If Hillary was prettier, would she get more votes? [Archive]

Giraffe107

2nd February 2008, 03:28 PM

In Australia we have a party called the Democrats- not like the US one, they are a fairly minor party. A few years ago, their leader was a very pretty young woman- she was articulate, intelligent, and gained a lot of popularity for the democrats among young people. But she was brought down by the press and the major parties, mainly through attacks on her age and looks. The Democrats dropped her and went on to become even more minor than before.
So in a nutshell it would probably hurt Hillary.

The Fool

2nd February 2008, 03:31 PM

Hillary is a babe....what are you all talking about??

WildCat

2nd February 2008, 03:35 PM

I was at a party last night and we took a poll of the partygoers to find who was the preferred Dem candidate. The vote was 13-3 for Obama. The interesting thing was, all 3 of the Hillary votes were from gay men!

Darth Rotor

2nd February 2008, 05:36 PM

If Hillary was better-looking, do you think it would help her campaign? Or would have it no effect, or perhaps even hurt her?
Don't think so. GW Bush ain't handsome, and he got elected.

Her appeal, to be attractive to voters, needs to be the whole package of who she is and what she offers. Ever since her successful run for Senate in 2000, she and her team have been hard at work on packaging Hillary as President.

Since she isn't physically repulsive, her looks don't enter into it. The question is: is the Hillary package deal pretty enough for your vote?

DR

TragicMonkey

2nd February 2008, 05:48 PM

Hell, if you want to see ugly, look at Liebermann. Ugh. I know plenty of people who aren't exactly easy on the eyes, but he actually gives me retina pain. And yet he still gets elected. Even with all the evil, and those looks he gets elected. Clearly, Americans aren't hung up on looks when it comes to politicians.

Hillary looks okay for a woman of her years, but mostly she's only attractive in the sense that she's apparently well out of Bill's league, but settled for him anyway. What's the deal with that?

Iamme

2nd February 2008, 05:56 PM

Hillary is a babe....what are you all talking about??

I too think she is attractive...enough. Isn't she more attractive than what Margaret Thatcher was?

joobz

2nd February 2008, 06:13 PM

Don't think so. GW Bush ain't handsome, and he got elected.

Her appeal, to be attractive to voters, needs to be the whole package of who she is and what she offers. Ever since her successful run for Senate in 2000, she and her team have been hard at work on packaging Hillary as President.

Since she isn't physically repulsive, her looks don't enter into it. The question is: is the Hillary package deal pretty enough for your vote?

DR
I would agree with you on the GWB front, but it seems many women do find him attractive.

As for Hillary, I think her public speaking is what hurts her the most. Her speaches always feel forced. It feeds into the negative persona that conservatives paint her with. That was the major lesson from her "emotional episode" after her first loss.

fuelair

2nd February 2008, 06:19 PM

fuelair

2nd February 2008, 06:20 PM

Don't think so. GW Bush ain't handsome, and he got elected.

DR
Yeah, but bunches of the deluded wanted to drink with him!!

Region Rat

2nd February 2008, 06:52 PM

Hell, if you want to see ugly, look at Liebermann. Ugh. I know plenty of people who aren't exactly easy on the eyes, but he actually gives me retina pain. And yet he still gets elected. Even with all the evil, and those looks he gets elected. Clearly, Americans aren't hung up on looks when it comes to politicians

I think Arlen Specter tops old Joe in the butt ugly department, and he's still getting the votes.

Esperdome

2nd February 2008, 07:18 PM

I'm amazed at how well Chelsea turned out. When her father was president, many idiots attacked her on her looks. I've always thought she was a duckling waiting to become a swan, and to watch her now, she is a very pretty swan. Hillary would do well to keep Chelsea in front of college crowds, she's a vote magnet.

Elizabeth I

2nd February 2008, 08:14 PM

As for Hillary, I think her public speaking is what hurts her the most. Her speaches always feel forced. It feeds into the negative persona that conservatives paint her with. That was the major lesson from her "emotional episode" after her first loss.

I find her voice extremely unattractive.

Oroborus

2nd February 2008, 09:03 PM

Maybe if she was at that fine line between good looking and the assumption that looks are all she has. And I agree with Elizabeth, her voice could use a once over.

shadron

2nd February 2008, 10:18 PM

If Hillary was better-looking, do you think it would help her campaign? Or would have it no effect, or perhaps even hurt her?

Does contemplating Ann Coulter answer the question?

Good looks are usually an asset in getting attention in the first place, but if you have no intelligence (or, perhaps, political cunning?) to back it up you'll get trashed faster than if you hadn't had it at all. People not only more easily admire good looks, they also envy them.

Modified

3rd February 2008, 07:05 AM

I find her voice extremely unattractive.

I always wonder why politicians with unattractive voices don't get some help early in their careers. The nasally whine of Bush Sr. would be an extreme example. Hillary's voice is a bit grating, but not so much so that softening it would result in something unrecognizable.

Brainster

3rd February 2008, 07:47 AM

Diana Irey was as pretty as they come, and she was up against the rather unappealing John Murtha.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_977747a5e1baa588e.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=10564)

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_977747a5e1fc86746.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=10565)

She lost by 22 percentage points.

plumjam

3rd February 2008, 07:53 AM

she isn't repulsive, but if she looked like Monica Lewinsky she'd be smokiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn'

UserGoogol

3rd February 2008, 08:01 AM

I think that (for both genders) there is a sort of Laffer curve of attractiveness. If you're too ugly, people don't want to look at you, but if you're too pretty, people don't take you seriously. Of course, like the Laffer curve, it's probably more complicated in practice than a simple parabola.

I suspect being slightly prettier couldn't hurt, though.

I too think she is attractive...enough. Isn't she more attractive than what Margaret Thatcher was?

Prime ministers aren't directly elected, so they are held to lower standards. Of course, they still have to be elected to their own district, but (as some of the pictures in this thread have shown) the legislative branch can handle decent amounts of ugliness because people are elected on a smaller scale. Also, she was far more attractive back in the 50s when she was first elected to Parliament.

Travis

3rd February 2008, 08:09 AM

she isn't repulsive, but if she looked like Monica Lewinsky she'd be smokiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn'

There were many distasteful ways you could have taken that and yet you choose that way. Oh well.

T.A.M.

3rd February 2008, 08:34 AM

I think if Hillary had charisma, and likability, then good looks would contribute. Without the first two, she could look like Scarlet Johanson, and it would make no difference.

TAM:)

The Painter

3rd February 2008, 08:36 AM

If Hillary was better-looking, do you think it would help her campaign? Or would have it no effect, or perhaps even hurt her?

No effect. If she were super model pretty, that would hurt her.

maxpower1227

3rd February 2008, 10:13 AM

I think it would help Hillary if she wasn't a slimy, power-hungry wench who had utter contempt for those with opposing political views; if she was more willing to compromise with those who had differing views; if she wasn't tainted by the numerous scandals from the Clinton years, the slandering of the women who accused her husband of sexual misconduct, and the general manipulation of the truth that she and her husband partook in; and so on. There's no way Republicans and Independents will cozy up to Hillary like they do to Obama.

Drysdale

3rd February 2008, 11:18 AM

Boy, this is an easy one.

No, she'd still be the same crooked,conniving politician she is no matter what she looked like.

andyandy

3rd February 2008, 02:05 PM

it's an interesting question....

looks certainly are important in politics - just ask Menzies Campbell. He's in his mid sixties but looks about 80.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menzies_Campbell

and was basically hounded out of office, with every single interview referring to his age, whether he was too old, could he do the job, etc etc....

if he'd been mid sixties but looked younger, then i think he'd almost certainly still be lib dem leader....

with women we still have a great deal of misogyny in society - and whilst i think that in general good looking women do have a much easier time progressing in society, if you're a pretty female politician i think you'd get a harder time....there would be some that thought you were just a pretty face and had got there by looks alone, others (let's face it, bitchy women's magazines) that would consider every fashion faux pas, every shot of you ever showing any flesh, every extreme close up spot the wrinkles, every shot of you without make-up to be worthy of splashing all over the front pages....

perhaps you'd be better off being just the right side of average - not too pretty, not too plain....

Damien Evans

3rd February 2008, 08:29 PM

[Dr Who]Don't you think she looks a bit tired?[/Dr Who]

Spindrift

4th February 2008, 08:26 AM

Murtha, Lieberman and Specter are downright hunky when compared to Henry Waxman.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/476247a73bf9a961a.jpg

TheJim

5th February 2008, 08:50 AM

Hillary is above average in attractiveness for women of her age so if she looked like Jessica Biel or Alba she would have no chance as the age group with the most attractive women are not eligible to vote.

Darth Rotor

5th February 2008, 09:30 AM

I would agree with you on the GWB front, but it seems many women do find him attractive.
If W is attractive, I am Brad ****** Pitt. :p

As for Hillary, I think her public speaking is what hurts her the most. Her speaches always feel forced.
Uh, as forced as W's attempts, or forced in a different way? She may not often come off as warm, but she does come off as articulate and intelligent in most cases.

It is hardly fair to compare anyone to W in public speaking, given his owning the basement in that division.

DR

bigred

5th February 2008, 09:40 AM

Don't think so. GW Bush ain't handsome, and he got elected.

Her appeal, to be attractive to voters, needs to be the whole package of who she is and what she offers. Ever since her successful run for Senate in 2000, she and her team have been hard at work on packaging Hillary as President.

Since she isn't physically repulsive, her looks don't enter into it. The question is: is the Hillary package deal pretty enough for your vote?
Don't kid yourself DR. Looks (and other "personal demographical" aspects) SHOULDN'T matter....but do. If Hillary was a "hot," yes it could and probably would change voter's attitudes towards her - likewise if she was butt-ugly. Hell if Hillary was a man she'd be lucky to even be in the race - IMO ditto for Obama if he was white and his name was Fred Smith.

A LOT of people - consciously or not - take heart to such superficial things. Not saying it's all they care about by any means, but it impacts them. Sad but true.

Bill Thompson

5th February 2008, 09:59 AM

If Hillary was better-looking, do you think it would help her campaign?
It is how JFK beat Nixon.

ksbluesfan

5th February 2008, 10:44 AM

The only reason I'm voting for her is because she's hot.

dudalb

5th February 2008, 11:16 AM

If Pretty wins elections, Kucinich's Wife should run instead of Kucinich.

bigred

5th February 2008, 01:14 PM

The only reason I'm voting for her is because she's hot.
You REALLY need to get out more.

DrBaltar

6th February 2008, 08:06 AM

If Hillary becomes pres, do you think she will have an affair with a male or female intern?

Spindrift

6th February 2008, 08:12 AM

If Hillary becomes pres, do you think she will have an affair with a male or female intern?

If she does, I just hope she has better taste than Bill. The most powerful man in the world and Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky are the best he can do?

steverino

6th February 2008, 09:40 AM

Hell, if you want to see ugly, look at Liebermann. Ugh.

Oh yeah, TM? Well from what I hear, he is hung like a horse. Now what do you think about his looks?

bigred

6th February 2008, 10:05 AM

If Hillary becomes pres, do you think she will have an affair with a male or female intern?
I heard some rumour about her and Markie Post when Bill was prez, but not buying it......

steverino

6th February 2008, 04:56 PM

TragicMonkey

6th February 2008, 05:17 PM

Oh yeah, TM? Well from what I hear, he is hung like a horse. Now what do you think about his looks?

Reminds me of a joke the woman who played Roz on Night Court once said (yes, I know I'm showing my age. God, I miss Night Court. What an awesome show that was):

"People tell me that old men make better lovers than young men, because they last longer. I tell them, 'who wants to [colloquialism] an old man for a long time?' "

eta: Damn it! Again! Always my lecherous remarks spill to the top of a new page!!

Elind

6th February 2008, 05:48 PM

If Hillary was better-looking, do you think it would help her campaign? Or would have it no effect, or perhaps even hurt her?

Aside from being a stupid question (yours); how old are you?

Iamme

6th February 2008, 05:50 PM

It is how JFK beat Nixon.

I thought the reason JFK got in was due to the crooked Daley machine in Chicago.

Iamme

6th February 2008, 05:52 PM

If she does, I just hope she has better taste than Bill. The most powerful man in the world and Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky are the best he can do?

Let's see where YOUR tastes lie. Name someone we all know, who is better.

Iamme

6th February 2008, 05:53 PM

Hubba hubba, wah wah-wee-wah! Maybe Obama could select HER for VP.

She might have a pretty face, but I prefer them 'cute'.

What is cute? That is when they have at least one facial feature that causes one to trip over your shoes when you look at them. Such as big bedroom eyes with real 1 1/2 inch long eyelashes, slightly wideset eyes, nice full healthy rounded cheeks/face (not skinnnnyyyyyy), NOT a pointed chin, more of a pug nose than a long beak, and big lips, for example.

bigred

6th February 2008, 07:34 PM

Aside from being a stupid question (yours); how old are you?Again irony rears its curious head.

Elind

6th February 2008, 07:57 PM

Again irony rears its curious head.

Answer the question, or pretend to understand why it was asked in the first place, child.

bigred

6th February 2008, 08:49 PM

Answer the question, or pretend to understand why it was asked in the first place, child.:rolleyes: nyah nyahh to you too.

Are you an alias for "The Painter"? The kiddies/trollers are crawling out of the woodwork around here lately...

KingMerv00

7th February 2008, 12:47 PM

Aside from being a stupid question (yours); how old are you?

I don't think the question is stupid. He isn't saying that we SHOULD care about looks, only whether or not it will impact the election.

In case you ask me too...I'm 27.

ksbluesfan

7th February 2008, 02:02 PM

You REALLY need to get out more.

I was joking to point out the absurdity of this question.

I am voting for Hillary.

I do think she's attractive. She's not exactly a model for Victoria's Secret, but she's attractive enough.

I am not voting for her just because she's attractive.

Cello Man

7th February 2008, 02:06 PM

Hillary's got nothing on the Ukranian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko. Holy moly, that is one beautiful woman.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Yulia+Tymoshenko&gbv=2

Dorian Gray

7th February 2008, 04:50 PM

Benazir Bhutto is (was) more attractive than Hillary Clinton

Here's Tymoshenko without the braid. (http://bp0.blogger.com/_CQyU4ayBifw/Rw-KFB476mI/AAAAAAAAAmc/-Gvtve4DXXg/s400/yulia-tymoshenko-01%5B7%5D.jpg) (if it doesn't come right up, it's about 3/4 down the page.)

Dr Adequate

7th February 2008, 05:13 PM

Isn't she more attractive than what Margaret Thatcher was? Well, yes. So is being gnawed to death by wild badgers, what's your point?

steverino

7th February 2008, 07:51 PM

Reminds me of a joke the woman who played Roz on Night Court once said (yes, I know I'm showing my age. God, I miss Night Court. What an awesome show that was):

"People tell me that old men make better lovers than young men, because they last longer. I tell them, 'who wants to [colloquialism] an old man for a long time?' "

(as told by Woody Allen): Two people are eating dinner at a restaurant. One of them says, “The food in this restaurant is terrible.”
“Yes,” responds the other. “And the portions are so small.”