What should Kerry have done re: Botox?

[Carl Spackler]

So he had prostate cancer treatment (his recovery from which and subsequent stamina is impressive) and kind of a "Treebeard" appearance. Looks DO matter in this, so I can see the temptation to go for a fix. Unfortunately it could have been a bit more subtle. But I'll bet every candidate has done things along that line (my guy Gephardt's eyes got way less baggy over the past years, IMHO).

SO, he did botox. Big deal. My question: should or could he have just fessed up? If so, how?

It's really a serious question, even if the topic is silly. How should a candidate handle disclosure of this kind of thing?

It's easy to say he shouldn't have done it, or shouldn't have lied. But on reflection I'm now thinking that his approach may be the most effective: improve the appearance, stonewall it, let it pass.

[MrSlayer]

1. Did anyone actually ask him this?

Directly to his face? I'm unconcerned either way but it seems that if no one has, he should just clear up the speculation.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. As regards this issue:

B. F. D.

Thank you.

[ACPS65]

3. Last week's news

.

[Duder]

4. The reason it's a bit odd...

“I’ve never even heard of it. Where did this come from? I’ve never even heard of it.”
Kerry denies a spot of Botox has helped smooth his brow.

“I have regular Botox shots. In fact I need another one. Soon.”
Kerry’s wife, Teresa Heinz, has fewer qualms about revealing her beauty secrets.

[Auntie Bush]

6. When his wife gets Botox how can he say

he never heard of it. That means he lied twice. The Republicans can make this an issue. He bettter not do it again...look what happened to Clinton.

[KC21304]

7. Did he say he hadn't heard of Botox, or hadn't heard of the

rumor that he had botox ? I think he should have made a joke about it by saying, "I'll tell if you will" or some such thing. He also could suggest that as long as we are getting into those kind of questions, did we have a right to know who all were taking viagra etc ? I think that would stop this nonsense.

[Auntie Bush]

9. LOL That's the perfect answer!

[frustrated_lefty]

15. He said he didn't even know what botox was.

You buy that?

If you do, there's some wonderful swampland you may consider buying.

[KC21304]

21. No, I do not buy that he said he didn't even know what Botox was.

He said " I never heard that." Meaning he had never heard the rumor that he had botox.

[ibegurpard]

24. That's EXACTLY how he should've handled it if he actually

did have something like this done.

[bitchkitty]

5. Extreme botox -

it looks like they gave him too much, his eyebrows don't move.

[Auntie Bush]

8. And they used to hang down on the corners almost over his eye.

[Maddy McCall]

10. Should Dean fess up if he wears a girdle?

Expecting candidates to expound on the personal issue of how they improve their appearance is ridiculous.

This is a non-issue. I am 1000000000 times more worried about sealed records from Dean's administration or Bush's lies that impact the lives of so many people.

Whether or not a candidate whitens his teeth, wears a girdle, or lasers off a wart is none of my fucking business.

[last1standing]

12. And how worried are you about Kerry's dirty campaigning?

Or do you think that sealed records are bad and sleazy campaign tactics are good?

While I agree it doesn't make a damn bit of difference whether Kerry has had botox treatments, it does make a difference that some people can't say something good about their candidate without smearing another.

[Eloriel]

13. It should be if it reveals a serious character flaw

or personality disorder.

[Maddy McCall]

19. I agree...Dean's anxiety attacks are much more of a concern that Kerry's

possible botox treatment. Thanks for that reminder.

[Eloriel]

11. Fessin' up is good -- not doing it at all is better

I'm sorry, but Kerry has a reputation as a narcissist (largely because he IS one) -- and this doesn't help a bit.

As I've said quite a few times now, we already have one of those in the White House, we don't NEED another. The very definition of narcissism is, "Me first, me only, me all the time. It's always about me."

What was Kerry thinking?

Oh wait, he wasn't. Except about himself (narcissism).

[frustrated_lefty]

14. He should have said

my wife had it done once and suggested I try it. So, it was a small enough request and I would do anything to keep my wife happy.

That would have turned a vanity issue into one of self sacrifice. Instead, he stone-walled and bs-ed.

edited for spelling

[fabius]

16. He should have said...

Let's talk about that just as soon as you news hounds get the scoop on Bush*'s cocaine use.

[MurikanDemocrat]

17. I heard an interview with him last week

Not sure what station or program it was. He was asked about Botox and insisted he'd never even heard of Botox. I don't know why people should care, really. He looks good.

I think this is really a petty sour grapes issue anyway and doesn't flatter those who bring it up. Frankly it's good business for a candidate to look good, and if he has taken measures to improve his appearance because it will help him in this campaign, then that just makes him smart. More power to him.

[BigMcLargehuge]

18. speaking as a normal human being

why should I care? I can't even imagine why cosmetic surgery or the injection-of-the-month is even an object of discussion. He could moisturize with Yak dung and it wouldn't make any difference to me.

What matters to me are his experiences and opinions.

[wabeewoman]

20. I don't care if he has or not

but if he hasn't I'd like to know what he did because I'd like some. He does look much better. If he lied, I wouldn't be too happy that he would lie about something so insignificant and for the ammunition it would give bush. You know bush and rove are going to paint the democratic candidate as being everything bush is accused of so there isn't any difference between the two or so people will think that and stay home. Confuse the people will be the name of the game.

[creativelcro]

22. The Botox thing is BIG. Kerry is finished. Sorry...

[DFLforever]

23. This is the kind of rumor that goes straight to 'electability'

It'll kill Kerry in the Midwest.

I can't imagine the good people in god's country voting for a man vain enough to get a face lift or to have his face shot up with botox.

I mean, really, is it presidential?

[loudsue]

25. This is an issue ALL of the Dem candidates should GO with..

I posted this on another thread about his botox, and I think it's appropriate here:

What a GRAND opportunity for ANY of the candidates to grab hold of! If the republicans are already smearing Kerry over a botox statement, Kerry (or ALL the candidates) should start right back with....

"are we going to make this botoxgate? The values of the bush followers seem to be missing something! Impeachments, recall elections, and now botox?? How about LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHICH SENT OUR TROOPS TO BATTLE AND TO THEIR DEATH OR LIFETIME DISABILITIES?? Are THESE the values of the Bush followers?? How about the biggest utility fraud perpetuated on innocent citizens in the history of the country by the bush/cheney energy task force? People in this country are going hungry, losing everything they've worked for, losing benefits, and the new right wing agenda of this administration is about botox???"

...well, you get my drift. If the Dem candidates would take this opportunity to get the train back on its tracks -- in unison!! -- they might be able to call these nasty tricks for what they are!

Question the things they (the right wing & bush) value by what they attack in their opponents, and what they're guilty of themselves!
The repukes are the ones opening that can of worms...I think we should make 'em eat the darn things!

I'm SOOOO TOTALLY sick of this country going the way of made-for-tv melodramatic NON-values! And I KNOW I'm not the ONLY American who is sick of this tabloid-type pettiness that the media feeding our brains 24/7.

It's going to take a REAL LEADER to set a new standard to get people focused on the down and dirty issues of getting the country back on track. I think ALL of our candidates are great leaders....we've got a first class pack of candidates trying to swim in a right-wing media-made sewer. ALL of them need to call it in unison for what it is: GARBAGE.

Kerry's a great man; Dean is a great man; Clark is a great man; Kucinich is a great man; Sharpton is a great man; Edwards is a great man. (Sorry if I have to stop there.) They need to address the real issues, and not the non-issues.

Life is short. The future of our nation may be short.

Screw botox. :kick:

[0rganism]

26. "Sure I got botox... in my penis! Wanna see?"

I dunno if it would have been the smart thing to say, but what the hell, it would have made things a lot more interesting.

[Carl Spackler]

27. We will see, but he may be crazy like a fox

if this blows by then he's got the benefit of youthful looks with just a few days of blather. Kudos if it works.

[Piperay]

28. Raygun died his hair and

continually denied it, that didn't stop him from getting into the WhiteHouse. Arnie denied he had a face life (a bad one at that) and he still became 'gropinator' of CA. :shrug: