This issue won't go away. There will be NO coverup. We now have another story from one of the pre-eminent "investigative" reporters of the Washington Post, John Solomon himself, doing an incredible in-depth exposé on the most important aspect of the Edwards campaign - the price and value of his haircuts.
Since this story has graced the pages of this paper more than once and has been discussed on every news show and late night monologues, we know that this is important stuff. In addition, the July 4th story has the human interest aspect. Folks, this is Pulitzer prize material. Solomon has sought out the hairstylist, Torrenueva, to tell us his side of the story. I can hardly wait to click through to the profound insights I'm sure I will find.
In the story I discovered that Solomon did have a profound insight
It is some kind of commentary on the state of American politics that as Edwards has campaigned for president, vice president and now president again, his hair seems to have attracted as much attention as, say, his position on health care.
Solomon then continues to do his part to insure that we talk about haircuts and not health care after all this is an expose, I think. He does point out that
Senator Hillary Clinton had her own minor version of the Edwards treatment after her Senate campaign spent nearly $3,000 in fees and travel for two sessions with stylist Isabelle Goetz.
Solomon then provides some balance in the story by quoting Edwards campaign
"Breaking news -- John Edwards got some expensive haircuts and probably didn't pay enough attention to the bills," said spokeswoman Colleen Murray. "He didn't lie about weapons of mass destruction or spring Scooter Libby; he just got some expensive haircuts."
But we discover that Republicans are much more frugal about their haircuts.
Campaign aides to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the best-coiffed Republican candidate in the presidential race and the wealthiest of all the hopefuls, fretted in an internal document that his well-tended locks may be considered a negative. He has assured Massachusetts reporters that he spends no more than $50 for a trim.
When this story first broke in April, I saw the scathing article that Maureen Dowd wrote and then read an article on Governor Crist in Florida who pays his barber only $9 per cut. I was shocked that he was so cheap, but thought to brag about it. I wondered if his barber can afford health care.
Then one additional paragraph in the Solomon's story caught my eye:
In Iowa, for example, an early caucus state where Edwards is staking much of his fortune, the Quad-City Times newspaper quoted barbers calling the cost of Edwards's haircuts "preposterous" and "impossible" and suggesting that they would be chased by guys in "white coats" if they charged Iowans that much.
Now I am mad. Think about it. Guiliani gets $100,000 for an afternoon speech. But a highly skilled hairstylist isn't worth $400 for an evening's work? There are two Americas. The wealthy and the rest of us. And we are to expect low wages and be grateful for them. Further if anyone pays a generous fee then they should be mocked for not being as cheap as other people.
The point of Solomon's story is that a wealthy millionaire is stupid and should be embarrassed because he was generous and did not question the going rate being charged. He is being mocked for paying a fair price. And Solomon even got barbers to laugh at someone who would pay a better price for their service. There is something wrong with this picture and conclusions.
Typical rich Republicans Be really cheap in how you pay for service.
I think Crist is extraordinarily cheap. Barbers are part of the service industry. It is in the Republicans interest to keep wages low. If his barber does a good job he should make a good living. Crist can afford to pay his barber much better. I don't think he should be so proud of being cheap. If you are a barber or hair stylist many think you should work for a paltery amount. We all like a bargain. I have gone to Supercuts too. But I also have gone to a high priced salon and got a terrific haircut that was worth every penny.
Edwards is about working people getting a fair deal. There is no reason that a barber shouldn't get fair wages and be able to afford health care. And if you are highly skilled you should be able to earn high wages. The reason many of us look for cheap haircuts is because we are just getting by.
Why shouldn't Edwards pay a great stylist a good fee, even a generous fee?
Should all stylists be living at a minimum wage? How much do you pay a plumber or electrician just to look at your problem? $65, $90? How much should a car mechanic cost? How much does a lawyer or consultant charge per hour? $300, $500 or more?
A haircut that looks good on camera in all directions is hard to do. That is why Hollywood and New York stylists are paid so much. People recognize the value of good work. This stylist is the best in his business. He deserves his high fee.
Edwards paid a fair market value for this stylist who is now living the better life. Edwards recognizes value in honest work and pays it to the people who provide him with services.
Why shouldn't a highly skilled working person have opportunities to earn a great living? and be able to afford health care?
I love the American way. If you are good you can demand a premium as this stylist does.
Mothers your children who are hairdressers can earn a great living if they develop their skills!!!
I wish Edwards had not fallen into the trap and did not say he was embarrassed to pay that fee. I know most people try to get cheaper services. And this was probably good damage control. But I think he should be proud to pay for exceptional service.
Edwards is about giving working people opportunities to do better. Why shouldn't a superb hairstylist get a great fee? Why should all hairdressers just earn the minimum wage? Do we want our candidates to look their best or not?
Why shouldn't a good seamstress earn a good living? Why shouldn't a good waitress earn a good living. Some restaurant owners want to lower wages because waiters get tips. Well I still think if they are doing a good job they should be paid. The tips should be the extra value.
I understand that we may pay less for haircuts than those who are in the public eye, but don't we want circumstances where everybody can earn a fair wage?
I don't expect any candidate on the road to be penny pinching. Time is money.
I know Edwards repaid the campaign, and part of that was his commitment to being frugal with contributers' money. But I think it would have been a legitimate expense. And I think a good use of my money.
Is it a better use of our funds to pay thousands for a TV ad that goes to corporate profits and Rupert Murdoch, but have the candidate look like an unkempt bumpkin instead of paying a working person a great fee to make Edwards look fabulous?
What other wages do we try to keep low? Hotel housekeepers? Child care workers? If we all paid fair value for the services we get wouldn't we all do better?
And sometimes you just handle it with grace and humor. Here is Elizabeth and John with some trivia.
Note what the guy at the end says.
Solomon's story is not Pulitzer prize material after all. It is just high priced tabloid journalism in the Washington Post. This was another typical attack on Edwards to diminish his strengths by the RW which I discussed in my diary A Lesson in Rovian Smear Tactics in the Media The Washington Post as yet has not written about John Edwards' plans for health care, debt relief, and the plan he announced at ACORN to increase the minimum wage to $9.50, the Post failed to cover it.
Solomon is the one who should be mocked for not informing people about health care but thinks haircuts are important. He is using his skills to try to diminish Edwards who is dedicated to public service because he cares about the poor and the middle class - a man who spent a good part of last year helping get an increase in the minimum wage in six states. And the rest of us should be happy that Edwards is a generous, decent guy who cares about giving all Americans the same opportunities he had to succeed and is running for the presidency to be able to focus on policies that do that. Perhaps the MSM might write about that soon, but I won't hold my breath.