Would Kucinich be electable if he were 6' 2" and looked like Harrison Ford?

[Cyrano]

I'm virtually certain that the reason Kucinich has been written off by the media, -- and by many Dems who consider him not electable, -- is because of his physical attributes. He's short and does not have a powerful, booming voice.

IMO, the vast majority of Dems agree with his positions, but feel that he wouldn't stand a chance against a bullying Republican (which means any Republican.)

So do you think he'd be our next president if he looked like Harrison Ford?

[fenriswolf]

1. he would be dead

ref: JFK

[Canuckistanian]

37. Like Paul Wellstone n/t

[Benhurst]

2. No.

He'd be too busy making movies.

[Liberal_in_LA]

55. Yes. Look how often the media mentions Romney and Edwards good looks.

[brazos121200]

3. No, his very progressive views would make him

unacceptable to a large segment of the powers that be in this country. However, if he was a cross between FDR, John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, he might be able to persuade enough people to support him.

[babylonsister]

4. He'd definitely have a much better shot at it instead of being marginalized

like he is. I do think the 'media' would be paying more attention.

[Uncle Joe]

36. I agree, you can see it when he's on talk shows as well, and all the media can do is

focus on his statuesque wife, instead of discussing his views on the critical issues of the day.

[Basileus Basileon]

5. No.

He doesn't play nice or go-along-to-get-along, so he has few allies in the Democratic party, if any. His message is adored by the netroots but doesn't resonate with caucus-goers. He can come across as foolish when challenged.

He'd probably doing better if he didn't look like a Keebler escapee, but I don't think he'd break 10%.

[rucky]

16. Like Howard Dean four years ago? n/t

[Basileus Basileon]

18. Pretty much. And Dean collapsed once people realized that.

[Fresh_Start]

30. agreed

Its not his looks, its his my way or highway attitude that turns me against him.
I see him as a left-ish GWB. Neither one of them cares too whits about anyone elses opinions because in their own minds, they know it all.

[rjones2818]

33. He certainly looks better

than hair plug Joe.

[Warpy]

6. Undoubtedly. The one thing I hear over and over again

is that people love what he has to say but think he looks too weird to vote for.

Face it, we're past the days when an ill favored man like Lincoln can get elected on the strength of his rhetoric.

[JackRiddler]

60. Lincoln was just fine.

Physically very similar to Papa Bush. Stature helps. Lincoln looked like a "leader," and he was an orator so that covers for a lot.

But see my response below: Kucinich is an "elf" only because he's progressive. Otherwise he'd be pimped as "adorable."

[saracat]

7. No.I don't think Harrison Ford is good looking but if he looked like Clooney

that would say, as they do with Edwards , he is "too good looking".You just can't win.

[Recursion]

8. You think it has nothing to do with his Quixotic legislative career?

I have written him off as a candidate because he proudly proclaims on his website that he wants to abolish civilian ownership of handguns and will be introducing legislation Real Soon Now (tm) to make that happen.

A) Anyone who wants to abolish civilian ownership of handguns is not electable in the US in 2007
B) Any Congressman who thinks a bill that would abolish civilian handgun ownership could get anywhere is too politically tone-deaf to be elected President

Guns are probably the most egregious example, but he does seem to have a history of introducing big-idea bills that get exactly nowhere. I don't think that is a good sign for someone wanting to be President.

On a totally unrelated and tangential point, I don't think Dennis Kucinich would be Dennis Kucinich if he were 6'2" and looked like Harrison Ford.

[malaise]

9. What I find truly sad is that

MSM attacks Hillary et al for voting for the war, etc yet attack Dennis for doing the right thing and not supporting any of Bushco's madness. They are scared of Dennis.

[paulk]

10. no -

DK has been written off by the media because he's not a serious candidate. He's not running a campaign that can win.

His views may have wide support on DU, but he's polling terribly with the rest of the electorate because he's well to the left of the rest of the Democratic Party. The vast majority of Dems don't agree with his positions and no amount of wishful thinking on your part is going to make that true.

[hisownpetard]

11. I hate to say it, but I think that appearance plays a huge part in who many people vote for,

especially in this age of plastic perfection that so many seek.

If Kucinich looked like George Clooney? You bet.

[davidwparker]

12. Yes, that is the thing that holds Dennis back. FDR brought the nation out

the depression, but would he have been given a chance if people knew he was in a wheel chair? That would have been a New Deal breaker.

[CorpGovActivist]

13. Most Presidents Have Been - Hmm, How to Be Charitable? - "Blessed with Inner Beauty"

... rather than classic good looks: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/odmdhtml/preshome.html

- Dave

[jgraz]

14. Look at Jerry Brown in 1992

Not exactly Harrison Ford, but tall and acceptable-looking. He was painted as "Governor Moonbat" by the Clinton campaign and the allegedly liberal media.

It's not DK's looks that are hurting him, it's his politics. No one in the corporate media wants this guy in power and they're doing everything they can undermine him. Notice them doing the same thing to Edwards, except with him they're making fun of how good-looking he is (e.g. "Breck Girl", etc).

[rucky]

17. That would be "Moonbeam"

us moonbats take offense at the implication.

[jgraz]

27. Riiight. Sometimes I lose track of the right-wing epithets.

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. I think his chances would be better.

[Catchawave]

19. In defense of Dennis from an Edwards supporter.....

Kuch is one of the best political speakers I have ever heard. If someone could cue up a YouTube copy of his 2004 DNCC speech and post it, you'll certainly have us forgetting Hans Solo :D

I'll never forget that speech :patriot:

[TwilightGardener]

20. He'd have a better shot, that's for sure. Looks and "leader" image--very, very important. I'd say

it's at least 40%. Likeability--40%. Policies and positions--20%.

[NI4NI]

21. If DK was 6'2, looked like Harrison, but

was a republican, Tweety Matthews would have a man-crush on him.

[seabeyond]

22. no, even taller and ford, he would not win n/t

[rodeodance]

23. looks do play a role-esp. shortness!---but Rudy is no jewel!!

[MonkeyFunk]

24. No

[bluedog]

25. don't think that would even help him out

to some hes just too far out to the left and seems like a chronic whiner and complainer.....these past elections he has also moaned that he gets no coverage.but yet he doesn't sit up offices and just goes his merry way visiting other countries on his supporters money.........

[MyNameGoesHere]

26. No, but then he could make crappy movies and make a lot of cash. n/t

[man4allcats]

28. I don't care if he looks like Howdy Doody (actually,

he does a little). In my own personal view, he's the only decent candidate in the race.

Go, Dennis!

[Perry Logan]

29. I love Dennis, but I don't think he has a great deal of charisma.

By contrast, I feel that both Obama and Edwards have a great deal of charisma. People's attraction to candidates is not about good looks per se.

[treestar]

49. He does, though

That's why they marginalize him. When he starts talking, you forget all about his shortness, blah, blah. He is intense.

[Cyrano]

31. I don't know where to look this up, but I remember hearing that

the taller candidate usually turns out to be the winner (in elections, not primaries).

[smoogatz]

32. He'd certainly have a better shot.

I mean, look at Romney. The guy's a complete idiot; the ultimate focus-group candidate. He's got nothing going for him except that he looks good in a suit-jacket, yet he's in second place with a decent shot at the nom. Same with Bush: an obvious moron with radical views, but he got all kinds of deference from the press because he was reasonably photogenic. See Kerry's nomination, too; Dean's short and kind of funny-looking. It's not a very happy commentary on the current state of our electoral system, but there it is.

[Swamp Rat]

34. I'd love to see him stand next to Fred Thompson --> David and Goliath

:)

[Toucano]

35. Yes, but not as much as if he looked like Anna Nicole. n/t

[laylah]

38. Of course!

We are a very shallow society.

[BattyDem]

39. I think he'd have a much better shot

It sucks ... but it's true. :-(

Someone I know said this: "I like him. He seems like a good guy who really cares about people, but he can't be our president - he looks like a freakin' hobbit!"

:grr:


I HATE that we choose a leader based on looks or based on who we would rather have a beer with. It's childish bullshit! But ... our media does everything they can to marginalize people who don't have the "right" look or the "right" personality traits. Until the people of this country grow up and recognize what's truly important, the list of superficial criteria that a potential leader has to meet will continue to grow. :-(

[nosmokes]

40. Yes. He'd be a lock.n/t

[Sancho]

41. as long as he didn't say anything, he'd be fine...

unfortunately, it is a hypothetical...of course, Hillary is not a "babe" (or is she?)....

[lonestarnot]

42. Bullshit! That can't stand a chance crap is just ignorant .

When it comes to Rep, Dennis Kucinich's nimble intelligence, repluglithugs just compare as to meatheads. Bully him how? Surely not in that respect.

[benEzra]

43. No.

If Harrison Ford wanted to confiscate 75% of our family's guns, I wouldn't vote for him either...

Kucinich is spot-on in his criticism of the War on Non-Approved Herbs, but he wants to apply the same failed police-state approach to civilian gun ownership, and fails to see the irony.

Other than that, I agree with him on a lot of things, but that one is a dealbreaker.

[Fly by night]

44. He must already look like Harrison Ford to at least one person (his beautiful and statuesque wife)

Looks shouldn't matter, but unfortunately they do.

The only "look" I am concerned about these days is that fewer of our young women and men come home from Iraq/Afghanistan with the look of rigor mortis.

[treestar]

52. IA, the fact she is so clearly nuts about him

Has to go far, at least with the male population.

One of the debates, the way she was looking at him! She adores him!

[Individualist]

45. He's electable as is

in spite of the endless repetition of the "Kucinich can't be elected" meme that we see here.

[Raine]

46. Yes...I honestly believe he would be. nt

[Berry Cool]

47. I have an equally valid question.

Would as many people think Kucinich was as great as they think he is if his wife were 5'2" and looked like Bella Abzug?

[babylonsister]

50. Bella!

Great, and funny, question! :D

[treestar]

48. IA, Americans today are SO shallow

They would not have elected:

Washington (bad teeth)
Adams (rotund)
Jefferson (weak voice)
Madison (short).

[Cha]

51. I don't think so...what if he

looked like mitt romney?

Dennis is fine..the corporatemediawhores don't like his message.

[provis99]

53. Sure. We've already got a President who's 5'11" and looks like a chimp

[Hoof Hearted]

54. Chemtrails, space caucus, UFO's. No, he would not.

I'm amazed they're (the media) as lenient as they are.

[Indi Guy]

56. Kucinich is the only one who has the balls to call for Cheney's impeachment now!

That's a genuine "profile in courage."

[leftofthedial]

57. yeah, but then he'd be a towel-snapping frat boy

like all our other "leaders"

[JackRiddler]

No - look at Giuliani

probably shorter and very ugly - inside and out - yet he's considered "electable."

Look at Nixon!

Hm, look at the Shrub. Or McCain.

It's the progressive politics that taint Kucinich to those who get to judge what's attractive to the electorate. No doubt.

[JackRiddler]

58. No - look at Giuliani

probably shorter and very ugly - inside and out - yet he's considered "electable."

Look at Nixon!

Hm, look at the Shrub. Or McCain.

It's the progressive politics that taint Kucinich to those who get to judge what's attractive to the electorate. No doubt.

[cherokeeprogressive]

59. He could be 4'2" and get elected if he enlisted the help of his extraterrestrial friends. n/t