Associated Press Covers Edwards' "$400 Haircut," Labels Him "Pretty"
April 17, 2007 -- 6:24 PM EST // // Post a Comment
Check out the lede on the story just moved by the Associated Press about John Edwards' $400 haircut (yes, the AP did cover it):
WASHINGTON Apr 17, 2007 (AP) -- Looking pretty is costing John Edwards' presidential campaign a lot of pennies. The Democrat's campaign committee picked up the tab for two haircuts at $400 each by celebrity stylist Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills, Calif., according to a financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
"Looking pretty?"
You can argue that the story's legit, because Edwards apparently used campaign money to pay for the haircut, or that such lifestyle choices are fair game for coverage, or that the Edwards people should be prepared to deal with such smears. Whatever.
But this is about the AP. It's a news organization, and it shouldn't be playing the "pretty boy" game in stories about Edwards, given the degree to which it's become a tried-and-true GOP and winger talking point, both against Edwards in particular and those wussy Dem males in general (remember the stories about Bill Clinton's and John Kerry's haircuts/stylists?). Labeling Edwards "pretty" in this context just isn't defensible for a news org like the AP. You already have a long history here, with assorted GOP operatives labeling Edwards the "Breck girl"; Ann Coulter calling him a "faggot"; and Rush Limbaugh asking whether Edwards might be our "first female President."
And now the AP is playing along with this ugly game, labeling him "pretty." Oh, man, how weak. And yes, I get the "pretty penny" joke. It's still garbage. Maybe the AP should have capitulated completely and run Rush's graphic with its story:
Update: Glenn Greenwald explores the larger media dynamic at work here.
Update II: Steve Benen has a sober and fair-minded take on this story, too.
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