http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A.../509120322/1007

CANDIDATE: Said he has no plans to "reshape" self and lose facial hair

Corzine defies tradition with beard
Published in the Asbury Park Press 09/12/05
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

It's an age-old rule in politics: If you want their votes, let 'em see your face. A beard? Better shave it off. Don't want to look like a hippie, a hobo or (eek!) Al Gore, do you?

Some learn it the hard way — at the ballot box. Others resist it outright, insisting the beard is part of who they are. That's where U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine, the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey, comes in.

Corzine, who has resisted advisers' suggestions that he shave his graying beard, is currently the only member of the U.S. Senate to wear one. And he'll be the only U.S. governor with one if he beats Republican Doug Forrester in the Nov. 8 election. No sitting governors have beards, nor do any of the three candidates for the job in Virginia — the only other state where a new governor will be elected this year.

While facial hair hasn't been a problem for Corzine to date, some say it could still cost him points with voters. There are persistent, negative connotations underlying the taboo, according to political consultants, image experts and others.

"The problem with beards is the association with the '60s and '70s — the beatnik and hippie movement, the anti-establishment attitudes that were communicated by people in those years by people wearing beards. It's guilt by association, regardless of whether they were part of that," said Judith Rasband, a professional image management specialist.

Corzine, who had a beard when he captured his Senate seat in 2000, has no plans to shave it.

"It's staying," he said when asked about the beard in a July interview. "When you've had something for 25 years, why would you reshape yourself to get into public life? And I haven't tried to."

With name recognition among voters, millions to bankroll his campaign and a double-digit lead over Forrester in polls, Corzine can afford to buck tradition.

It wasn't always so for beards.

In the 19th century, they became commonplace on the political scene after Abraham Lincoln wore one in the White House. His successor, Andrew Johnson, didn't wear one, but the next nine presidents after that all had some form of facial hair.

New Jersey politics were just as hairy.

Governors often sported facial hair, from the long, bushy sideburns favored by Theodore Randolph, who took office in 1869, to the silver, neatly trimmed beard worn by Joel Parker, who served in the 1860s and 1870s. The last one with a beard was Franklin Murphy, who served from 1902-05 with a salt-and-pepper goatee.

The last U.S. president with a beard was Benjamin Harrison, who left office in 1893.

In the 20th century, beards fell out of favor — at least in politics.

New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey wore a mustache both times he ran for president in the 1940s, but he didn't win.

In modern political history, beards have been an equally hairy proposition. Richard M. Nixon didn't wear one, but it looked like he was starting one on a night in 1960, when he appeared on a televised presidential debate with John F. Kennedy.

Sweating noticeably, Nixon came off looking like a shifty politician next to the clean-cut Kennedy, who went on to win the election.

Lower down on the political totem pole, beards are more common. At least 13 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have them.

I always liked the way AL looked with a beard. With or without a beard, we need AL GORE as our president in 2008.

These idiots who write this junk need to get a life. There are more important things to worry about other than if a candidate has a beard or not.

I LOVED Al with his beard. He looked so professorial, so laid back. Well, I love most men with beards. I've never seen my husband's smooth-shaven cheeks in the 33 years I've known him! I think Corzine looks good with a beard. And I don't think he should shave it. Gore, on the other hand, probably has to be clean-shaven if he has any thoughts of running for president . . . unfortunately. But, hey, I don't care what he does with his facial hair, I just want him to run for president in '08! He can die it green for all I care!

That's how I (and intelligent people as a whole) see it. What a mallamockq.

thanks for bringing this up, Emom!

JUST HOW DARE THEY?? :)

OK guys and gals, here is what I have dug up:

1) this article with the freebie insult thrown at Al Gore was written by John Curran of the Associated Press. Links:
- newsday, Long Island
- Phil. Enquirer

2) this Curran ahole apparently operates out of Atlantic City, NJ. Link (search for curran): some odd site

3) He has been printing this insult in quite a few markets.
- Google News Search
- Dogpile News Search

4) There are many online/print outlets where it appeared (from the links above), and some time multiple times.

5) Here is the link to AP's contacts page:
http://www.ap.org/pages/contact/contact.html

6) Hers is their Atl. city contact info (UPDATE: Yes, JOHN CURRAN is in-charge at this location. I called and got a recorded message from him).
Atlantic City
c/o The Press
Devins Lane
Pleasantville NJ 08232-4199
(609) 645-2063
646-2282 Fax

Here is what you can do: write/call AP, and tell them, in polite terms, that this kind of inaccurate and unfortunate depiction of how Al Gore looked when he sported a beard is unfair to him, and it amounts to unmitigated smearing of a good human being, a great vice president, and that they should pull that phrase in its entirity from all of the online versions of that article, and its future print versions, and that they should make John Curran issue an apology to Al Gore in all the news outlets where his article appeared.

If you are emailing, send the link to the picture used by "ALGOREismylife" or some other handsome picture of Gore when he sported a beard, and a link that describes his rectn humanitarian efforts in N.O.:


The link URLs:

(UPDATE: since we now know that CURRAN is the guy in-charge at AP's atl. city location, just call him at (609) 645-2063, and DEMAND that: he should immediately RETRACT his Gore-smearing article from all its appearances, AND issue an APOLOGY to GORE. You can also fax him at (609) 646-2282)

Thanks for the pic, "AGiml"!

Please comeback and tell everyone what happened :)

If one of you can take charge of this particular activism effort (how about you, AGiml?), I'd really appreciate it.

PLEASE ACT ASAP. Once they know that this kind of smearing will not be taken lying down, they'll be more careful next time around.

thanks.
Neo

ps: also, Emom, I noticed that you have an account at ag-08.com, If you are able to, could you please post your alert on their forum too, directing them to this thread for taking action about it?[FONT=Impact][SIZE=7][COLOR=red]

But, you can not underestimate how much impact these pithy smears can have when published in widelt circulated media outlets, and as AG's supporters, we should do something about it.

Neo

I will try to do it later when I get a chance, but today I'm going into NYC to see the surgeon for a follow-up (I had cancer last year, in case you didn't know), and I'm also bringing my ailing 84-year-old mother here to stay for a while, so I'm going to have my hands full. But I will try to remember, I promise.

And NeoLiberal, I just want to say . . . great to have you onboard! :good:

Emom: Hope your doctor's visit goes well. wishing you and mother good health.
you said ur going into NYC. Are you in NJ?

and thanks for your welcome.

regards
Neo

Like I've said before he did look good with the beard as well as without. Awesome either way.

I'll do what I can Neo, I'm always up for rightfully defending the real president and believe me AL GORE is more than worth it. After all the sacrifices this great man as made to help others, 'picking' on him because he had a beard fours ago is ridiculous. I've always said these people are just jealous of AL and have to find something to criticize. Remember back in 2000 they were bashing AL for his clothes and than it was his weight. It's pure stupidity.

AL GORE is definitely above the rest and it shows in everything he does, despite the abuse he has taken, he keeps on proving his intelligence, his integrity and how much he really cares for all people. It is something I just cannot say about anyone else. After what he just did to help all those people in N.O., he truly is one amazing man.

Thanks for the good wishes, NeoLiberal. My doctor's visit went fine (he just kept me waiting for two hours :mad: ), and my mother is here recovering from her hip-replacement surgery. We are a fun household, let me tell you! And yes, I'm in NJ--central, in the middle of the corn and soybean fields . . . and more and more developments. :bad:

Emom, AGiml, or others: is any of you signedup for the mailing list at the GSC? If so, is it an actively participated list? The reason I am asking is, acting on this type of media unfair coverage ASAP is CRITICAL, We need an many people as possible look at this, and call/write to AP and Curran himself. Then, we may have set right at least present/future GORE-smearer.

So, if any of you is a member of the GSC mailing ling, could you please psot about this thread on the mailing lsit, and ask everyone to immediately start acting on it?

Thanks. Neo
ps; the emoticons here are awesome :good:

Another negative article that mentions AL GORE when he had his beard. And damnit, he DID NOT LOSE 2000 election. :angry:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a...rzine_s_beard_4

N.J. Candidate Bucks Tradition With Beard

By JOHN CURRAN, Associated Press Writer
Sat Sep 17, 8:50 AM ET

It's an age-old rule in politics: If you want their votes, let 'em see your face. A beard? Better shave it off. Don't want to look like a hippie or a hobo, do you? Some learn it the hard way — at the ballot box. Others resist it outright, insisting the beard is part of who they are. That's where Sen. Jon Corzine (news, bio, voting record), the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey, comes in.

Corzine, who has resisted advisers' suggestions that he shave his graying beard, is currently the only member of the U.S. Senate to wear one. And he'll be the only U.S. governor with one if he beats Republican Doug Forrester in the Nov. 8 election.

No sitting governors have beards, nor do any of the three candidates for the job in Virginia — the only other state where a new governor will be elected this year.

While facial hair hasn't been a problem for Corzine to date, some say it could still cost him points with voters. There are persistent, negative connotations underlying the taboo, according to political consultants, image experts and others.

When Al Gore grew a beard after losing his presidential bid to George W. Bush in 2000, Time magazine said he looked "like an accountant on the lam from the IRS."

"The problem with beards is the association with the '60s and '70s — the beatnik and hippie movement, the anti-establishment attitudes that were communicated by people in those years by people wearing beards," said Judith Rasband, a professional image management specialist.

"In terms of nonverbal communication, by not seeing the full face — whether it's bangs in the eyes of a woman or a man, or a beard — there can be some who perceive the individual is hiding something," Rasband added.

Corzine, who had a beard when he captured his U.S. Senate seat in 2000, has no plans to shave it.

"It's staying," he told the AP when asked about the beard in an interview earlier this year. "When you've had something for 25 years, why would you reshape yourself to get into public life? And I haven't tried to."

With name recognition among voters, millions to bankroll his campaign and a 20-point lead over Forrester in a recent poll, Corzine can afford to buck tradition.

But should he?

Celebrity stylist Daniel DiCriscio — a.k.a. "The Messiah of Makeover" — says Corzine should at least neaten it up a bit.

"He comes off a little like a '60s leftover," said DiCriscio, who reviewed photographs of Corzine at the AP's request. "The beard is unkempt-looking, which is bad for politics."

It wasn't always so for beards.

In the 19th century, they became commonplace on the political scene after Abraham Lincoln wore one in the White House. His successor, Andrew Johnson, didn't wear one, but the next nine presidents after that all had some form of facial hair.

The last U.S. president with a beard was Benjamin Harrison, who left office in 1893.

This was always one of my favorites of AL with a beard. The hell with what TIME Magazine says. He DOES NOT look "like an accountant on the lam from the IRS."

That is a GREAT photo, AGIML.