DK's case, I think ir was good to show him as a real person instead of the cartoon version.

It's shallow, but if he can be seen as an attractive fellow by the mainstream folks, they are more likely to listen to his actual positions and ideas. That's how things get injected ointo the collective consciousness.

[Snivi Yllom]

12. summary

http://tinyurl.com/fo2y

Kucinich:

From ABC News' Kucinich campaign reporter Melinda Arons: New York, Feb. 13 -- In what can only be described as perhaps the most bizarre episode yet in the 2004 presidential campaign (which is saying a lot when the candidate in question has been known to participate in collective meditation rituals at fundraisers), Rep. Kucinich stopped by the Tonight Show Thursday night and participated in a spoof of "The Dating Game."

The image of a presidential candidate standing next to Jay Leno on a retro psychadelic game show set was surreal enough, but the contestants' fame and racy answers made it downright Fellini-esque. The participants included Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Tilly, the lithe blonde Republican/radio megastar consultant Kim Serafin, and actress Cybil Shepherd.

Some highlights (or, one could argue, lowlights):

* Jennifer Tilly asking in her best Betty Boop voice "How's your hanging chad?"
* Cybil Shepherd screaming "I'm ready for a wardrobe malfunction!" after which she lifted up her dress to reveal satin pink underwear.
* Shepherd towering over Kucinich and trying to make out with him after not being picked, then reprising the skrit-lifting to make sure Kucinich had the chance to see it.
* Serafin, in what's safe to call a politically incorrect answer, claiming that if she were First Lady and the Chinese president came to the White House, she assumes he'd be bringing take-out so would order the number 4.

Kucinich ended up choosing Bachelorette number 1, Jennifer Tilly, and seemed genuinely shocked and delighted a the contestants' true identities. One can only assume he would have preferred to stay and have a real interview with Jay before heading out, but instead the vegan and his date were sent to dinner on the show at the raw food eatery Raw.

[Mairead]

15. What a lovely *unbiased* account.

Har! And there are people who actually wonder why we think Media Inc is out to trash DK?

[goodhue]

13. It was all silliness

except a quick montage setup bio which was quite respectful.
But he did indeed look like he was having fun which was great.
Plus he picked the right date; if he had picked one of the other two I would have begun to doubt the high esteem with which I regard him.

[wysimdnwyg]

5. Anyone else think

Cybill Shepard was toasted?

[genius]

18. I thought she came on way too strong

It was about a date not about an orgy partner.

[loftycity]

7. I have met Kucinich twice and

He has charisma and is a good looking guy in person. The most dynamic of all the candidates. When he is talking to you he looks you right in the eye. Uplifting speeches is an understatement. I hope something goes his way...and he becomes the nominee.

[mountebank]

9. Just saw him in L.A. yesterday.

For the first time in person and he has an enormously relaxed, pleasant, and radiant presence. When he hugs people, he really means it, really lays it on them. And when he speaks, he doesn't orate. And I think he toned down the shrillness in the later debates.

[MuseRider]

10. I agree that it was totally

stupid but very important to let people see him relaxed and having fun. I have always seen this side of him even though I have not met him or seen him in person. I suppose it is because I have spent so much time looking for things about him and reading things from others who have spent time with him. Yes, this is very shallow but you are correct that it is important these days when politics is mostly about popularity and who you can have a beer with in the general public. I have always thought he was a regular looking human being with the most terrific smile, but when he smiles you can see the beautiful human inside. I hope others saw that in him last night.

[Cheswick2.0]

11. he has one of those faces

There is too much of his aggenda I don't agree with to think he is the ultimate candidate. However I have always thought he was one of those guys who had "one of those faces"... you never know if he is going to look and handsome or not on any given day. I think he looks very handsome at times.

I had a friend like that in HS. Some days she was a knock out and some days she looked plain as hell. It had nothing to do with make-up or hair style either, since she wore her hair the same as we all did, hanging straight and her make-up was non existant as none of us bohemian theater types wore any except onstage.

Anyway, I missed it, how did he do?

[genius]

17. Dennis supports bringing back jobs to the U.S, universal health care

that will allow all people to get comprehensive quality health care, the Bill of Rights and Peace. Which part of this do you disagree with?

[goodhue]

14. seeing him in person

is must if at all possible. His charismatic presence is hard to overstate, and helps account for his extremely loyal following. The dude practically glows with positive energy. The fact that he is right on all the issues is also very inspiring. The movement is real and long-term.

[genius]

16. He was great. I though the movie stars overdid it.

I can understand why he chose Jennifer Tilly. She wasn't a Republican and she gave him an honest answer about the speech. I thought the movie stars did themselves a disservice in coming onto anyone that way on TV.

[Adelante]

19. He had a sharp suit on, too

I thought he looked great and was great. Relaxed, funny, charming. He's a catch, you ask me. :)

[Madrone]

20. I don't get the "Dennis is unattractive" mantra -

Like I said in the earlier sex-scandal post.... Rowrrrrr!

I think he's super sexy!

:loveya:

[eridani]

21. Me too.

Actually, if my husband got a haircut and could be convinced to wear a suit, he'd look a lot like Dennis. Probably explains a lot. ;-)

I think this 'shrill' impression comes from the fact that before the campaign, he really never knew how to do TV. His prior campaigns have all been more local, and heavily driven by personal contact. Not easy to scale that up to a national candidacey.

[rucky]

23. Now I'm not gay or anything...

not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that as a heterosexual male, I feel it necessary to offer an explanatory preface before I speak of the attractiveness of another man, but If I were gay (see preface above) I would totally do Dennis Kucinich. Not that it would matter much because I'm pretty sure he's not gay either, seeing as the stars that Leno was setting him up with were women & I'm not a woman or anything, not there's anything wrong with that, but if I were I would totally do Dennis Kucinich.

[MuseRider]

24. Jerry? n/t