[Jack198]

The state rep who said this caught a rash of shit from his own party, but he's right. I've met her - she's a looker, especially for a politician.

New Hampshire Republican: Rep. Ann McLane Kuster "is as ugly as sin"

Last Updated Oct 13, 2014 4:15 PM EDT

New Hampshire State Rep. Steve Vaillancourt wrote a long blog post predicting the outcome of the race in the state's 2nd Congressional District on one factor: incumbent Democratic Rep. Ann McLane Kuster's looks.


"Let's be honest. Does anyone not believe that Congressman Annie Kuster is as ugly as sin? And I hope I haven't offended sin," Vaillancourt wrote on NH Insider, a New Hampshire politics blog.

By contrast, he wrote, Kuster's Republican challenger, State Rep. Marilinda Garcia, is "one of the most attractive women on the political scene anywhere, not so attractive as to be intimindating [sic], but truly attractive."

Vaillancourt writes that he was inspired to write the post after hearing "some polling data which went by too fast for me to write down."

"I seem to recall hearing that a new survey is out revealing that, with two caveats, an attractive candidate can have as much as a seven to ten point advantage over a less attractive (or even an unattractive) candidate," he wrote.

Though he acknowledges, "I'm not sure how valid the polling data is," he goes on to say the caveats of that theory are that the two candidates must be the same gender, and that, "the attractive candidate not be so drop dead gorgeous as to intimidate those watching."

He goes on to tell a story of a "rather attractive drag queen" that he saw in Montreal the previous weekend standing outside of a bar called Mados that features men dressing as women ("not that there's anything wrong with that," he says).

"How ugly is Annie Kuster?" he begins. By the end of the story, he concludes, "By now you probably know why I think of Annie Kuster whenever I walk by Mados; sad to say, but the drag queens are more atrractive than Annie Kuster....not that there's anything wrong with that."

Vaillancourt writes that for years he promised himself "not to use this anecdote," but that, "after seeing the story about the seven to ten point boost for the attractive, the story has political relevance."

"Annie Kuster looks more like a drag queen than most men in drag," he concludes.

Vaillancourt seemed to realize the post might cause a backlash, because he warned readers at the top that "the subject matter, although very real, may prove uncomfortable for some of my more sensitive readers."

"Thus, to avoid the PC police sending out a warrant for my arrest, I offer an advance warning," he said (with the promise that "I don't plan to say anything really offensive here.").

Garcia released a statement calling the comments "sexist" and saying they "have absolutely no place in political discourse.

"Both Rep. Kuster and I have experienced this unfortunate reality of being a woman in politics. I hope that as time moves forward and more female candidates run for political office around the country, people will focus on the content of our ideas rather than what we wear and how we look," she said.



versus

[kbell]

"Annie Kuster looks more like a drag queen than most men in drag," he concludes.
Hahahahaha!



The contender. Wb and vote for.

[Jack198]

^ You meant Garcia, right?

...so much for "people will focus on the content of our ideas rather than what we wear and how we look.."

It all comes down to that simple question: "WB, or WNB?"

[kbell]

hahaha. of course. the other one looks like a tranny.

[Bobbagwell]

It shows the dark side(not like there is a light side) of feminism, its not always women vs men. It shows its ugly women vs hot women.

[Basil Ransom]

Mrs. Doubtfire, is that you?

[CRR]

He's not really one to talk

   

[Libertas]

It's well-known in politics that good-looking candidates usually beat their more homely opponents. One of the most telling predictors of presidential elections is actually whether a candidate has a chiseled jawline.

[Peregrine]

(10-25-2014 05:37 PM)Libertas Wrote:  

It's well-known in politics that good-looking candidates usually beat their more homely opponents. One of the most telling predictors of presidential elections is actually whether a candidate has a chiseled jawline.

One of the many reasons why democracy is suboptimal.

[el mechanico]

(10-25-2014 05:16 PM)CRR Wrote:  

He's not really one to talk

[attachment=22336]

[The Beast1]

They've been trashing her on local TV as a crazy tea partier. Honestly WVF (would vote for).

[Dusty]

(10-25-2014 04:38 PM)kbell Wrote:  

The contender. Wb and vote for.

[Libertas]

(10-25-2014 05:56 PM)Peregrine Wrote:  

(10-25-2014 05:37 PM)Libertas Wrote:  

It's well-known in politics that good-looking candidates usually beat their more homely opponents. One of the most telling predictors of presidential elections is actually whether a candidate has a chiseled jawline.

One of the many reasons why democracy is suboptimal.

I wouldn't say it's just a problem with democracy though (although democracy magnifies this to its most harmful degree). Any human system is going to favor good-looking people. It is inseparable from our nature.

The lesson is clear - do your damn best to look good.

[MattW]

It's not just men but women also that judge other women for how they look over what they say. In fact I'd be interested to see if women don't judge other women even more than men on how they look rather than what they say. Anyone know of any background or study on this?

[Lord_Perseus]

Damn, WB. I would definitely stuff her ballot box over and over again so much, I would likely be found guilty of voter fraud

[Mike5055]

Democracy is a joke. What positions does she take vs. her opponent? All in all, it doesn't matter though. None of them do a thing except further degrade this nation.

[Dragonstone]

I grew up being told that a large part of the 1960 US Presidential campaign came down to which candidate looked better in the televised debate. I also think that the selection of one of the running mates in the 2004 campaign was impacted by the candidate's looks. This is not exactly a new concept.

As to the article, attacking the other party's candidate on the grounds of being "as ugly as sin" is embarrassing at best. I don't know enough about Rep. Vaillancourt to speculate about why he made that statement.

[CRR]

@ el mechanico - Good spot. He does look like Pete Rose's fatter, uglier brother.

(10-26-2014 12:31 PM)Dragonstone Wrote:  

I grew up being told that a large part of the 1960 US Presidential campaign came down to which candidate looked better in the televised debate. I also think that the selection of one of the running mates in the 2004 campaign was impacted by the candidate's looks. This is not exactly a new concept.

As to the article, attacking the other party's candidate on the grounds of being "as ugly as sin" is embarrassing at best. I don't know enough about Rep. Vaillancourt to speculate about why he made that statement.

Very good points. I think it began with JFK and Reagan just solidified how important being an effective communicator on television is so important in politics.

As a liberal, I remember the 2004 campaign well. I wanted Dick Gephardt as the nominee, but John Kerry "looked Presidential" and John Edwards was considered very charismatic despite a thin political resume. George W Bush had a folksy quality that perfectly contrasted his upbringing. And Sarah Palin was picked mainly on her telegenic qualities. Likewise, Barack Obama was/is just very strong in terms of charisma.

It may or may not be the best way, but it's certainly part of reality. I'd say in local matters, it probably matters less for a variety of reasons. Either way, this guy is a dick and (as I said earlier) has absolutely no room to talk.

Most importantly, WAB (would absolutely bang) that sexy Republican.

[Dragonstone]

(10-26-2014 12:56 PM)CRR Wrote:  

It may or may not be the best way, but it's certainly part of reality. I'd say in local matters, it probably matters less for a variety of reasons. Either way, this guy is a dick and (as I said earlier) has absolutely no room to talk.

I think that (looks or aesthetic appearance) are actually more important in local politics. Most (US) local politicians hold political views that are nearly the same as other politicians of their party in their area. In the absence of other factors (money, media attention, reputation, etc), physical appearance probably has more than a minor impact in the election process. Magnify that by the number of "political steps" before elections become more about issues and prior performance, and the impact becomes more and more material.

Keep in mind how many voters vote for lesser-known local candidates based on where they are on the ballot, and compare the attention drawn by the story referenced in the OP to the attention paid to local zoning decisions or annual budget decisions.

Or, how, look at how many candidates win their first elections if they are overweight.

[CRR]

^^^good points.

I'm thinking about places I've lived, and I think in local races (i.e. Congressional) a lot of it is about raising money. So it's often someone from a wealthy family.

I think being atypical can help too. In other words, either be very photogenic or someone people can relate to, someone people can 'have a beer with'. For example, someone like Chris Christie's combative style, weight issues came across as more relatable and authentic to a lot of people. At some point, people get sick of the sick, polished politician. Or at least they say they do until they vote them back into office.

[Jack198]

(10-25-2014 06:20 PM)frenchie Wrote:  

They've been trashing her on local TV as a crazy tea partier. Honestly WVF (would vote for).

That's out of state money coming from the DNC, who's out-spent Garcia by four to one. Her ugly opponent won't even meet up for a town hall meeting - she's totally dependent upon riding the wave, which now is not in her favor since Obama's poll numbers are in the toilet.

[Jack198]

(10-26-2014 12:31 PM)Dragonstone Wrote:  

I grew up being told that a large part of the 1960 US Presidential campaign came down to which candidate looked better in the televised debate. I also think that the selection of one of the running mates in the 2004 campaign was impacted by the candidate's looks. This is not exactly a new concept.

As to the article, attacking the other party's candidate on the grounds of being "as ugly as sin" is embarrassing at best. I don't know enough about Rep. Vaillancourt to speculate about why he made that statement.

In the radio debate, people polled thought that Nixon won, whereas it was the complete opposite in the TV debate where they thought Kennedy won. Nixon supposedly had a skin problem which made the makeup irritating for him, either that or he was a macho shithead who didn't understand new media (I think the latter).

Anyway since then it's been a major shift in debating and political framing, generally. Facts matter less than emotions - have a look at the effect of women voters have on how politicians have to market themselves and it's all you need to know.

[DannyAlberta]

Quote:

"Let's be honest. Does anyone not believe that Congressman Annie Kuster is as ugly as sin? And I hope I haven't offended sin,"

...

"Annie Kuster looks more like a drag queen than most men in drag,"

[Saweeep]

I like girls that look like her.

WV

[AntiTrace]

If only politics were about what it's supposed to be about: improving the country and leading it into the future.

as opposed to what politics is really about: Bunch of adults acting like children when they don't get their way. Drama, drama, drama.

maybe I'd actually pay attention and vote.