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. $400. haircut on a $4. head!!
bob at 3:14PM on Apr 18th 2007
62. Excellent reason to NOT vote for him!! What a waste!
M E Stickel at 3:14PM on Apr 18th 2007
63. 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
64. For $400 I'd expect something better.
peebrah at 3:32PM on Apr 18th 2007
65. if you think it's foolish what he does with campaign money, wait til he gets his hands on your hard earned tax dollars. by the way, as far as his own personal fortune, he made it with multi-zillion dollar lawsuit awards, which are now costing all of us. where do you think these award monies come from? if you think insurance companies pay them, then think about that next time you pay your premium.
christof at 3:35PM on Apr 18th 2007
66. 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
67. 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
68. 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
69. ***1. We as intelligent and informed individuals can take our country back from these power hungry billionaires (& millionaires) who give us the choice of the lesser of 2 evils. It's called the write in vote. Read about Condi Rice, taake race and gender out of the equation and see only what she has accomplished and her personal standards such as her work ethic, and then write in the name of the most qualified person in this country for president in 2008....We CAN get our America back from the RICH POWERBROKERS!
Mary at 9:33AM on Apr 18th 2007***
Mary, Mary, Mary! Condi IS one of the *RICH POWERBROKERS.* What are you smokin'? And as for her *personal standards,* she is one of the cadre of evil that got us into Iraq. She is as big a liar as Bush and maybe worse, a Bush apologist.
Lynne at 4:11PM on Apr 18th 2007
70. I am an Edwards supporter. I am not crazy about how he pays for his haircuts. Let's make sure that is the case before we believe everything written. I do however like his politics. We all have our hangups, his is his hair. Makes him a little more human. He is the true example of the American dream. Middle class boy grows up to be successful man.
Lynne at 4:14PM on Apr 18th 2007
71. 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
72. i would vote for hime just for that i am a hairdresser and he should know better the cost is in haveing a hairdresser go to him tell him to go to the local barber of unisex shop we can do that do for $20.00 these people running for office do not know what a gallon of milk cost. this is a joke
this country being run by the cooperation and millionares makes me sick to live and the poor defend and die for their country. makes me sick.
adele hametz at 4:27PM on Apr 18th 2007
73. Before everybody gets all upset over Mr. Edwards' haircut price, perhaps you should find out what EVERYBODY ELSE pays for their haircuts -- now that's a great way to decide who to vote for. The guy with the cheapest haircut wins! Talk about much ado about nothing........don't you have any real news?
Jo at 4:47PM on Apr 18th 2007
74. Every President has a vice, for Bill Clinton it was women, for George W. Bush, its war and human lives, I'll take a $400 haircut anyday of the week!
Lisa at 5:11PM on Apr 18th 2007
75. How rediculous, I can find more important things to do with $400.
Denise at 5:13PM on Apr 18th 2007