CAMPAIGN 2008

Suited for the Job?

In a presidential campaign, image is everything. 'Project Runway''s Tim Gunn reviews the candidates and gives advice on how to 'Make It Work.'

By Jessica Bennett | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Feb 5, 2008

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  • Posted By: sportbillie11 @ 02/07/2008 3:55:35 PM

    Mick, before you launch into an ignorant and bigoted dissertation, non-related to the current article, get your facts straight. For one, Bill Clinton, like other former presidents, has made millions of dollars giving speeches around the globe. I believe Newsweek reported something along the lines of 40 million. I'm sure he shares some of it with his wife! I agree with emmarcee.

  • Posted By: "Martin Edwin "Mick" Andersen @ 02/07/2008 12:05:26 AM

    The news about Hillary Clinton donating $5 million of her own money to her presidential bid struck me as odd.

    How was it that someone of once modest means who claimed to have worked selflessly for 35 years ("fighting for YOU!") in the notoriously badly-paid public interest sector had become so wealthy?

    Sure there's been some financial scandals.

    And as the late Sen. Everett Dirksen used to say, "A million here, a million there" it adds up to real money."

    But why focus on the negative?

    Then, suddenly, a tune entered my head and I thought, maybe if I offered a tailored version of it to the Clinton campaign, they'd use it to replace that awful Celine Dion song that used to be Hillary's campaign anthem.

    And maybe they'd give me some of that moolah.

    I promise I wouldn't ask what account at Clintons, Inc. it came from, or which lobbyist forked it over.

    (I'm sure it was in a gesture of sheer generosity--why think evil of people, K Street lawyers have hearts too, no? Wasn't it those nice medical insurance lobbyists who hired that couple, Harry and Louise?)

    If you ask me, it's like Bill with that race coding thing. How unfair the criticism! (And how slick he was ;) )

    Always leave just a little wiggle room, small enough to fit the word "is" through. Or maybe a cigar. ...

    Anyway, remember that girls" song, "It"s My Party," written by Wally Gold, John Gluck and Herb Weiner and recorded by Lesley Gore?

    Well how about this version for HRC?

    IT'S MY (DEMOCRATIC) PARTY

    Nobody knows where my Bill has gone
    Monica (Gennifer/Kathleen/Paula/etc.) left the same time
    Why was he holding her/their hand(s)
    When he's supposed to be mine?

    It's my Democratic Party, and I'll cry if I want to
    Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
    You would cry too if it happened to you

    Playin' my constituents, flip-flopping like a Wallenda,
    Leave me alone for a while
    'Till Bill's dancin' with me
    I've got no reason to smile

    It's my Democratic Party, and I'll cry if I want to ...

    • Posted By: emmarcee @ 02/07/2008 12:27:15 PM

      since you are attacking Hillary in different blogs. Are you an imbecile? Don't you see that back stabbers are trying to bury Clinton with money flowing to Obama - who are these people? People without any special interests? Is it the way things work in our system? Do you think all the other candidates are your regular joes? All of them are rich people. Do you really think Hillary is using some kind of unaccounted money? Please shut up.

  • Posted By: sshenck @ 02/06/2008 4:45:08 PM

    There is something to be said for style, but there is also something to be said for comfort. If I were working 20 hour days, I'd be wearing pants, too.

  • Posted By: nancybenson @ 02/05/2008 12:45:30 PM

    There's an old saying, "be careful what you wish for." Obama's campaign is touting change. What change will there be when after 200 years of men dominating the White House, another man gets to sit in that seat?
    A woman would be a change and Hillary Clinton would be the candidate for all of us. Another interesting comment. Yesterday Barack Obama was on CNN with Wof Blitzer and Wolf asked him if he would, indeed, bring our troops home in 16 month. Obama said well it depends on what the situation is like over there. Flip flop number 1. And then he asked Obama if he would, indeed, meet the leaders in person of countries like North Korea and Venezuala. Obama said well we would have to negotiate with them first and then use the "carrot and stick" approach first by telling them you have to change your positions before I meet with you. Flip flop number 2. He and John Kerry are now both in the "flip-flop" society. Obama is just another politician changing his position so he can win the presidency. If you go on line and find Obama-Rezko, you will see how many contributions he received from Rezko and some of them were not returned. He even called Rezko his "friend". More dirty politics as usual? We've had enough scandals in the White House. Let's really have a change in the White House. A woman whoj's fought for Latinos, Blacks, children and all of us.

    • Posted By: Xylogirl88 @ 02/06/2008 11:22:42 AM

      If I'm not mistake the last major scandel in the white house occured while Hillary was in office. Why should we elect a woman who can't even look after her own family life to run our country. Just look at Hillary and Bill's relationship it is obviously merely a political one, and if someone is willing to do something of that sort just to win the presidency then I don't think it's worth voting for them. Clinton's exit stragedy is foolish, and all it would lead to is more ignorant foreign policies that were seen back in the years of her husband's reign.
      As for Obama not being a change, I don't believe I am mistake in pointing out that Obama would be the first black president which is just as crucial in changing the face of the American government as if Hillary was elected.
      Obama would be an excellent choice to change the face of America to the world as well. His mix of Kenyan and American upbringing would be an asset to the issues we're currently facing in the Middle East because out of all the candidates running, he is probably the one who could relate to them the most.
      As for being flipfloppy like Kerry, Obama isn't really. He's merely trying to go about the goals he set in a cautious matter,which is a pleasant change from Bush's let's just rush in without thinking policy, which incidentelly would be the same thing with Hillary if she was just to pull the troops out of Iraq without giving much thought to things in the long run as it seems like she is ought to do.
      If you really want to see a change in the government, then vote for Obama because he'll be able to change not only the face of American government but also the face that America presents to the world. Overall, that is is more importantly then just having a random female in office.
      PS I am a female and I have always considered myself to be a feminist but I also believe in voting for the person who would do the best job in office, and to vote for Hillary would go against all of those because I believe Hillary isn't the best candidate for the job, and on top of it I believe it would also go against all views I have on equal rights for women if I was to vote for someone just because they were a female.

  • Posted By: mitrich @ 02/06/2008 8:59:15 AM

    As a stockholder at Liz C., I wish Tim Gunn, the Creative Director, would stick to his sewing.

  • Posted By: FryeDaddy @ 02/06/2008 1:09:44 AM

    This United States media and their black balling of DR Ron Paul is and will be the greatest injustice I have ever witnessed. I am ashamed of our media and what they have done to this nation as a whole, by leading the ignorant masses to follow after the Hillary and McCain in the destruction of America. The only hope we as American's have at this point in history is Dr. Paul. He is a honest American who beleive's in the Constitution of the United States, whom as President would bring it back to that great document that we all take for granted. He by doing that would alone improve the quality of life in these United States, as well as make the rest of this world Respect us again, and not Fear us for our radical outlook on foriegn policy which by the way is unconstitutional. This truly is a shame, I predict that by 2012 we as a people will be resorted to standing in bread lines, our military will be depleted, and we will be as other third world countrys for our monetary system will be too far gone. Thank's to the Media and the ignorant voting masses for they will be the blame for the destruction of the greatest nation on earth. What a shame !!! Dr; Paul, to you Sir, I say this please know that there really is critical thinking, non politically correct, constitution Loving people out there, however, we were outnumbered by the ignorant and a corrupt media. Don't give up the fight Sir, for neither will we.

  • Posted By: DemsSaveAmerica @ 02/05/2008 1:07:43 PM

    Seriously?? Newsweek needs a reality break if this article is something they consider "newsworthy". Why not just have a psychic come in and read their aura's while we are at it.

    • Posted By: pinksheep @ 02/05/2008 11:20:54 PM

      So why did you read it if you didn't think it was newsworthy?

  • Posted By: Aliza R. @ 02/05/2008 5:45:00 PM

    OK, this is about as far from issues of substance as one can get, but Gunn's right that style matters. For work, clothes matter-- it speaks to your professionalism, to how seriously you take your job, and to whether you can think for yourself or are merely sporting a mindless uniform (assuming, of course, that your job doesn't have a uniform or dress code). Uniforms are great at solving the "what will I wear today!" conundrum, but their whole purpose is to have people blend together, be interchangeable, and conform. I sure hope that Presidents and Prime Ministers have leadership skills, independent thought, and wake up every day thinking "I have the most amazing job on the planet" and want to convey that message to the world. "Shlumpy and drooly" sure sends a message... and the rest of the world (which assessed Bush accurately back in 2000) would say that summarizes the last 7 years rather well.

    I don't want a vain fashion plate who values style over substance heading up the U.S., but how about some attractive suits and accessories folks? There are some wonderful styles out there now for both men and women...

  • Posted By: roncraw @ 02/05/2008 1:29:20 PM

    Much has been made of Hillarys tears. Terrell Owens of the Cowboys and Plaxibo Burris of the Giants cryed on TV within the last 2 weeks. Do any of you tough guys want to take them on.

  • Posted By: DemsSaveAmerica @ 02/05/2008 1:07:38 PM

    Seriously?? Newsweek needs a reality break if this article is something they consider "newsworthy". Why not just have a psychic come in and read their aura's while we are at it.

  • Posted By: DemsSaveAmerica @ 02/05/2008 1:04:31 PM

    Seriously?? Newsweek needs a reality break if this article is something they consider "newsworthy". Why not just have a psychic come in and read their aura's while we are at it.

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