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 5 of 8)
61. I'm really disappointed in Edwards. As someone else posted, the issue is not how much he spends on haircuts -- Edwards is a wealthy man, and he is free to spend his own money however he chooses. However, it is inappropriate to spend his campaign's funds so frivolously. Interestingly, Elizabeth Edwards wrote in her autobiography that she always stayed in low-cost hotels during the '04 campaign, because she knew that many people had sacrificed to contribute to the campaign and she felt a responsibility to spend their donations wisely. It's too bad that her husband does not share her integrity.
Eileen at 2:13PM on Apr 18th 2007
62. My father is the Joe, the hairstylist who gave Sen. Edwards his $400 haircut, he has been cutting his hair for years, and Sen. Edwards always pays for his haircuts out of his own personal money. I don't know why this time it came out of the campaign funds.
Lisa at 2:27PM on Apr 18th 2007
63. Mary,
Your comments are ridiculous and ignorant. You're calling Edwards a rich millionaire. Have you forgotten that Bush was born with a silver spoon in his mouth? Only because he posed in magazines with boots and faded jeans, with an "aw shucks!' attitude was he able to fool morons like you that he was a pull yourself up by the bootstraps kind of guy. Furthermore, let's examine Dick Cheney. He's made how many BILLIONS for the likes of Halliburton and KBR?? And they've done nothing but shoddy and inferior work for our government as contractors in Iraq. John Edwards made his own fortune. Let him get a 1,000 dollar haircut, for all I care. He's not the one bankrupting our government. As for voting for Condi Rice, seriously. Have you taken an American Government class???
jenorozco at 2:50PM on Apr 18th 2007
64. I don't care what he does with his hair. He still looks like Howdy-Dowdy.
Dirty-Assed John at 2:59PM on Apr 18th 2007
65. $400. haircut on a $4. head!!
bob at 3:14PM on Apr 18th 2007
66. He is still a Howdy Dowdy lookin' fool.
Dirty John at 3:08PM on Apr 18th 2007
67. Another (_l_)(ass) is showing his class. lol I would not vote for a person that spends money like that to run my country.
Phil at 5:30PM on Apr 18th 2007
68. remember John is a working man.a salesman must look his best,especially if he is trying to sell a used car to anouther used car man.AS with used cars what you see is not what you are likely to get. so be careful we could get burned.
Mathis Alan Wingler at 3:12PM on Apr 18th 2007
69. Excellent reason to NOT vote for him!! What a waste!
M E Stickel at 3:14PM on Apr 18th 2007
70. If John Edwards will spend $400 for a haircut, then he is sure to waste our tax money!!!!! I am a working woman, married and do good to afford a $25 hair cut once every 3 months. $400 would put a lot of food on someones table or pay for medical treatment for the elderly. Sure will not get my vote, of course I live in North Carolina and no one here plans to vote for him anyway, we know how he waste money, and he made his money by being what we call a "ambulance chaser"
edna at 3:15PM on Apr 18th 2007
71. For $400 I'd expect something better.
peebrah at 3:32PM on Apr 18th 2007
72. I like Edwards and think he probably would make a good president. If he wants to pay $400 for a haircut out of his personal funds, fine, but not the democratic committee funds. I care about how I look also and think I sometimes get a bad haircut. Seeing an upclose picture of a $400 haircut on Edwards makes me feel a lot better. His doesn't look any better than mine and I only pay $15.
Jerald
Jerald Flick at 11:14AM on Apr 19th 2007
73. There have been many times I would have been happy to have 385.00 for the household and if I could get a five dollar hair cut out of it I would be happy.
julie pierce at 3:45PM on Apr 18th 2007
74. didnt you people read, the money came from this campaign fund. all u dummies who contributed to it paid for it. just think about it, he becomes president all our taxes will go sky high so the rest of his family can get $400 hair cuts
bev at 3:55PM on Apr 18th 2007
75. Wow, 400 bucks huh!?!? How interesting... Considering Bill Clinton spent $400 on a hair cut fifteen years ago I'd say if you factor in inflation he got a pretty good deal. Have you ever attempted to get a haircut in Beverly Hills or Santa Barbra? I am just an average Joe and I still couldn't get a good haircut for under $60 bucks. Look at the JFK elections, It pays to be a pretty boy! I don't see why a reporter picked this to write about. I mean seriously, how much investigating goes into this? If I wrote a news story like this back in undergrad I would get laughed out of the lecture hall. I think somebody didn't feel like doing their job so they dug a receipt out of the trash and wrote a story on that. Is this our money he is spending? NO! When selling yourself to the American public is $400 too much to spend on appearance? (This is then all of the old crusty hippies jump up and say "YEAH") But in reality I don't think popping into super cuts would be the best choice for a presidential candidate. Actually, I was on my way to a job interview once and got a super cuts economy cut. Long story short it wasn't what I had asked the girl to do and looked horrible. That may have played into the fact that I didn't get the job as well. Granted there are many factors that went into the decision but you can't tell me that my Shemp hair cut helped matters. So as that guy from 20/20 would say, common American News Media "Give me a break..."
FootoceLA at 4:16PM on Apr 18th 2007