Beauty is more than ballot deep [Jack Ryan = Greek god]

Daily Herald ^ | February 09, 2004 | Stacy St. Clair

[JohnnyZ]

On the campaign trail, U.S. Senate candidate Chirinjeev Kathuria groans whenever he ends up next to opponent Jack Ryan in a photo.

There's just no competing with Ryan's million-watt smile.

Or his chiseled good looks.

Or his toned body.

"The reaction to Jack is always very strong," Kathuria said. "The initial reaction to him is absolutely different from the reaction to me."

Kathuria, a Sikh who wears a traditional turban and beard, normally wouldn't care how he stacks up against the western definition of dreamy. But in a crowded Senate race, he knows it matters.

Conventional wisdom suggests that good-looking candidates fare better than their less-attractive opponents. It's more than a political handler's belief - it's a behavior pattern backed by years of research by a Northern Illinois University professor.

"Looks count," professor James Schubert said. "People are more likely to pay attention to attractive candidates."

Schubert began his research while visiting Romania in 1996. He enlarged photographs of the 16 men running for president and showed them to a wide range of people.

Without offering any insight on campaign platforms or issues, respondents were asked to pick the top finishers. The participants were able to predict the top vote-getters with a high degree of accuracy.

Schubert then took his Romanian photos around the world. From NIU students in DeKalb to Indonesian adults and teens in Papa New Guinea, the top six finishers in the poll received 91 percent of the actual popular vote.

Regardless of country or culture, Schubert says respondents warmed to candidates with prominent brows, strong jaws and high cheek bones.

They embraced candidates, it seems, with features similar to Jack Ryan's. And from a purely aesthetic viewpoint, some of the other Senate hopefuls can't blame them.

"The guy looks like a movie star with that million-dollar smile," Democratic candidate Nancy Skinner said. "I think it's going to be a factor in the election."

While Skinner - the only blonde in the Democratic primary - believes Ryan will benefit from his good looks, she contends her appearance has been a detriment to her campaign.

An attractive woman doesn't get the inherent respect male candidates receive, she says.

"Blondes may have more fun, but blondes have it tougher running for Senate," she said. "They look at you and somehow you're an opportunist or unqualified because you're not an old, white male."

Though many politicians dismiss suggestions that voters can be swayed by looks, their actions suggest otherwise.

Presidential hopeful John Kerry denied he had Botox injections, but the deep crevices in his face have disappeared quicker than Howard Dean. Kerry also sports quite a tan for a Massachusetts boy in winter, but he swears he pays no attention to his appearance.

Dairy owner Jim Oberweis, a Republican hopeful for U.S. Senate, has lost 50 pounds since the 2002 primary.

State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, another GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, shaved his beard to look more attractive to voters. It may be a smart move given no one with facial hair has won the White House since newspapers began publishing pictures in 1903.

"Facial hair can make voters think you have something to hide," Schubert said.

Mindful of this, Kathuria says he went so far as to conduct focus groups on his appearance. Participants considered the Republican's turban and beard the top two problems with his candidacy - ranking them above his lack of political experience and nonexistent name recognition.

The results initially troubled Kathuria. Even though he emigrated from India as an infant, he wondered whether voters would accept him in a post-Sept. 11, 2001, world.

But now, he says, his look has worked to his advantage. He believes people take the time to read his literature and listen to him on television because they're curious about what the Sikh candidate has to say.

"It's our biggest challenge to overcome, but it has helped us get our message across," he said. "It's very easy for us to differentiate ourselves from everyone else."

Still, Kathuria feels pressure to make a pre-emptive strike about his appearance. He begins every speech with a joke about Sikh customs to help ease any tension.

"Don't let the beard and turban fool you," he says. "I'm an American."

His fellow Republicans also have little trouble poking fun at their appearances. Retired Maj. Gen. John Borling - a bald 63-year-old Republican - regularly refers to himself as the best-looking GOP hopeful.

"I labor under a burden in this race because I am the pretty candidate," he said at a recent debate.

After Rauschenberger got rid of his beard, Borling joked he shaved his own head in a show of solidarity.

"Anybody who knows General Borling knows he has a good sense of humor," his spokesman, David Zapata, said. "No matter what the study shows, General Borling is confident with his lack of hair."

Rauschenberger, still sans beard, seems plenty confident, too.

"It's really his snappy cardigans and budget expertise that makes the voters swoon," his spokesman, Charlie Stone, said.

Ryan, his aides say, has been cursed with a strong metabolism. He has to make sure he eats enough or the poor guy will rapidly lose weight.

"He's on the slender side," his spokeswoman, Kelli Phiel, said. "We want him to be able to fill out a suit."

[egarvue]

I agree. However, is this a great country or what? And it goes to show you, who is the party of REAL diversity? Chirinjeev Kathuria in IL for senate, Bobby Jindal in LA for gov, the list of Republicans of all colors grows...

[dagnabbit]

Thanks for the info.

I say nominate the Baywatch guy and go after soccer moms. Illinois is too tough a state to put up a Dick Cheney sort.

[Theodore R.]

How old is this Ryan? Won't voters confuse him with the other two failed Ryans of IL politics? one of them, George Ryan, was really, really obnoxious. He made CT's Lowell Weicker, Jr., seem "nice" by comparison.

[Constantine XIII]

David Hasselhof?

[stanley windrush]

I don't know about the gay thing at all...his ex-wife is Jeri Ryan the bountiful babe from Boston Public and Star Trek...so if he has those tendencies (which I doubt) it would have been a helluva conversion !

[JohnnyZ]

How old is this Ryan? Won't voters confuse him with the other two failed Ryans of IL politics?

IMO, no. Jim Ryan wasn't exactly a failure, either. Didn't matter WHO ran, 2002 was going to be real tough to hold the governorship.

George & Jim were two old establishment guys in state govt, Jack is a flashy young guy (42?) going for federal office.

[Clintonfatigued]

No doubt, his Ryan's visage won't hurt. While it's true that the 'Rats have a demographic advantage in Illinois, high-profile stateide elections are more about the individual candidates than the party label. On personality and background, Ryan is the most appealing of the contenders.

[chicagolady]

... and then there's Jim Oberweis, who claims to have had a conversion on the pro-life issue after previously likening pro-life views to those of the Taliban, and who has suddenly discovered that he doesn't like illegal immigration, just in time for the primary. My view is that Oberweis will say anything he thinks will get him elected, and that he is not to be trusted. Then there's Gen. John Borling, who's unabashedly pro-abort, and pro-draft, too, which is a little odd.


Come on JohnnyZ where does this Irrational Hatered for Mr. Jim (our next Senate Candidate) Oberweis come from.
It is totally Irrational. (Deja vue?)

[JohnnyZ]

Come on JohnnyZ where does this Irrational Hatered for Mr. Jim (our next Senate Candidate) Oberweis come from. It is totally Irrational. (Deja vue?)

Deja vue? I don't think so. Oberweis is a documented anti-life, flip-flopping politician. It is a matter of fact and public record. In addition, FReepers have corroborated my suspicion that the "moderate" Oberweis seized the immigration issue as pure opportunism and not from personal conviction.

By contrast, you hate Jack Ryan and promise that "more will be revealed" about how evil he is and "I'm too busy to post yet" but then when it comes down you it you don't like him because of ... "women's intuition".

Why are you supporting the pro-abortion candidate, chicagolady? Answer me that!

[chicagolady]

Johnny, Johnny, Johnny,
I tryed to be honest with you and you are throwing it back in my face. I was not avoiding answering you, but at the time I was working a month of midnights at the Police Dept.
I certainly do not expect you to know what it is like, not even knowing your own name, day, or time it is , because a persons internal clock gets so screwed up that one can not even think straight.
That is the only reason I did not answer you. after time passes it seems insignificant.

I am pro life but I AM filled with the Spirit of God, Not the Government. Personally I beleive Christ gave US (if you are a Christian) the job of effecting change because we are the salt and light. Truthfully When is the last time YOU or anyone you know lifted a finger to help women who have unwanted Pregnancies?
What Tires me out is Christians who would rather piont fingers at the government and candidates to do the job God filled them with His Spirit to do.

THAT is why I can except the fact that he holds his beliefs of prolife , but realizes that it is not totally the governments job to enforce the law (like the Taliban). I understand it. Quit milking it.


I am flattered that you remembered all my postings. The "more will be Revealed posting is from AGES ago.

My question? Why would a man that does not live in Illinois be so involved to get someone elected in a place they will not be effected by. Are you really from Illinois but did not sign up under Illinois?

Are you alis 7x7x7?

You are not the only one with a good memory.

[JohnnyZ]

Truthfully When is the last time YOU or anyone you know lifted a finger to help women who have unwanted Pregnancies?

My main charity is a crisis pregnancy center, my mother and some of my friends have worked or currently work at such centers.

THAT is why I can except the fact that he holds his beliefs of prolife , but realizes that it is not totally the governments job to enforce the law (like the Taliban). I understand it. Quit milking it.

Well, I understand you better now. You're a hypocrite like Oberweis. You two make a good pair!

And you've still offered NO reason for your irrational hatred of Jack Ryan beyond "women's intuition".

As for 7X7X7, he never agreed with me, but I've wondered where he's been.

[chicagolady]

I am trying to have a normal, rational conversation with you about what I beleive. Now you are calling me a Hypocrite. Well if you would quit name calling that would be quite nice. Then maybe we could get to know really what one another are thinking.

Truthfully, what you think of me is none of my business.
And the only one I answer to is God. What hHe thinks of me is what I am concerned with. Up to this point the Lord knows I am not perfect, but He has not given up on me yet.

Sounds like you have arrived! Congratulations!

[JohnnyZ]

I am trying to have a normal, rational conversation with you about what I beleive. Now you are calling me a Hypocrite. Well if you would quit name calling that would be quite nice.

Sorry, but I consider your supposedly "pro-life" beliefs and your support for Taliban Jim hypocritical. Just my honest opinion.

And you have been anything BUT honest with me, or regarding your anti-JackRyan tirades. It's hard to respect someone like that.

[chicagolady]

Ok there is no turning back now. You also seem to "Read into " things that I write.
When I tell you that I have seen Jack Ryan 2 times , listened to him talk, I get a gut feeling he is not on the up and up. I believe he is not what he is trying to pull off.
It ticked you off . well ok I am just trying to be honest. That is the way I express myself. I have the doubts about Jack Ryan. I was not attacking you.
That is MY honest opinion and That is just plain and simple. It is not a irrational to me I understand it, IT is to you so be it.

Funny how this whole e-mail chat can take on a life of its own.
I think folks might read into things that really are not there. I am talking about all of us as a whole.


"" you have been anything BUT honest with me, or regarding your anti-JackRyan tirades.""

You do not know me , they have not been tirades. I have seen him and his stance on issues and that is what I think.
I take time to go to these events and check things out. I am not talking off the top of my head.

[chicagolady]

IS JACK RYAN A CLINTONISTA???????


Ryan is hooked up to the elitists and possibly he is being groomed by the banker community and the Clintons along with John Corizine,..................... Ryan's old partner from the banking business, a former Chicagoan who spent 40 million to buy the senatorial seat in New Jersey and Rahm Emanual- Clintons former chief

Jon Corzine and Jack Ryan Business partners at Goldman and Sachs

Read on....................

Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs is one of Wall Street’s most prestigious investment banks. Like others in the securities industry, it advises and invests in nearly every industry affected by federal legislation. The firm closely monitors issues including economic policy, trade and nearly all legislation that governs the financial sector. It has been a major proponent of privatizing Social Security as well as legislation that would essentially deregulate the investment banking/securities industry. In August 2002, following months of corporate scandals, congressional investigators launched a probe into whether stock analysts at Goldman Sachs issued biased investment advice in order to protect corporate clients. The firm tends to give most of its money to Democrats—a fact that might not be so surprising, considering its former chief executive is Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.).


Illinois

Select a Cycle: 2004 2002 2000 1998
Top Recipients of In-State Contributions, 2003-2004

Hynes, Daniel W (D) $2,195,381
Chico, Gery J (D) $1,474,282
Obama, Barack (D) $1,452,703
McKenna, Andrew J (R) $811,400
Kirk, Mark (R) $463,200
Hastert, Dennis (R) $435,554


Ryan, Jack (R) $340,042 All Democrats and a couple of RINO'S


Emanuel, Rahm (D) $233,355
Washington, Joyce W (D) $224,550
Schakowsky, Jan (D) $224,255




Top Recipients of Out-of-State Contributions, 2003-2004

Hastert, Dennis (R) $394,213
Hynes, Daniel W (D) $226,180


Ryan, Jack (R) $197,550 Another RINO!!!!!


Emanuel, Rahm (D) $193,150
Obama, Barack (D) $176,900
Chico, Gery J (D) $172,519
McKenna, Andrew J (R) $90,250
Jackson, Jesse Jr (D) $43,450
Washington, Joyce W (D) $37,150
Manzullo, Don (R) $35,488


All the numbers on this page are based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on Monday, December 08, 2003.

Where's the political money coming from within the state? These charts show you, both by metro area, and top zip codes. The totals are based on contributions of more than $200 from individuals to federal candidates, PACs, and parties. Also included are soft money contributions of more than $200 to the national parties from individuals, PACs, corporations, labor unions, or other organizations based


Time for everyone to do some research AND as ALWAYS the rules are

FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!!!!