California, the fabled land of “beautiful people,” apparently has pretty good-looking politicians as well. President Barack Obama kicked up a storm when he praised California Attorney General, Kamala Harris, among having other positive attributes, as being “by far the best looking attorney general in the country.”
Gaining less attention but in the same vein, the Colbert Report’s Stephen Colbert concluded his interview with California Lt. Governor, Gavin Newsom, about the LG’s book Citizenville, with the comment, “You’re a very handsome man.”
And they say politics is show business for ugly people.
That comment is attributed to many, including Jay Leno, another Californian. One effort to chronicle the history of the quote is here.
In California, the home of show business, the politicians apparently are as good-looking as the show people. From the president to a noted TV personality, it’s been confirmed– something else for people in the other 49 states to be jealous about – California just has better-looking politicians.
President Obama apologized to Attorney General Harris the next day. The president’s spokesman said Obama “did not want in any way to diminish the attorney general’s profession, accomplishments and her capabilities.”
However, he did not rescind the comment about her looks. To my knowledge, Stephen Colbert has not backtracked on his statement about Gavin Newsom.
Studies indicate that good-looking people have an advantage when running for office. Political insiders have said they would not be surprised to see Harris and Newsom face each other in a contest for California governor some day.
If that contest comes off, in the looks department, I guess there will be no advantage.