Do you care about how your candidate spends the money YOU donate?

Edwards's hair pseudo-controversy and dumb move (in my view) and the responses I've seen here make me wonder if those of you that donate money to candidates (as I do) are expecting him or her to use it for purely political/campaign purposes or if you don't care about the candidate using it for personal care (which is, in a way, part of campaigning... but a personal part of campaigning).

Do you care or do you not?

think he has a right to spend his own money on how he see fit...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/17/edwards.hair.ap/

"The Democrat's campaign committee picked up the tab for two haircuts at $400 each by celebrity stylist Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills, California, according to a financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

"FEC records show Edwards also availed himself of $250 in services from a trendy salon and spa in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 in services from the Pink Sapphire in Manchester, New Hampshire, which is described on its Web site as "a unique boutique for the mind, body and face" that caters mostly to women.

"A spokeswoman for Edwards' campaign did not respond to requests for comment."


Note the words "campaign comittee" and "FEC records" (that's Federal Election Committee ... unconcerned about his private finances).

HILLARY GATHERS AN ARMY
By IAN BISHOP
Post Correspondent

July 24, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign army has increased its ranks to 50 staffers and more than 20 consultants, specialists in everything from fund-raising to speech-writing to hairstyling and makeup.

Clinton, the likely 2008 Democratic White House front-runner, ponied up nearly $3,000 in campaign cash for her blond tresses to get some presidential pampering from acclaimed D.C. stylist Isabelle Goetz.

Recently released federal fund-raising records show Clinton shelled out $1,500 in April for Goetz to carefully craft her coiffure and another $1,000 for a camera-ready clip in May.

She passed off both styling sessions as "media production" expenses.

Clinton was so desperate for Goetz to style her gilded mane, she picked up the scissor siren's $405 travel tab in April and a $38 expenses tab in May.

Goetz, a fixture at the swank Cristophe salon and the favored stylist of John Kerry, has been clipping the former first lady's locks for years - she's credited for updating Clinton's coif from country to chic. To complement the touch-up of her tresses, Clinton invested another $3,000 for makeup maestro Barbara Lacy to brush on some blush.

Lacy is a Tinseltown pro who applied the makeup to actors' mugs in movies including "Minority Report," "Runaway Bride," "National Treasure" and "In the Line of Fire."

She can also take credit for working the West Wing - the NBC version. Clinton paid Lacy an eye-popping $1,600 for some eye-lining in mid-May and another mind-boggling $1,300 for some makeup two weeks later.

Again, Clinton justified the makeovers as a media production expense.
…
http://www.babalublog.com/archives/003657.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=698126&mesg_id=698126

Edwards Flattens Coif Controversy
April 18, 2007

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: You can tell it's political season when people are putting a fine tooth comb to, well hair. A report filed with the Federal Election Commission last weekend revealed that former Sen. John Edwards' D-N.C., presidential campaign twice shelled out $400 for haircuts he received from a Beverly Hills salon.

Just as fast as gossip spreads in the fashion salon, ABC News has learned the money will be returned. "As for the haircuts, the bill was sent to the campaign, it was paid in error, and Edwards will be reimbursing the campaign," says campaign spokesperson Eric Schultz.

The hair cut revelation did little to minimize what some call Edwards' 'Breck Girl' image. Earlier this year, YouTube showcased a video of Edwards fixing his hair before a televised interview, demonstrating the unforgiving power of the site.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/04/edwards_flatten.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3224029&mesg_id=3224029

He basically had to pay the stylist for all the haircuts that the stylist couldn't do while away from the shop *and* the travel expenses, plus Edwards's own haircut.

is about 7x the amount of money i donated in 2004, I would say it means a little to me that my hard-earned money go towards something constructive in the campaign.

Most of these folks who run are already millionaires. I'm donating money to buy ad time, pay campaign workers, ect. I don't consider my money being used to get haircuts or some other frivilious expense.

I should disclose, however, that I'm not an Edwards supporter. So maybe I'm a little biased.

i like Edwards, personally. I think he's probably a nice guy and all that. And I like that he's a lawyer, because I depend on lawyers for my job, but in terms of my preferred candidate, I don't think he's in my top 3.

I think he'd be way better than any republican, though. Waaaaay better.

BTW, I'd feel the same way if Hillary or Obama or anyone else got a $700 haircut.

to get a hair cut?

Sure I care. I cared that John Kerry didn't see fit to spend all the money that was sent his way.

I could care less about how much Edwards spent on a hair cut. I care more about the attempt to trash him...

On edit - I can't spell worth a lick...

Unless you wanted the Democratic candidate to be in violation of the law. Al Gore had money left from 2000.

he's intelligent enough to handle his campaign budget.

Why on earth are we fussing about this? It's just what the GOP wants us to do.

You think * didn't have fancy haircuts, makeup, and clothing when he was a candidate?

Sheesh. don't give this any more fuel.

Do you have to take a course for it?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/17/edwards.hair.ap /

Accuse THEM of slander, not me.

Plant a story in the media, then use the media story as proof that the story is true.

When you swallow it, how does it taste?

Still, it brings up a question about how our money is used on the campaign trail.

No, it doesn't bring up questions for me. I don't bait well.

This is directly from edwards own disclosures how the hell does rove plant that?

As far as your swallow comment goes...

That the best you got?

Edwards doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of wining this primary so I really couldn't care less what they say about him. He is an also ran yet again, Unless obama or hillary make serious stumbles he has absolutely no chance in hell of surpassing them.

If for some unknown reason either of them do he doesn't hold a candle to Dodd or Bidden when it comes to experience and like it or not in the times we live in the people don't want a virtual unknown holding the reigns at the moment.

You people amaze me. Its ok with you that he spent $400 dollars of campaign money on a hair cut? Honestly?

Short answer, no. And in this case, it ain't even his money.

and you hit the nail on the head exactly. It wasn't even his money!

If he wants to be an idiot with his millions go for it but spending his donors money on that is reprehensible.

but four hundred dollars? For a freakin' haircut?

If I had that guy's money, I could think of a lot of things to do with it, and getting some fancy haircut wouldn't be one of them. But maybe them rich folk take this sort of thing for granted. And his donors do want him to look good, after all, since that's one of his major selling points, so why not do it on their dime? Maybe it's all for them, really.

And stylists should just shut up and listen to their lawyer clients talking about all their trips here and there. Then take their $25.00 of which they will probably only see $6.25 of and plan a nice trip too. Would you feel better if Edwards exploited the poor even though he has the means not too?

is a vain fool, and as for anyone who charges 400 dollars for a haircut, well, there's a sucker born every minute, and two to take him. Whatever the market will bear, right? And on someone else's dime. Not a bad gig at all.

If it were only a 25 dollar haircut, it would not be an issue.

It would mean that he is exploiting low paid workers. That would be worse than paying a professional what they are worth.

and I think watching what the campaign spends its money on can be a good indicator of priorities of the candidates themselves.

Quite honestly I will not vote for a politician that I discover has used hard earned money, sent to them by trusting constituents, on
extravagances.

I remeber last primary I was really enjoying Al sharptons prescence in the campaing untill i learned of him staying at posh hotels on campaing money. I instantly lost my taste for him at the time and this edwards thing feels the same to me.

It remains to be seen really if these were legitimate charges or just clerical errors but if in fact these are legitimate charges Edwards will never have my vote in fact I will work to try to ensure he is not elected.

You bought the slander without a shred of evidence or even common sense.

BTW, I have a bridge for sale, cheap.

the stylist was contacted and confirmed it? its in official fillings of their budget?

Where in the world is the slander? please enlighten me.

Piss poor campaign management if you ask me.

:rofl:

done...she has highlights done and the cut...what would you think she spends?

I think shes a corporate whore.

However what she spends out of her own pocket I couldnt care less about. If she is spending that kind of cash out of campaign funds however I have a freaking huge problem with it.

but rather about using donated money to get her hair done.

Seriously, are we taxpayers now expected to subsidize the vanity of presidential candidates?

I cannot believe so many people are giving Edwards a pass on this one. If it was Mitt Romney doing this, we'd be all over him like flies on shit, and deservedly so. It's not his money.

I don't care what Edwards spends either, but if he's going to use campaign donations for a rip-off of a haircut, then I reserve the right not to donate to his campaign.

After all, I could use my $10 to get myself a decent haircut.

A candidate burning thru the money he or she is raising too fast is a bad sign of campaign management, bad campaign management leads to a bad campaign. Edwards burn rate was low the first quarter so I reckon that on occasion he can pay a fancy stylist to make a housecall for a haircut. Hairstyling and makeup and clothes are definitely a part of campaigning.

Don't you think though that a guy who's message is supposed to be about helping the poor should be conscious of the appearance of such things? Does that not in and of itself imply bad campaign management. There is absolutely no reason for this to have happened on this campaign in particular it goes directly against his two americas message.

First, it does seem that these charges have included either the stylist coming to Edwards and/or makeup work being done for TV appearance, so costs like this are just part of modern campaigning.

Secondly, despite being in the campaign for the entire 1Q, Edwards spent the least of the big three, in fact only half of what Obama spent. Clearly, he's been able to organize and operate his campaign efficiently and effectively. If he could do that as President, then there will be more money left over to help the poor, even if he has a personal stylist kept on staff (which a President certainly has).

And if you could point me to similar legitimate expenditures from other campaigns I will concede that point. I wont like it even a little bit but I will concede it.

However in a campaign that focuses mainly on the plight of those in poverty one would expect that they would be much more conscious of anything with even a wiff of the two americas in them.

So IMHO at the worst its a disgusting display of the pillaging of donators money, at best its piss poor campaign message management and attention to the details of that message. This wouldn't be half as bad if he wasn't running on the two americas theme while seemingly living in the rich portion. Since it is his main campaign theme it seems to me to be a blunder of epic proportions.

And, no, it doesn't change a whit about what I think of John Edwards and his capabilities to be POTUS. Republicans have stolen hundreds of billions from the US Treasury and I'm going to worry about a $400.00 haircut?

I'll care, but it won't change a whit about what I think about Obama when I read he once said the word "shit" when he stubbed his toe. I'll care, but it won't change a whit about what I think about Hillary when I read she only tips 10% on lunches. I'll care, but it won't change a whit about what I think of Richardson when I hear he is a serial jaywalker.

I refuse to bite on stories that Karl Rove is most likely paying big money to get placed into the MSM.

Thanks for actually ANSWERING the question I asked. :)

they're just not cancerous tumors like their Republican counterparts.

What are campaign expenses and what are personal expenses? If you are away from home campaigning and getting ready to do a TV spot and need a hair cut...or you can't go TO the hairdresser because you are busy working the campaign and so need him to come to you...does that make it a campaign expense?

I think it was a stupid thing to do especially when you consider that he does not appear to be a heavy spender in other areas. He should have paid for it out of his own pocket. But then...who pays his bills when he is on the campaign trail? Could this have been a staffer gaffe? It's like the flap over him not knowing what his electric bill averaged. Does anybody think that John Edwards sits down with the bills once a month? No, he pays somebody to do it for him. Maybe he doesn't handle payments. Maybe he should.

I am with another DU'er who said that it wasn't the mistakes that mattered so much to him but how they are handled. I am going to reserve judging too much until I see whether this thing gets legs and runs and how Edwards handles it. I am an Edwards supporter and I have sent him money. I don't know that I really care if some of it got spent on a hair cut.

...who wants to donate $25 to a rich guy who doesn't seem to need the money?

If he wants donations and votes, he should get all his haircuts in different local barber shops across the country. He would become the talk of each town, and would be seen as a regular guy.

...(Edward's hair looks easy to cut. He would look good bald. I sometimes cut my husband's hair with a Flow-bee, and he always looks great) :)

I bought it when my son was little and afraid of scissors (he's wasn't afraid of this noisy machine, go figure) :shrug:

I had no idea that katzenkavalier had bought the rights to discuss John Edward's hair.

My question stems from the hair issue, but I'm talking about the use of donations in general. Don't take personal.

I donated to Edwards and I don't care. It's weird to me that the people that do care, do not appear to be Edwards contributors.

Or maybe not so weird.

Till now I didnt hold any ill will towards him though other than for his Iraq weasel vote but as i dont think he stands a snowballs chance in hell of becoming president what he does or doesnt do on the campaing I am really indifferent to. This however reeks to me. Should any other candidate be found to be doing the same I will have the same problem with them.

I hope that in the end I am not forced to vote for someone who gets $400 haircuts on constituents money whatever their name is. If they are willing to take that aproach whenthey are campaigning god only knows what they will do when they get their hands on the real cookie jar. This country is in serious financial trouble now is not the time for extravagant spending of the tax payer money.

An Edwards fan.

Please explain to me how it is acceptable for candidates to spend campaign contributions on extravagances.

Rose colored glasses come to mind.

You now the hell I caught for this last night.

I try not to take it personal.

But that can be very difficult when assholes are calling you a mouthpiece for the rw. If these candidates would just use some common sense, these kind of things would not be out there to talk about.

He is a millionare. If this is true he should have got his haircut on his own dime. A lot of people are scraping out 25 dollar donations out of their tight budgets to send to him. I did and he is not my first choice. I also donated to Obama.
If the money is to be used this way I should have used it in my budget to feed the homeless. They need it more.

That little babies thread has been kicked a hundred times in a week and as of today the grand total collected equaled just slightly more than what ONE of those haircut costs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=626702&mesg_id=626702

Thanks for posting this over here.

Please continue to pass the link along if/when it's ever appropriate. Maybe someone over here in GDP has the match that baby needs to live. You never know.

I only donated 25$ butI will do so again after I recover from my tax bill.

I only had a few bucks to give myself. But that just exemplifies your earlier point that I'm so glad you raised and brought everything back into proper perspective for me.

I don't have extra money. Anything I give means I sacrifice something for myself in order to give away that money. There are people who desperately need money for potentially life and death issues. Those people should and will be the priority for my donations. The politicians have money to burn, apparently, so I'm not too worried about them at this point.

:)

I would mind if the candidate were regularly wasting lots of money on needless expenditures (like Sharpton's luxurious travel accommodations in '04, when he was barely polling in single digits), but I'm willing to put up with a certain amount of slippage. Any modern campaign is a massively complex machine of innumerable parts. If the candidate earns my donation with their words and their actions, what the campaign does with the money is of comparatively little importance to me.

What am I going to do, send a note along with the check that says "This money is only to be used for expenses I think are legitimate"? To the best of my knowledge, all the money I sent to Kerry/Edwards in 2004 could have gone into petty cash and been spent on printer paper, or Scotch tape, or getting the campaign workers hookers and ice cream, and I would hesitate to say any of it wasn't worthwhile at the time (BTW, if Kerry/Edwards got you laid and gave you ice cream, please let me know, because I'd like to hear about it). There are worthier foci for my outrage.

Like it or not, voters can be very shallow. In the grand scheme of things, $400 isn't that much if their research shows that they can pick up a certain amount of votes based on how Edwards looks.

After all, shouldn't that be covered by his own money?

Sometimes I can't afford my own grooming needs . . . I don't want to support a millionaire's. A very stupid thing for Edwards to do. If he wants the $400 haircut, he should fish the cash out of the cookie jar and pay for it himself.