Patterico's Pontifications

6/11/2010

Bad Hair Day

Filed under: 2010 Election — DRJ @ 1:27 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

The big story of the day? Carly Fiorina’s talk about Barbara Boxer’s hair:

“Video of the episode shows Ms. Fiorina waiting to be interviewed by a Sacramento television station, scrolling through her BlackBerry and asking a staff member why Ms. Whitman would want to appear on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News, which she deemed too tough an interview.

Then, after commentary on the passion for hamburgers shared by her husband and male staff members, Ms. Fiorina somehow pivoted to the locks of her Democratic opponent.

“Laura saw Barbara Boxer briefly on television this morning and said what everyone says, ‘God, what is that hair?’ Soooooooo yesterday,” Ms. Fiorina said, scrolling, scrolling.”

I don’t have much hope for Fiorina if she thinks Hannity would be a tough interview, but I would like to hear the losing side of the “vigorous editorial debate” about her comment — discussed in the article. Also per the article, I’d like to know how the New York Times decided that Greta isn’t “warm and fuzzy toward Democrats.” Does anyone at the Times actually watch Fox?

— DRJ

28 Responses to “Bad Hair Day”

  1. This, the Senate election, is going to be one great cat-fight.
    Popcorn sales will be going through the roof.

    And, on the Governor’s side:
    Jerry’s got to run against someone with more testosterone than he has.
    Hint to Jerry: Don’t bring a knife to a gun-fight!

    AD - RtR/OS! (d6c711)

  2. Come on now. It isn’t actually necessary to watch FOX News in order to criticize it. Everybody knows that!

    Anyway, that’s a job for Media Matters. The NYT is above that sort of thing (the “thing” being actual research and sourcing).

    Icy Texan (ba698c)

  3. IT…is that like not having to read a book to know what it says?

    AD - RtR/OS! (d6c711)

  4. But enough about the NYT book reviews.

    Icy Texan (ba698c)

  5. Re: Carly’s comments. Bitchiness knows no party affiliation.

    Icy Texan (ba698c)

  6. “To put on a clip of an interview…”

    Was this actually part of the interview, as suggested in the quote, or was it just idle, presumed off-camera/off-mic chatter? These are the sorts of comments everyone makes when they assume they have privacy. In that sense, the comments are not some sort of over the line evil act. They are just comments that should be made privately rather than publicly.

    The only mistake here is Carly not realizing that everything, everywhere, at any time, could be recorded.

    Jay Dean (31d9ce)

  7. That’s quite a tin ear from candidate Fiorina. And speaking from experience about losing all of one’s hair, I can tell you definitively that women have a much tougher time of it than a guy does, however badly I looked at times. Which is why I found her comment more than a little strange, coming from her past illness. Here’s a novel approach – stick to the issues.

    Dmac (3d61d9)

  8. Dmac #7 – if I was Fiorina, and this kerfuffle arose in the MSM, my first responses publicly would be to wonder, out loud and repeatedly, “I’m amazed that this is the most important question that the major media can find to ask me ! Does this mean that they agree with my positions on everything else ?” …

    In down-time before and after an interview, I most certainly hope that a good candidate *doesn’t* just stick to the issues … the human side is important, too …

    Alasdair (e7cb73)

  9. Greetings:

    I like to refer to the times when the traveling sisterhood turns on its own members as a “Now, girls” moment. The complete observation goes, “Now, girls, remember you’re all victims of the same oppression.”

    11B40 (c6fe35)

  10. It’s interesting right out the gate though, Carly saying something anti-Fox even if it was mild. She can win fans by dissing Hannity just a little. And what she said wasn’t much of a criticism anyway.

    I don’t know why she said he was tough. Maybe because he talks over people and interrupts. The easiest interview for anyone in the field is Tom McClintock. He has exceptional pacing that lets the interviewer interject, question or just sit back & remain quiet. He instinctively picks up the ball and keeps things moving so a lull never sets in. He’s a dream in that he makes the job so easy. The toughest, maybe – Bill Simon during his gubernatorial run. He speaks in a very linear style with no breaks or pauses at all, so no way to cut in and take control… without sounding like it’s cutting in and interrupting.

    Carly may have meant that Hannity’s technically difficult. He can (and probably will) rake her over the coals since he’s so solid right. I think her comment about him may have been strategic and intended more for non-Republican voters. The hair thing about Boxer… whatever. The Neo-Progs have treated women just horrendously, so it’s hard to take seriously any of their griping on this.

    Vermont Neighbor (5b9a87)

  11. “I don’t have much hope for Fiorina if she thinks Hannity would be a tough interview”

    He’s ridiculously a shill for the right. I’m amazed at the idea that Fiorina sincerely believes this. Even against the left, he’s not so much a tough interview as so hostile he generates sympathy.

    And this is California… they are rolling their eyes at this. Certainly they will not hold it against Boxer when she refuses any interview with Hannity or the actual solid interviewers of Fox News.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  12. That should be “Senator Boxer’s hair”.

    Fiona should have more respect for Senator Boxer’s hard work that Senator Boxer put into becoming Senator Boxer.

    BradnSA (980254)

  13. Meanwhile, Barbara Boxer’s inane comments on the floor of the Senate and her snapping at an Admiral get ignored by the MSM.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  14. Vermont Neighbor, Tom McClintock is a great interview for all the reasons you stated along with the fact that he *knows his stuff*, inside and out. He is so in command of any situation, no matter who is trying to bait him and I think it’s because he doesn’t bullshit, is straight up with facts, and artfully plows through attempts to bait him into an emotional melee with his cool command.

    p.s. I believe Fiorina knew precisely what she was doing. She’s had enough PR practice as well as interviews, etc., to be aware of the open mic. And she’s a woman – cattiness comes naturally. This is going to be an awfully fun election, if nothing else.

    Dana (1e5ad4)

  15. and asking a staff member why Ms. Whitman would want to appear on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News,

    Are some interpreting that as a dig at Hannity or Fox? Huh?

    I bet Fiorina meant that because so much of the media is notoriously sympathetic to liberals, that when politicians of the left want to do an interview and gain publicity, the assortment they can pick from — in terms of outlet and host — are far and wide.

    Mark (411533)

  16. It took Ruth Marcus of the Wash Po about 5 minutes to jump all over this. Who cares about commentary about that idiot Boxer’s hair? Liberal media, looking to take down her opponent.

    Who cares about her ineptitude, her disastrous, far-left politics, her unfitness for office, her lack of legislative accomplishments, etc., etc., ad nauseum?

    Millions of Californians do.

    GeneralMalaise (57a85b)

  17. I don’t know why she said he was tough. Maybe because he talks over people and interrupts

    Probably more due to his being of the right and Boxer being of the left. Just as with the controversy over Helen Thomas and why she was treated with kid gloves for decades, the general assumption among many people (unless one is an ultra-liberal) is that a liberal politician will get a lot of benefits of the doubt from a high percentage of reporters/interviewers/media people.

    Mark (411533)

  18. Boxer in profile
    Will Sampson in a bad wig
    gag me with a spoon

    ColonelHaiku (57a85b)

  19. General Malaise,

    I think the novelty of two strong willed women vying for office in California will be at the center of all the reporting we’ll be seeing. The politics of the campaign will be secondary to cat fights – imagined, real, or completely fabricated by the media.

    Dana (1e5ad4)

  20. Dana,

    I agree. I think the coverage will only be substantive as long as the polls show Democrats ahead.

    DRJ (d43dcd)

  21. Barbara Boxer will not win this election. Take it to the bank.

    GeneralMalaise (57a85b)

  22. Dana, agreed. California’s lucky to have McClintock, lucky he’s around and leading the way for conservatives.

    The Ruth Marcus piece was typical. So much to write about and so hey, let’s make a cat fight. Tina Brown was even worse with her rich women are wingnuts routine. Didn’t watch, but maybe someone reminded her that Barack The Competent took almost $1B to win his little vanity race.

    I hope the General is right about November. Either way, this is the year the socialistas learn that ‘woman’ is not the equivalent of damsel.

    Vermont Neighbor (5b9a87)

  23. the human side is important, too …

    Sure, but that hair thing is really inane. I mean, if you want to discuss Boxer’s many failings on a personal level, you could discuss her pathetic attempts at plastic surgery and idiotic behavior in general.

    Dmac (3d61d9)

  24. Here’s the latest example of what a shit-fer-brains Babs “Don’t Call Me Ma’am” Boxer is…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJB7zFsFFE

    GeneralMalaise (57a85b)

  25. What does Tina Brown say about Arianna Huffington?
    Oh, wait, that’s different.

    AD - RtR/OS! (d6c711)

  26. What surprises me is that left wingers stopped talking about Sarah Palin’s breasts long enough to even notice Barbara Boxer’s ugly hair.

    trentk269 (8ed1e1)

  27. Doesn’t Tina Brown have a few dollars of her own?

    Icy Texan (11677d)

  28. Doesn’t Tina Brown have a few dollars of her own? <

    Exactly. It's the rich once again lecturing in nano-babble. Tina Brown, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric… same message from the usual suspects. Oddly enough, they never had a problem with Kennedy's wealth. Or Jane Harman's, or Pelosi or Boxer or Feinstein.

    They really need to pick one consistent lie and stick with it. Whitman & Fiorina earned their money whereas all the others are enjoying family wealth.

    Vermont Neighbor (5841cd)


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