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 1 of 8)
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. She can NOT run as the second most important person in this country (sorry Dick)as who would be keeping world leaders soothed if she took time off to shake hands and kiss babies? She also doesn't "want" the job (who would really want that headache but a power monger?)but if we would elect her, she would do her patriotic duty and take the job the American people asked of her.We CAN get our America back from the RICH POWERBROKERS!
Mary at 9:33AM on Apr 18th 2007
2. Clinton did it tied up air lines right to fly. When you got libby libby libby on the label label label you people understand its my table table table. Right on john you"ll spend tax dollars wisely.
average joe at 9:53AM on Apr 18th 2007
3. Can you imagine how many votes he could have gotten if he needed a haircut and told reporters that he couldn't afford it because he needed GAS MONEY!
Jim Hanan at 10:25AM on Apr 18th 2007
4. John Edwards and Al Sharpton have a lot in common. Both are obsessed with their hair. Sharpton's hair do's reportedly cost huge amounts 10 years ago. Look what it got him in return and imagine just how much mileage $400 hair cuts will impress the working class today. My poor old mother always said this- "Fools names like their faces are often seen in public places".
Esther Blasingame at 10:27AM on Apr 18th 2007
5. If we're going to talk about monies paid for haircuts, how about doing a full rundown.
I'm not expecting Giuliani to pin the meter with costs for his haircut, but let's play fair and see what McCain and Clinton pay for their cuts.
The rich are different from us, but they're also different from each other.
Edwards may spend the money he earned from decades of lawyering on his own comfort and pleasure, but he also remembers and understands what being poor means. Given my choice of rich folks running for office, I'd rather have someone who has been consistently addressing issues of income inequality than folks who don't have it on their political agendas at all.
Catarry at 10:45AM on Apr 18th 2007
6. I don`t care what he pays.That is so trivial.He looks well groomed and I think we have much more important things to worry about than how much anyone pays for a haircut.
B Morris at 10:46AM on Apr 18th 2007
7. Old Billy-Bob Clinton was cheap to keep. His most expensive haircut only cost $200.
I wonder why Edwards needs to have a 28,000 sq. ft. house? Maybe he's preparing for a Southern Whitehouse, but he shouldn't count his chickens yet.
John McCane also has a huge house and several more as 'retreats'. They are all tarred with the same brush and I think it's dipped in something brown that smells really bad.
Vinny at 10:51AM on Apr 18th 2007
8. Im a 28 year old male who would like to enter into politics. The story on Edwards 400 dollar while it is interesting it shows how deep press goes into a persons personal life. I pay 55 dollars for my haircut and no this is higher than what my friends pay, but it doesnt make me a bad person. I am not really a Edwards supporter but hopefully he and other candidates will have their issues and policies more scrutinized than their vanity or attempts to look pretty. I thought Bill Clinton was not very attractive and he had good poll numbers. I think our current president is far more attractive as a whole than Clinton and look at his poll numbers. In final I would just hope that Edwards and other candidates remeber when their paying for that 400 dollar haircut or that 5 dollar coffee alot of their fellow Americans can't and hope they dont lose focus of that fact.
nicholas at 11:00AM on Apr 18th 2007
9. Had Mr. Edwards paid this amount for personal care out of his OWN pocket, I would agree that this is no anyone's to comment on. The issue is that he paid these outrageous tabs from the campaign coffers! Fortunately, I have not donated to his campaign. If I had planned to, I would give it serious thought before doing so.
JW at 11:09AM on Apr 18th 2007
10. I wonder what the Katrina victims think of John Edwards' $400 haircut???
Tom at 11:26AM on Apr 18th 2007
11. I am not a fan of any politician spends that kind of money for something like a haircut. I dislike it even more when it comes out that they are not spending their money for such amenities. It goes to show you that these people do not connect with average Americans and never will. It's another reason why I would never be able to vote for John Edwards. Of course, if I looked at each candidate with the same brush I might find that I cannot vote for anyone and there where would I find myself.
Mike at 11:26AM on Apr 18th 2007
12. It is a shame that we Senior Citizens living on Social Security can only afford to get our hair cut once every 6 weeks for $15 will we get a significant raise in benefits to afford the same type of lifestyle should John Edwards be elected?
Georgia Straight at 11:28AM on Apr 18th 2007
13. What a lame example of a pathetic politician.. $400.00 haircuts ... given that 19.00 a month can feed a child in need..
This excess is disgusting... What a sissy excuse for a man
Tom at 11:29AM on Apr 18th 2007
14. It does matter ... It shows character and to pay 400 dollars for a hair cut is a fake selfish thing to do
Tom at 11:30AM on Apr 18th 2007
15. If Edwards throws away $400 on a haircut, what kind of nonsense spending would he do if in the White House? $400 on a paperclip next? Remember, we are the one's that will be taxed for all these "essencials". Would you hire someone for your business that had no regard for the budget? And yes, I understand this is his "own" money that he is spending for a haircut, but spending habits are what they are..."habits"....hard to break. Just because a person may have the money to spend like this, doesn't put him in a good light to me. I'd say he might as well start hanging out with Paris Hilton. Of course, he might be out shopping with Paris as we speak.
Caroline at 12:00PM on Apr 18th 2007