Couldn't Resist

One of the reasons why I even write this blog is so that I don't always feel compelled to rant at politicians and journalists individually. But when I read today about the reaction by Quad City barbers to a story about John Edwards getting a couple of $400 haircuts, I just couldn't resist. I wrote to John Edwards campaign and gave him a bit of advice on how he should deal with this embarrassing detail. He's been called "The Breck Girl" by Rush Limbaugh for years now, and the subject of a popular You Tube video that shows him fussing over his hair for five minutes with the song I Feel Pretty dubbed over it. If he were to take my advice he would score big points and reverse his image as a preening, vain metrosexual.

In the article, the barbers were aghast that anybody would pay $400 for a haircut. In their world that's not even possible. The average cost around town was $10-$12, but they also mentioned that you can get one for $7.50 from a supervised, student barber. What I told Edwards to do was go to Bettendorf walk into the local barber college and say, "I hear you can get a haircut here for $7.50? I'd hate to tell you what I've been payin'." Then get the haircut and, maybe even tell the supervisor to take a walk. And the best thing that could happen would be to get a slightly bad haircut. He'd come out looking like he had a sense of humor and a lot more connected to the common man he purports to represent. Oh, and his hair will grow out. Won't happen, no huevos.