Are looks important for a politician?

JupiterKid

Given that Enda's mug has been on the cover of Time magazine and that generally, the media seem to favour photogenic politicians more than those who aren't, do you think that Irish politicians are a photogenic lot and is a politician's looks actually that important in terms of ingratiating themselves with voters and the general public?

Dr Turk Turkelton

Definitely chec out the Healy-Rae dynasty of male models.

I don't think Enda Kenny's looks has much with him appearing on the front of Time magazine, but moreso that he's pretty much running our country and our country is being used as the mould that other debt-ridden countries should follow, for whatever reason. Had it been Brian Cowen that were in charge, his face would probably have been there instead.

Riddle101

Enda Kenny just wants to look pretty for Angela Merkel is all. Other then that, I don't think it matters, since the last Taoiseach was a bit fugly.

Duggy747

Bertie's banana suit on that beach with the other world leaders.

For fùck sake, that was embarrassing......

folan

its not quite the beauty contest in ireland that it can be in the USA.

the general, the taller one wins.

Abe Lincoln wouldnt have won today.

*note: nothing above is serious, except the abe lincoln bit.

JupiterKid

Duggy747 wrote: »

Bertie's banana suit on that beach with the other world leaders.

For fùck sake, that was embarrassing......

Was that a skin tight pair of speedos Bertie was sporting?:pac:

HeyThereDeliah

Appearance is important, well dressed clean and smart looking and anyone can look good.

I hope no one ever votes just because of someone's looks, that would be stupid.

wilson10

JupiterKid wrote: »

Given that Enda's mug has been on the cover of Time magazine and that generally, the media seem to favour photogenic politicians more than those who aren't, do you think that Irish politicians are a photogenic lot and is a politician's looks actually that important in terms of ingratiating themselves with voters and the general public?

Never bothered Dilly O'Wee.

Agricola

Not in Ireland. As long as they have fixed, or attempted to fix the road, they're fine.

9959

Are looks important for a politician?

Obviously not.

Maximus Alexander

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't think Enda Kenny's looks has much with him appearing on the front of Time magazine, but moreso that he's pretty much running our country and our country is being used as the mould that other debt-ridden countries should follow, for whatever reason. Had it been Brian Cowen that were in charge, his face would probably have been there instead.

I just can't imagine they would ever put Brian Cowen's melted welly on the cover of Time, even if he won a Nobel peace prize.

Larbre34

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

I just can't imagine they would ever put Brian Cowen's melted welly on the cover of Time, even if he won a Nobel peace prize.

Maybe the Halloween edition

magma69

9959 wrote: »

Are looks important for a politician?

Obviously not.

Actually looks are important. They shouldn't be, but they are. Being handsome puts you at an advantage in the workplace over the uglies.

Maximus Alexander

magma69 wrote: »

Actually looks are important. They shouldn't be, but they are. Being handsome puts you at an advantage in the workplace over the uglies.

That explains why I have been able to hold down a job despite being outrageously incompetent.

Maximus Alexander

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

I just can't imagine they would ever put Brian Cowen's melted welly on the cover of Time, even if he won a Nobel peace prize.

I can't imagine they'd put anyone's melted welly on the cover of Time magazine.

folan

Deleted User wrote: »

I can't imagine they'd put anyone's melted welly on the cover of Time magazine.

time do have some strange specials. it could happen

Toby Take a Bow

Agricola wrote: »

Not in Ireland. As long as they have fixed, or attempted to fix the road, they're fine.

This. In Ireland, all politics are local politics. Looks are less important than what a politician can do for your particular problems. In America, due to the size of the place, there's more emphasis placed on looks and how 'presidential' a candidate is (if it's for the presidency). Obviously secondary to their interpretation of the right-left divide, but when choosing between two very similar candidates, I would think the more presidential one will win.

folan

folan wrote: »

time do have some strange specials. it could happen

Well they did once have an inanimate carbon rod on their cover.

JupiterKid

I don't think looks are all that important for a politician, if he or she is able to do a good job, but in the past in Ireland some politicians have got away with appalling grooming and dress sense and in this day and age of Dail and Seanad TV coverage that just doesn't cut it IMO.

Politicians should try to make themselves look half presentable.

Turtyturd

No but it can help if you look like a 'celebrity'....half the people who voted for Joan Burton thought she was Ken Dodd.

Cungi

Yulia Tymoshenko = fapworthy
(Toiréasa Ferris would get one too)

hardCopy

Voters are so shallow.

Mary Harney only got elected because she's a ride.

Michael D only got in because he's tall dark and handsome.

9959

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

...but when choosing between two very similar candidates, I would think the more presidential one will win.

I take it you mean 'the more presidential looking one will win'.
What is that exactly, smooth, sophisticated, devilishly handsome with a masterly bearing like, say, Richard Nixon or Jimmy Carter?