I really wish I could afford a $400 haircut...

[JANdad]

Because if I could, that would mean that I could make a real contribution to someone else's life.

Consider for a minute what that stylist could have done with that money...

Maybe that caught him/her up on a late credit card payment...or made a dent in a car loan or even allowed them to treat their family to a nice evening. So what if Edwards payed $400 for a haircut. Who are we to know what conversations transpired during the course of that haircut. For all we know, John may have found out that the stylist was having a hard time recently or was trying to expand their business.

We (some) at DU want to chastise the mega rich for screwing the middle class, but just as soon as an "elitist who speaks about poverty" throws around some money on what some perceive to be foolish things...we bash them and call them hypocrites.

It seems to me that somewhere else in recorded history, a man that spoke for the underprivileged was also constantly under scrutiny about his preachings...and he eventually was killed for it.

John has made himself wealthy against all odds (lost a son, will probably lose his wife) and yet he still fights for the middle class / lower class. If you are truly one who seeks the truth then you must ask yourself this; Why after already losing his son, and now knowing that he will probably lose his wife, would he put himself and his family through this? Could it be because he truly believes that he is serving something greater than himself. Could it be that he has been poor and is so grateful that he has "made it" that he wants to make sure that all others have the same choice and chances to make it as well? Or is it that he is just an opportunistic politician?

I'm sorry, but I am not so jaded by the MSM and the neo-con's of the past 7 years that I can not have hope...hope that there is a man out there who wants to make the world a better place for ALL!

[mikehiggins]

1. I just wish I still had enough hair to make it worthwhile :^) eom

[Redstone]

2. Great perspective, there. I hope the post title doesn't turn people off from reading

the whole thing. It almost put me off, but I'm happy I read the whole post.

Redstone

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Best thing you could do for John Edwards would be to let it go.

I see absolutely no reason to still be talking about this nonsense.

[JANdad]

4. It is still here on DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3319722&mesg_id=3319722

[Warren DeMontague]

6. My biggest problem with Edwards right now is that he doesn't think gays should have the "right" to

marry.

Until he made that asinine comment, I was halfway to voting for the guy in the primary. Looks like it's gonna have to be Kooch, now, if Al Gore doesn't get in.

[JANdad]

7. I can respect that...

No one candidate will eve be perfect and right now Edwards speaks for me and my financial situation.

[Inspired]

12. What is Gore's position on gay marriage?

I don't recall hearing about his stance on this. Is he for gay marriage? I'm not gay but I am for gay marriage. It is one of the few things I disagree with Edwards on. But he is still the candidate I feel can lead the country best.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. If he gets in the race, I suspect he'll have to give an answer.

So we'll see.

[Sadie4629]

5. I have no problem with John spending $400 on a haircut

as long as it's his own money. The problem with the expensive haircut was that it was paid for out of campaign contributions. He is good at what he does, and has earned the right to spend his $$ on whatever he wants. His supporters' $$ are another story. That money should be spent on advertising and other stuff that will actually help him to win the nomination and/or election.

[Kagemusha]

8. Until now I've stayed way out of this whole debate but...

I fail to see how a haircut is not something "that will actually help him to win the nomination and/or election". Just seems obvious to me that how the hair looks is a campaign asset (or liability).

Now, it'd have probably sounded better at large if he'd paid for it with his own money, esp. if he would be getting $400 haircuts regardless because of his wealth and public visibility. (Which I think is likely.) But it is a campaign asset IMHO, even if it should not have been a campaign expense for simple PR reasons. (PR, is also a campaign asset, after all.)

[JANdad]

9. I believe that a staffer paid the bill

And once discovered, was taken care of...

[Inspired]

10. That was a mistake and he paid the campaign back.

You don't think Edwards actually told the stylist to bill the campaign do you? I certainly don't. By the way...the haircut wasn't $400. That was the total bill for the stylist's time, transportation costs and the infamous haircut. I believe this was done in the LA area. $400 in costs might not be all that expensive considering the time it takes to get around there.

[senseandsensibility]

11. Very little of that four hundred dollars went to the stylist

I bet. That said, I think the whole bru-ha-ha about the haircut is a ridiculous effort to distract us.

[JANdad]

14. That may be true

I don't know...

But I do know this...apparently John does not hoard his money like some millionaire cheapskates I know. He spends the money he has thereby benefiting many...

[Rosemary2205]

13. A vote for Edwards means you'll have a better chance of that someday.

When lower middle class parents don't have to choose between a decent school district and food - or between healthcare and college then we are going to have more and more lower income people who can someday afford a $400 haircut -- though hopefully they would keep their frugal lessons and figure out a better way to benefit someone with that money.

[JANdad]

15. I Truly Hope So

:toast:

[Joe Chi Minh]

16. Yep, $400 dollar haircut or not, may more people will have a modicum of

disposable income, without couples each having to work at multiple jobs and all the hours God made.

[JANdad]

17. With "*"'s great economy

Wy wife and I have been able to go out alone once in the last 6 months...

Marriage is hitting some hard time largley b/c of this economy

[Joe Chi Minh]

19. Marriage is one of the biggest casualties here in the UK too. Family values,

don't you know.