The Democratic Haberdashery issue will NOT go away!

[DrBB]

You weasely liberals think you can change your clothes or get a haircut in the dead of night and get away with it? WRONG! The American News Media are watching, and you WON'T get away with it!

"Seeking Women's Votes, Clark Changes His Style"

Gone are his navy blue suit, red tie and loafers, replaced by argyle sweaters, corduroys and duck boots.

——NYTimes, 1/8/04——

See that? Argyle! Corduroy! Duck boots, by god--duck boots!

Well, he's not getting away with it, and thank god for that. The health of our republic is secure--the media are on the watch!

I suggest you join me in offering kudos to the Times:

Re "Seeking Women's Votes, Clark Changes His Style," (NYTimes, 1/8/04): Many of us recall that during the last presidential campaign the New York Times was at the forefront of reporting on what the Democratic candidate was wearing. The matter of earth tones, as I recall, received a full--one might say exhaustive--airing.

It is clear that you and the rest of the media are once again determined not to neglect this critical area. Earlier in the campaign, Kerry's haircuts were brought under much deserved public scrutiny; now the serious matter of General Clark's (perhaps only temporary) abandonment of the blue suit is getting the attention it demands.

Say what you like about the passivity or triviality of the media, this fearless determination to keep us informed on the critical issue of Democratic haberdashery is impressive.

[patricia92243]

1. I feel snubbed - have they given Dean's clothing and hair equal time - lol

[DrBB]

10. I know--they blew it on Dean

My only explanation is that they felt they had other things they could work with--He's a hothead! Another Dean gaffe! He's the "angry" candidate!--and this has distracted them from covering the crucial clothing/hairstyle issue in his case. Clearly they have a lot of ground to make up here.

[Padraig18]

2. Howard needs to find a decent tailor, and QUICKLY!

I have nothing AGAINST J.C. Penney, I just wish Howard didn't buy his suits there... :P

[underpants]

4. They are a bit snug aren't they?

:shrug:

[Padraig18]

7. Yup.

He could sooo benefit from about two hours at 'Hong Kong Tailors' (a 'come to your home' franchise of tailors). :P

[xultar]

3. Well I PERSONALLY sent plenty of communications to Clark's

campaign and told them that he needed to come out of his "uniforms" with the blue suit, white shirt, red tie deal.

I'm a woman. I like him better in his new clothes.

U gotta problem with that? (jokingly)

[sallyseven]

5. The media needs a life.

[underpants]

6. I heard a dismissive comment on Fox last night

Just flipping around I ran across some smiling jackass who mentioned that ~"Well Clark is wearing sweaters now..."

I had seen a picture of him on Yahoo news photos (searching for cAPTION material) coming out of the men's fitting room at LL Bean.

HEaven forbid that they might what to wear comfortable clothes.

I notice no mention is made of W wearing a cowboy hat though he can't ride a horse and isn't actual a rancher. Odd that.

[Rowdyboy]

8. I think we should be bombarding the paper and the "journalist"

who wrote this chauvinistic tripe. To imply that one must wear certain clothing in order to win the "womens vote" (as if it were some monolith) is degrading and untrue.

Journalists, publications and commentators who focus on such stereotypical non-issues should be reprimanded. Its disgusting to assume that a woman's interest goes no deeper than the clothes one wears.

[glarius]

9. Who's vote was Bush after when he wore the flight suit that looked like he

had castrated himself?....Hmmmmm???....Think about it!!!

[TexasSissy]

11. LOL LOL! Yes, it gets silly sometimes. Actually, as a female

As a female Clark supporter, I was surprised to read that more men than women favored Clark. He's just so cute and kinda sexy, in addition to his presidential qualifications. And since I'm a female, I don't get it. I'm wondering if the women don't have as much time as men to watch the news & get familiar with all the candidates (since they have paying jobs during the day and then run households and raise kids on evenings and weekends). Dean was getting bulk of media coverage, so maybe that's who they are most familiar with.

But as the primaries get closer, this may change.

[DrBB]

12. Actually, if you read the article

...it doesn't look like there's really all that much of a problem there. I think it's more a case of having a frame for a story you want to tell, and then cherry-picking some facts to flesh it out.

They quote one woman as saying "I just don't think a military guy is what we need right now." Well, that's an opinion I've heard from a lot of Clark skeptics or opponents--it's not evidence of a gender-gap just because it happens to be a woman saying it. I kind of figure if you've got to pad it out with stuff like that, you haven't got that much of a story to begin with.

But the main point, of course, is that they've finally got the clothing issue on the table! We can all breathe easier now....