Do Looks Matter in Presidential Politics?

[Mrs. Dinero]

"It's not just attractiveness that counts among voters—it’s a cluster of physical traits."

www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/01/mitt_romney_vs_newt_gingrich_how_much_do_looks_matter_in_presidential_politics_.html

"people make judgments about the faces of strangers after just 34 milliseconds of exposure"

Interesting Article.

[cme1201]

I judge others by the contents of their actions not by the skin tone or complextion.

I am not a normal American.

[cme1201]

Jan 25, 2012 14:32:19 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Yes, of course they do.

I am proud to say that in Maine our current Governer is a fat guy that looks like the "Family Guy".
Our previous governor was a skinny little bald guy with big teeth.
And one of our Senator's looks like a witch.

Either we have better common sense than most, or we are just uglier than most, I am not sure which.

I've been in Maine go with the latter.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 14:28:15 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

I judge others by the contents of their actions not by the skin tone or complextion.

I am not a normal American.

no....no, you are not.

[thyme4change]

Taft would never get elected today. And certainly not with the slogan "Get on a raft with Taft." Sheesh! That is basically saying "committ suicide."

[Deleted]

I think they definitely matter.

I'm thinking of the scene in Working Girl where Melanie Griffith cuts her hair short - because if you want people to take you seriously, you've got to have serious hair.

You can't be too pretty or too homely in politics. But some symmetrical, competent-looking middle ground. Gaddafi would never have been elected in America. And not just because he was evil and bat @#$% crazy, but because he had a home perm and wore epaulets.

[cme1201]

Jan 25, 2012 14:41:55 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Jan 25, 2012 14:28:15 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

I judge others by the contents of their actions not by the skin tone or complextion.

I am not a normal American.

no....no, you are not.

I wear it as a badge of honor.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 14:54:34 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

Jan 25, 2012 14:41:55 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

no....no, you are not.

I wear it as a badge of honor.

good. "normal" is for pussies.

[floridayankee]

Jan 25, 2012 14:36:00 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

Jan 25, 2012 14:32:19 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Either we have better common sense than most, or we are just uglier than most, I am not sure which.

I've been in Maine go with the latter.

And they talk funny with that 'down east' Maine accent too.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Jan 25, 2012 14:32:19 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Yes, of course they do.

I am proud to say that in Maine our current Governer is a fat guy that looks like the "Family Guy".
Our previous governor was a skinny little bald guy with big teeth.
And one of our Senator's looks like a witch.

Either we have better common sense than most, or we are just uglier than most, I am not sure which.

My suspicions have been confirmed...definitely something wrong with the citizens in Maine....

[weltschmerz]

Do Looks Matter in Presidential Politics?
-----------------
I think to many people, they do. Look at Sarah Palin. Would she have come as far as she did if she looked like Golda Meir?

[thyme4change]

You can't be too pretty or too homely in politics.

I don't think I'm the only one that objectively thinks Obama is a smokin' hottie.













with big ears

[weltschmerz]

He is...and that smile is to die for!

[Deleted]

He is very attractive (the swimsuit photos were quite nice) - but he's not Taye Diggs perfection. Taye Diggs is too pretty to be president.

[swamp]

Jan 25, 2012 15:53:50 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Do Looks Matter in Presidential Politics?
-----------------
I think to many people, they do. Look at Sarah Palin. Would she have come as far as she did if she looked like Golda Meir?

Janet Reno and Madeline Albright are really competent women.

[weltschmerz]

Jan 25, 2012 16:25:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jan 25, 2012 15:53:50 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Do Looks Matter in Presidential Politics?
-----------------
I think to many people, they do. Look at Sarah Palin. Would she have come as far as she did if she looked like Golda Meir?

Janet Reno and Madeline Albright are really competent women.

Absolutely! What I'm saying is that Sarah's looks gave her a free pass with many, despite her constant babbling of gibberish.

[Deleted]

I actually think Palin's looks held her back. (I mean, prior to the Newsweek cover with the unplucked chin whiskers, anyway)

She wore sexy shoes and cutesy hair, so people didn't take her seriously. (The she opened her mouth and you felt vindicated about that, but I digress...)

You can't be too pretty. Janet Reno and Madeleine Albright's careers were based on political appointments - they didn't have to win over the general public. That said - neither is really that unattractive. They are alittle on the Gingrich side of things, but they aren't hideous women.

[weltschmerz]

She wore sexy shoes and cutesy hair, so people didn't take her seriously.
------------------
That idiotic winking had to contribute to people not taking her seriously.

[weltschmerz]

I would vote for a woman with sexy shoes and cutesy hair, but come on! The ability to cobble together a coherent sentence goes a long way.

[zibazinski]

Shes a moron and not all that attractive anyway.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I try to buy shoes based on their fit, not their color. (Though the color does matter, fit matters most to me.)

I try to choose a restaurant based on its food and service, not its decor. (Though overall ambience does matter, the food is paramount.)

I try to vote for candidates based on political ideology, not on their appearance.

Ultimately, doing one's homework is key. I've watched many a 2-minute movie trailer and been duped into thinking "that looks good," only to later discover that the movie was ... dreadful. My hope is that voters will do their homework.

[pepper112765]

Jan 25, 2012 16:09:13 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

He is...and that smile is to die for!

And, he can carry a tune!!!!

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 16:45:42 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Shes a moron and not all that attractive anyway.

i think she is major hot. but i click mute when she talks.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 17:06:35 GMT -5 pepper112765 said:

Jan 25, 2012 16:09:13 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

He is...and that smile is to die for!

And, he can carry a tune!!!!

dude. i heard that. it bummed me out that he sings better than me.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 17:17:39 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Yes, and unfortunately for our country, I think that is the biggest reason Ron Paul may not get elected. It's too bad, as he's in awesome shape, mind and body.

truly. he has my vote.

[diamonds]

I thought Jon Huntsman was handsome and looked Presidental....lol. I love a man with a good head of hair... ;D

[Deleted]

I suspect we haven't heard the alst of him. (And when he inherits his dad's money, won't we have a field day with his tax return...)

[diamonds]

I never swooned over Obama, too small of a build. His teeth are perfect but that's it. Sean Hannity is handsome to me. Masculine.

[handyman2]

Well I guess if looks matter I best not get any designs on running for public office.
I do agree Pauls looks are a bit of a handicap and his bumbling of words does not help. Smart man but will lose.
As for Gingrich who has that chesser cat grin and the facial expression of having just picked your pocket turns me off.

[djAdvocate]

Jan 25, 2012 17:28:39 GMT -5 diamonds said:

I thought Jon Huntsman was handsome and looked Presidental....lol. I love a man with a good head of hair... ;D

have you heard him speaking Mandarin or playing piano? damned good.