Now we know why John Edwards likes to fuss with his hair. When you pay $400 for each trim, it had better look good. This is one of those stories that no candidate wants out there. It runs about as counter to the working-class, I'm-one-of-you rhetoric that defines the Iowa primary as you can get. Worse for Edwards, his campaign picked up the bill for two of the $400 Beverly Hills stylings. Hey, you're rich like Edwards (or any other current candidate for president) and you want to blow a bunch of money on a facial or a pedicure, go for it! But what Edwards supporter is going to be happy to learn that the exorbitant tab for the snip-snip came from the campaign coffers?
Referring to a picture of Edwards published Tuesday in the Los Angeles Times, Torrenueva [Edwards' barber] said: "That's my cut." The stylist said he couldn't vouch for the source of Edwards' haircuts in other photos. One reason the cost of the cut was so steep even by Beverly Hills standards is that Torrenueva went to Edwards rather than the candidate coming into the stylist's salon a block off Rodeo Drive.Don't get me wrong, I like John Edwards quite a bit as a candidate, but I have a suggestion on the hair matter. Go to a corner barbershop in Iowa or New Hampshire the next time you need a trim. Talk local politics with the people in the waiting room, make a friend or two, pay the $10 or $12 bill, and leave a nice five dollar tip. Kill two birds -- substance and style -- with one inexpensive stone.
Previously on 'The Stump':
· What Is Edwards' Real Position on the War?
· John Edwards Beats Expectations
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 8)
31. If Waitresses spend 5,000 or more for breast implants what’s wrong with a lawyer spending $400 for a haircut?
Angela at 3:42PM on Apr 18th 2007
32. teleiamc,
thank you for taking the time to comment. the answer to your question is simple, comic relief. i also did a post on iraq today.
david knowles at 12:47PM on Apr 18th 2007
33. I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY .IF EDWARDS IS WILLING TO SPEND THAT FOR A HAIR-CUT THAT DOES NOT LOK ANY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER BARBERS CUT.WHY WOULD YOU TRUST HIM AS PRESIDENT.I WOULD NOT EVEN GIVE HIM THE SATISFACTION OF ONE VOTE.
JIM MORRIS at 12:49PM on Apr 18th 2007
34. Grace:
regarding your comments..
"Hey guys, wanna start a revolution? wanna take the system down and start something else? a society with more social and economic equality perhaps? no? well then you have no right to complain about $400 haircuts. if you support the current class system, and capitalism, then you can't really hold a $400 haircut against someone. edwards is not a hypocrite, he's a politician. you, you the ones who say you want the world to change for the better but would rather complain about something than to get up and change it yourselves, you are the hypocrites, and you will always be represented by your own kind.
"
I DON'T have a problem with someone paying as much as he wants for his haircut..WITH HIS OWN MONEY!
Edwards is a hypocrite because he tries to portray himself as an ordinary guy and preaches a class warfare message about "two Americas"...while getting $400.00 haircuts!
Since when do average Americans get $400..00 haircuts..or live in 5 MILLION dollar mansions?
2.Despite being rich enough to pay for his own haircuts, Edwards USED CAMPAIGN FUNDS, donated by people with a tiny fraction of his wealth!!
What a hypocritical loser.
BOB at 1:14PM on Apr 18th 2007
35. Duh teleiamc.....because we're talking about someone who wants to be the leader of our country.
Get your head out of your.....ummmm out of the sand
Dan at 12:57PM on Apr 18th 2007
36. WHO CARES? dont we have more important things to be concerned about?
gogo at 1:37PM on Apr 18th 2007
37. Picky Picky Picky...so what if he spends $400 for a hair cut. If he were NOT running for office he would be at home and no one would care. But he is and needs to look good. Ask any woman or man who's fussy about their hair if they would just walk in to a neighborhood beauty parlor and get a cut from somone who doesn;t know their hair. NOT MANY.
Concentrate on the real issues. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM
Don at 1:17PM on Apr 18th 2007
38. I think that it is funny that he pas $400 for a haircut that looks that stupid. It looks like a uneven combover to me.
Marianna at 1:14PM on Apr 18th 2007
39. The issue is that he paid for the haircuts and spa visits using CAMPAIGN FUNDS!! Since he is a millionaire, HIS OWN MONEY should be used for personal and family purposes.
I see no difference between his action and that of someone using city/federal/state funds to pay for their pedicures. Preaching rhetoric about problems burdening working-class citizens while exhibiting such behavior certainly gives one reason to suspect that "the leopard will not change its spots". This may very well be a foreshadowing of events to come should he be elected.
It's a matter of moral ethics, period! After more than 40 years of working with politicians, my conclusion is that the very nature of politics makes it very, very difficult for a person of integrity to remain true to ones ethics in many instances. Those who try to be are not around for long. BIG MONEY gets rid of them!!
Pay close attention to the ones who have the most "paid for by..." publicity, the most signs strewn about, the most mailers and the largest campaign contributors! All of that money does not come FREE!!
Gwen at 1:15PM on Apr 18th 2007
40. So much for the "I am in your corner, and I will watch public spending" rhetoric from a liberal pussy.
Hey John boy, how many Katrina victims could have been helped from your $400.00 haircut. Oh I'm sure your PA people will come up with a sure fire excuse for the haircut.
Just goes to show what a bunch of pathetic arseholes we have running for the hot seat.......
Kurt at 5:42AM on Apr 27th 2007
41. Given what this man and his family has endured, he should have better common sense and realize that a large number of potential voters would not appreciate someone being so vain and frivolous to lead the country and set example for the world. In my opinion he is a foolish man. There are more important things that "He" should be concerned with than how much money he can ridiculously spend in his and his wife's lifetime. So he probably is doing what a fool would consider OK by building the closest thing that he will ever get to for the White house.
Regina at 1:44PM on Apr 18th 2007
42. Angela....if that same waitress is running for president, you may have a point.....if not...WTF are you talking about?
Dan at 1:21PM on Apr 18th 2007
43. So fucking what? What does Bush spend on haircuts? Who cares about a haircut when thousands are dying, billions wasted on war and waste, and the environment being shredded? Don't fall for rightwing diversion. If this is all they can dredge up, the Democrats win.
Rise at 1:22PM on Apr 18th 2007
44. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the cost of his haircut. John Edwards picture adorns the first cover of a brand new Deep South men's fashion magazine. See his picture on the cover of the premiere issue of "TOP GOOBER".
geoff groedner at 1:27PM on Apr 18th 2007
45. call me when any of the candidates are trolling dumpsters or living out of the back of a van...now, THAT would be a news story, not this...
songweasel at 1:30PM on Apr 18th 2007