The Max Factor Factor: Why Hillary Is at a Disadvantage

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Making Up Is Hard to Do
By Michael Kinsley
Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The conversation was about how tiring it must be to run for president, and someone -- a woman -- said that, on top of everything else, Hillary Clinton has to spend an hour and a half getting ready for each day's campaigning. She didn't mean studying her notes and making sure she knows the name of the mayor of McKeesport. She meant doing her hair, putting on her makeup, deciding what to wear or at least thinking about it even if she has someone else to decide for her. And so on. Other women ridiculed the notion of an hour and a half, but the bottom offer was 40 minutes. And that's just in the morning. Shorter versions of the morning ritual go on throughout the day.

And how long does it take Barack Obama or even John McCain with his war injuries to shower, shave and put on one of a dozen identical dark blue suits, a white shirt and a red tie? Ten minutes? Fifteen? Let's not be completely naïve and let's posit that these men also take a dab of make-up here and there. So let's say 20 minutes....

Sure, there are women who take no more trouble about their appearance than most men do, and men who take more than the average woman. But a middle-aged woman who is the first of her sex to make a serious run for the presidency is not going to be a pioneer in indifference to looks. One revolution at a time. She has got to look put-together, all day, every day.

Hillary Clinton is not especially vain about looks, whereas Barack Obama has dropped hints that he may well be. Nevertheless, if it ever came out that Obama was spending an hour primping every morning, it would hurt him not help. Whereas if Hillary Clinton were known to spend an hour dressing and primping, no one would be surprised. And if she looked as if she had spent much less than that, it would hurt her....What about his advantage in being a man? And I don't mean anything fancy and psychological. I don't even mean the double standard that allows the press to report on how a female candidate dresses while ignoring this crucial issue regarding male candidates. We'll get past that some day. But even then, it will take a woman candidate longer to get ready to campaign than it will take a man....

This issue goes back to the early days of "women's lib," of course, when opponents talked about "bra-burners" and made crude jokes about unshaved legs. It was considered an advance when it became established that a woman could dress like a woman and still be a business executive or lawyer. And Hillary Clinton, even if she loses, has established beyond all doubt that a woman can be a credible candidate for president. But she'll have to be one who needs even less sleep than her opponent.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/26/AR2008032602225.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[islandmkl]

1. wellllllll.....it took a while, but finally.....

AN EXPLANATION FOR THE SLEEP DEPRIVATION!!


GMAFB Kinsley...did you just put your name on someone else's stuff here?

[HereSince1628]

2. Decisions about clothes? Hillary has been wearing that Century 21 coat to death

[DJ13]

3. "Hillary Clinton is not especially vain about looks"

lol

Left photo was from 2006, right photo from earlier this year...........




:rofl:

[frazzled]

4. Well, I disagree with the entire tone of this article

I've mentioned many times how fabulous Hillary Clinton looks, but once that is said, all issues about looks and dress drop out.

She's found a great look. I'm sure she has consultants who have chosen wisely regarding outfits and makeup, and I wouldn't begrudge her at all if she had a hairdresser on the trail.

But there are several myths here. The more minor one is that it takes women a lot more time to put themselves together. I'm sure I'm not alone in complaining that my husband, who barely has any hair left, takes twice as long as I do to get ready when we dress to go out. He has to shave, which takes longer than the "five-minute face" we girls have all perfected. What else he does to prolong the effort is beyond me. But I am always ready first.

I'm sure Hillary can grab one of the dozen lovely suits she's acqired for the campaign trail, don it quickly after a shower, put on her five-minute face, and have the hair guy touch her up. Getting dressed is not rocket science for women these days.

Clinton's feminine gender has had no influence one way or another on my opinion of her: she's smart, she looks good, she doesn't need three hours to prepare for that. She is every bit the equal of any male candidate.

I have differed with her on policy and tactics. And that is what we should discuss.

[Cha]

5. I'd rather how long it took hilary & co

to come up with the Bosnia Sniper Lie?