Hair Matters: The New New Mama-Do...

How does she do that do?  Mothers want to know.  Governor Sarah Palin's hair might matter more than it should. Not quite a bun.  Not exactly a twist. Not a hair piece. No extensions. Not a lot of time required. Practical. Looks good. Works through a pregnancy, in a career, out in the snow, on the go. Some say "Beaumont Hair" but whatever, it is something new.

Hillary Clinton had a ton of attention on her hair that she said, in speaking to the graduating Yale Law School class after her experience as First Lady, "hair matters."

What will we see about hair this go around?  I've seen that men have written that they want to see the glasses off, the hair taken down.

9/2 UPDATE:

Well, rumors were flying that Trig is not the son of 17 year-old daughter Bristol and Sarah faked her pregnancy.  An Alaskan site seemed to have the  latest links, posting screenshots and captured photos that were being removed yesterday from the social pages of the twin sister of the father Levi as campaign teams headed to Alaska for damage control and further vetting.

When Sarah made her announcement of being pregnant with Trig in March, none of her associates had an idea she was pregnant (this is one month before she gave birth). She looked great and, having had three kids myself, I agreed that she didn't look pregnant at all. Comparing the photos of her pregnant to this one from an earlier pregnancy.Bristol was absent from school b/c of mono for 5 - 8 months in 2007-2008. Six weeks after her announcement, she gave birth and was back at work three days after giving birth to Trig. In March, weeks prior to giving birht, she is leaning forward on a panel interview.  I couldn't lean forward over my lap, legs crossed like that when I was that pregnant.

I know this is a long comment, but it was interesting to study how newmedia online grabbed this story and made cable stay on the story, especially CNN, all day.  Questions were being raised online all over the place. "This story will go on for weeks," say talking heads on CNN from the convention floor this morning, 9/2. 

While watching Gustav go from a Hurricane 3 status (Katrina was 5) to a category 1 throughout the day of the opening of the Republican convention yesterday, news of the pregnancy dominated the news, starting online with rumors about Trig's parentage and the judgement of (rumored mother) who no one noticed was pregnant and then under the circumstances she chose to give a speech in Texas instead of flying back promptly or going directly to a hospital when her amniotic fluid began to leak and she had signs of early labor.

When Gustav news just didn't generate the attention that cable news had planned for coverage as the storm dwindled, online buzz built all day on the Palin story.

Two stories on Daily Kos generated the online buzz: Friday. Aug. 29: Palin's faked "pregnancy"? Covering for teen daughter? Update #2 The next day on 9/30 a second Kos story broke:link here, the McCain/Palin campaign issued a statement that Bristol was five months pregnant, which would stell the rumours. Photos of Bristol with ring on left hand, lovingly holding baby at the first public appearance of her mother with McCain ran on cable news along with updates of Gustav.  The McCain daughter's website posted pics of Bristol on the announcement day along with photos from the shoot of the two families for People Magazine. Bristol looks pregnant.

The political site for Anchorage News wrote: "If nothing else, the Palins have shown a knack for keeping a secret, from Palin's own pregnancy to her surprise announcement as McCain's running mate, and now this." The same local source, the Anchorage Daily News Political Blog wrote that the Palin spokesman has no evidence Bristol is pregnant -- this after official McCain campaign release announcing the fact.

Well, power, politics and motherhood, major corporate media and online media and democracy....  What a mix for stories.  Hair?  No longer quite as relevant.  Family issues, privacy, truth and leadership is all fodder for media as the presidential candidates run neck and neck.

Comments

[bellezza]

It's interesting, isn't it, how Palin is effecting everybody? Personally, I think it's a coupe...when Obama thought he might have had the cutting edge on youth and daring, along comes Sarah with her beautiful hair. Inner strength, and strong convictions, apparently accompany it. Hair is nice, character is even better. May we all look so good.

[anthony]

Bill Clinton and John Edwards each got one haircut and together they paid $900. Guess hair does matter. On Palin, funny how a peanut farmer who was Governor in Geargia and a young Governor from Arkansas, was enough experience when Carter and Clinton ran. Palin presides over billions of dollars in budget, has tens of thousands of employees, deals with courts, judges, appointments, State Treasurers, Attorney Generals, much the same as any CEO of a LARGE Corporation. They also are in charge of the National Guard for their State. It is a HUGE responsibilty to run a business like this, which is why every President we have elected since JFK has been a Governor. Senators don't run a business, they have a few staff and make laws. Not the same experience. I do like the fact that Alaska has no State Income tax and no sales tax. A year ago, few of us would have even considered any of these four as a member of a team running for the White House , so I will pay close attention what they do the next few months. Palin's poisitive popularity ratings are over 80%. Obama, Biden and McCain are all members of a group that has a lower popularity rating than even Bush or Cheney. People should pay attention to her!

[The Wise Bard (http://TheWiseBard.blogspot.com)]

George H.W. Bush, elected President in 1988, was never a governor. While he had his limits, and had other administrative experience, he did considerably better at governing than his two term governor and ne'er do well son, W.

Bill Clinton was the longest serviing governor in the US when he was elected President. Jimmy Carter had completed one term as Georgia's governor (and had his problems adjusting to Washington and getting things done).

Sarah Palin is an attractive woman with attractive hair. I don't much see what that has to do with her qualifications or ability to serve as a potential VP. Perhaps more relevant is the fact she is shorter than John McCain?

[Hattie]

Frankly, her regressive politics are what I notice about her. I don't care how she wears her hair.

[Kathy]

I heard she said that she adopted the "schoolmarm" look so she wouldn't like like the former beauty princess she really is.

Poor Bristol. Whatever the situation, it stinks that she has to be in the national spotlight for this.

I still suspect that Trig is Bristol's baby. I'll only believe he's not when I see her holding a newborn in four months. Geez - this is like a Lifetime movie...