Democrats and Their Hair

Of course the cut matters; just ask Hillary. Or Samson.

But what is it with Democrats and their hair? (And why is it again that we care?)

These country boys, like Bill Clinton and John Edwards, whose recent FEC report shows he gets $400 trims, are otherwise unassailable on the Frenchy front -- but ha, fancy haircuts are just as good, self-indulgent and way over budget. Nothing says "weak on defense" like a little layering. And let's not even talk about movement.

Thank goodness that spa owner is on the record, denying that Edwards comes in for cucumber peels. But would we really begrudge the guy a massage? In all likelihood, yes.

I was in Indiana a couple of weeks ago, visiting my alma mater and having lunch with a former professor, but also eavesdropping on the women at the next table, just to keep my skills up. Elizabeth Edwards had just told the world about her recurrence, so naturally, these women were discussing: her husband's hair. He has a lot of it, one of them noted, and "seems to think a lot of himself." Sure does, said the other. "You know they call him the Breck Girl."

Subtext: Is he man enough to compete with Hillary, whose coif is no longer an issue? Question: And is this progress?