We have them beat on every measure that counts, or at least on every measure that should count.
As they say, there’s no accounting for crazy!
And now we’ve got the charisma factor in our favor, too.
Tonight’s Las Vegas rally: VP Kamala Harris paused to address the devastation from Hurricane Helene.
She highlighted the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to support communities impacted by the climate disaster, focusing on immediate federal response—emergency aid and… pic.twitter.com/uwVimGWre3
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) September 30, 2024
Call me crazy, but I have always felt certain that our first female president would have to be beautiful, or at least very attractive. Lucky for us, Kamala Harris is the whole package. Attractive women get more promotions and get paid higher wages than their less slim and less attractive counterparts, which is wrong in more ways than we can count. In this case, I’m happy to take the upside of this particular prejudice – if it helps us win the White House!
Open thread.
Baud
But not too hot, if she wants to be taken seriously
ETA: Sadly, I know of what I speak in that regard.
Ukai
But Trump said he’s better looking than Harris.
catclub
She really does the joy that Walz mentioned.
hueyplong
@Ukai: To fellow pigs he probably is. See Donna Douglas Twilight Zone episode.
Tony G
@Baud: Speaking as a man who has worked for women bosses: Yup. If the female boss is undeniably physically attractive then she has to make sure that she dresses as “conservatively” as possible, lest the men stare at her ass instead of listening to her words. Unfair? Yup. But true, even a half-century after the latest wave of feminism. Meanwhile men can be as unattractive as they wanna be!
Betty
It isn’t just women who benefit based on appearance. Tall man have also been shown to have been given an advantage.
Splitting Image
I am happy to see a 60-year-old woman being called attractive. This is also a step in the right direction.
OId Man Shadow
Given the voters in America, you’re absolutely right. Unless they are political nerds, they want the Sparklevibes above everything else.
In this case, it’s “oh, she’s pretty! And happy! And not old and gross!”
Suzanne
When I pointed this out some weeks ago, a commenter here implied that I would stop supporting Harris once she got older (and presumably less attractive, I guess). I suppose if others won’t pass up a passive-aggressive opportunity to dunk, I shouldn’t, either.
In all seriousness, pretty privilege sucks. I also think that it’s part of why MAGAts have gone crazy in recent years. The Dem candidates have been better-looking and cooler than them.
Suzanne
@Tony G:
Um, yes.
I used to wear makeup to work every day. My skin hates that. I stopped when it really dawned on my that most of my male colleagues looked like hell every day and it wasn’t an issue for them.
Kristine
@Tony G:
That said, tall and attractive can have an impact. Took note of it a few times at the old day job. It was interesting
ETA: I see Betty got there first.
Suzanne
@OId Man Shadow:
In marketing speak, that’s “aspirational”.
People want to associate themselves with people, things, brands, places, etc. that portray the life they want, not the life they have.
Kristine
@Splitting Image:
I confess it took me by surprise. Glad to see it.
B1naryS3rf
But a big part of what makes Madame Vice President attractive is her charisma, laugh, mind and sense of humor. Also unlike those GQP monstrosities she hasn’t mangled herself (looking at you, Governor Puppy Assassin).
Kosh III
I am old enough to remember hearing that some women voted for JFK instead of Nixon because JFK was handsome.
UncleEbeneezer
Also, too: light-skinned. I’m pretty sure someone with Lupita Nyong’o-level of melanin (even as gorgeous as she is) wouldn’t be getting the same treatment, because of how White Supremacy warps our beauty standards.
sixthdoctor
From one of the best Twitter users:
wjca
What will be really interesting will be how public perceptions change during her time in office. Every President I can remember aged visibly while in office** — it really is an exhausting high-stress job. For example, how grey will she let her hair go, and how fast? Damn right, it shouldn’t matter; realistically, it will matter to some folks.
** Joe Biden far less than most actually. Perhaps because he had a head start?
lowtechcyclist
@Splitting Image:
She’s not 60! She’s still 59 for another three weeks.
Seriously, it helps that she looks more like 48. And as Uncle Ebeneezer said, her being light-skinned helps even more.
Steve LaBonne
If we lose it sure as hell won’t be because of candidate quality. She’s a star.
Ishiyama
I said it last night and I will say it again: Her suit was fantastic! Cut & color fit her so well!
BR
Woo hoo — Harris talked about cannabis legalization. And in the right venue for it too:
https://www.tiktok.com/@kamalahq/video/7420474221635046699
Baud
@BR: Good. Let’s hope the young white dudes hear it and are moved by it.
Matt McIrvin
@wjca: Heard it pointed out somewhere that Presidents probably don’t age more in office than anyone else would over such a period of time–Presidents are just people we’re looking at pictures of all the time, and they’re at least middle-aged, so they’re generally in a time of life when aging is pretty visible from year to year.
The guys may also intentionally dial back the hair dye a bit to acquire visible gravitas.
Matt McIrvin
@UncleEbeneezer: well, you convinced me, I’m on board with President Lupita Nyong’o.
Wait, what was the question? got a little distracted there
TBone
VP Harris’s hairdresser will wash any gray right out of her hair. Just like we will do with cotton candy coif at the ballot box.
MisterForkbeard
@TBone: No matter how much time or money Harris spends on her appearance, it’ll always be less than Trump. Which pleases me for very petty reasons.
Ukai
@Matt McIrvin: The natural-born citizen clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article 2, Section 1, clause 5) may have something to say about that. Alas.
the pollyanna from hell
wg,
Sorry I’ve been out of touch. I want to report on my conference last week with Gloria.
She was confused by jargon you did not wish to explain. Gloria is not hopeless with math, so I suggested some ideas from information theory. She lawyered hard against that.
The line that we finally pursued together was a notion that the person who brings to general notice the most worthless bad bogus info should take charge of its disposition, radiate feelings of power and adequacy, and suggest from the beginning dismissal with prejudice.
Gloria is quite authoritative in various of her professional lives, so this was a congenial solution for her. I suspect that you were misled into a false position when you glimpsed the hidden persona of helpless despair that she has never been allowed to express.
I believe even we clumsy amateurs can learn to operate the delicate machinery of bj with just a little training and encouragement.
TBone
@MisterForkbeard: 😂😍
Soprano2
That was a great speech. I would challenge anyone who thinks they don’t know what she stands for to listen to that speech.
Soprano2
@lowtechcyclist: I’m 63. If you saw me, you’d probably guess mid to late 40’s. I’m the beneficiary of good genetics, never smoking, and staying out of the sun. My body knows every year old I am, however.