As all other political wonks, I have followed the public discussion about Hillary Clinton's cleavage and voice and Barack Obama's bowling scores and bad orange juice habit. I have struggled through Maureen Dowd's columns on Hillary "the Queen Bee" and Barack "the Bambi," and I have often wondered why we are offered this soap-opera treatment of the Democratic presidential candidates (remember John Edwards and his haircuts?) while similar sit-coms on the Republican candidates don't seem to interest any of the pundits. Hence, I still don't know what John McCain drinks, what his bowling score might be, how much his haircuts cost or whether he can play basketball at all.

This is wrong. Imagine what juicy morsels we might be missing because nobody is digging through the menu and clothing choices of Senator McCain. Surely a reporter could be placed in at least one of his many properties to find if he is someone the average Joe Sixpack might want to have a beer with. You know, the way everyone was told that George Bush (a teetotaller) is just such a politician, albeit with roots deep in old money and elite schools.

Paul Waldman has written a fascinating piece on these issues and on the deeper reasons why certain pundits keep asking the question about the blue-collar roots of the Democratic presidential candidates. Waldman suggests that it might be because the pundits themselves belong to the elites that they so scorn. As an example, this is how he describes Chris Matthews, the host of Hardball:

Please, he [Matthews] seems to be saying, don't consider me part of the elite.

This will be no surprise to viewers of Hardball, on which Matthews regularly trumpets his connection to the masses. This has never been more true than in the last few weeks, as the upcoming primary in his native Pennsylvania has sent Matthews into paroxysms of self-congratulatory rhapsodizing on the regular folks among whom he so desperately wants us to believe he still resides. Every night at 5 and 7, Matthews acts like a psychic channeling the spirit of the working class. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, he insightfully informs his viewers, are just not the type to whom Joe Sixpack takes a liking: "Pennsylvania prefers a beefier sort to either of these people, Matthews claimed, "a more rustic, tougher sort than either of them." When neither Obama nor Clinton turned out to be particularly skilled bowlers, Matthews said gravely, "Maybe that tells you something about the Democratic Party."

And what about the Republican party? How can we tell similar things about the Republican party? We can't, because guys like Matthews and gals like Dowd are not interested in exploring the appeal of Republican politicians to the masses or to the average voter.

The whole debate is hilarious, to be quite honest with you, not only because elitism is defined without any real correlation to actually belonging to the moneyed elites of this country, but also because the average voter, the Joe Sixpack of the lore, is interpreted as wanting to vote for some rustic, tough sort of a candidate, someone to have a beer with.

But of course the best representation of "an average voter" in this country would be a woman, Jane Sixpack, if you will, and she is unlikely to judge candidates on the basis of their beer drinking or bowling habits.

Wouldn't it be fun to suggest that to Chris Matthews, to see what he would do with this new idea?

Comments (51)

1. perhaps the reason why pundits don't follow the styles or tastes of Republicans is because......

   republicans have bad style and bad taste

   Posted by darladoon at 04/21/2008 @ 3:16pm

2. p.s. i wasn't aware that hillary had any cleavage.

   Posted by darladoon at 04/21/2008 @ 3:18pm

3. these pundits will always question a man purchasing a $300 hair cut, but they'll never question a guy who drives a Hummer.

   Posted by darladoon at 04/21/2008 @ 3:20pm

4. Cindy McCain has $100 million from the sale of Bud.

   one of the few reasons why mccain divorced his severely disfigured ex-wife.....

   Posted by darladoon at 04/21/2008 @ 3:21pm

5. ms. goodrich i have one fundamental disagreement with this blog... as a man who drinks multiple six-packs a night, i am familiar with many of these so-called "jane six-packs." but, ms. goodrich, these ladies are the last people i know who would drink a six-pack, they are often more like "jane boxed-wine," or jane "wine-cooler." if you want to be really specific, a much better appellation would be "jane boones." for those not in the know, boones is a particularly cheap brand of wine-cooler, a brand an average drunk woman might indulge in....

   Posted by MMM...DIGGY at 04/21/2008 @ 4:09pm

6. lol mmm...diggy omg rotfl!

   Posted by mARKlATTIN at 04/21/2008 @ 4:12pm

7. I believe that the reason for the commentators inane questioning is that the candidates don't differ significantly on the issues. So instead of trying to understand the policy differences we get the current popularity contest.

   Posted by mARKlATTIN at 04/21/2008 @ 4:19pm

8. I know, mmm...diggy. But sometimes the necessity of writing style requires violating those kinds of rules. I played around with all sorts of Jane Six-somethings, but none of them offered the familiarity and the joke I was looking for. Is boone the same as the Strawberry wine I remember from a long time ago?

   Posted by jgoodrich at 04/21/2008 @ 4:19pm

9. "Wouldn't it be fun to suggest that to Chris Matthews, to see what he would do with this new idea?"

   Well, Ms Goodrich, I know somebody who could ask Chris....IN PERSON on "Hardball".

   And you could find her ...at the head office at "The Nation"...and ask her to ask Chris!

   Posted by Mask at 04/21/2008 @ 4:23pm

10. And bye the bye darladoon a hummer is like a nice $40 haircut. A $300 haircut is more on par with a Maybach.

    Posted by mARKlATTIN at 04/21/2008 @ 4:23pm

11. What one spends on a haircut is an indication of that person's character, or at least of their values.----Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/21/2008 @ 3:54pm

    So, no doubt, given your view and CONCERN for such things...

    you've investigated how much McCain spends on one...uh...right???

    Posted by Mask at 04/21/2008 @ 4:25pm

12. ms. goodrich, if the strawberry wine-cooler you remember from yesteryear got you drunk and gave you cavities, then you are probably thinking of boones...

    Posted by MMM...DIGGY at 04/21/2008 @ 4:26pm

13. Mask I think McCain lived through the great depression. So McCain probably cuts his own hair as well as hiding all of cindy's money in a coffee can buried in the backyard.

    Posted by mARKlATTIN at 04/21/2008 @ 4:49pm

14. Posted by JOMAMMA 04/21/2008 @ 4:29pm

    It might take the paint off with it though.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 4:59pm

15. Posted by JOMAMMA 04/21/2008 @ 5:05pm

    Haha, I need to start using that to polish my car.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 5:16pm

16. Posted by JOMAMMA 04/21/2008 @ 5:27pm

    My car is blue maybe I shouldn't do that. Might turn it purple.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 5:37pm

17. What one spends on a haircut is an indication of that person's character, or at least of their values

    and to what sort of "values" are you referring? "feminine" values?

    Posted by darladoon at 04/21/2008 @ 5:37pm

18. but a guy who drives a Hummer? now there's a man with real values......real men don't bother with their hair.

    Posted by darladoon at 04/21/2008 @ 5:45pm

19. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/21/2008 @ 7:23pm

    No it was a title used as a reference to the joe sixpack. If you read the conversation above this you would understand that and not just look like a fool.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 8:10pm

20. Posted by MARKLATTIN 04/21/2008 @ 4:49pm

    As the son and grandson of high-ranking Naval officers....I doubt that McCain was living like the Joads during the 30s.

    Plus he was born in 1936, so he was 5 when Pearl Harbor was hit.

    Posted by Mask at 04/21/2008 @ 8:10pm

21. Posted by CCCOMFO1 04/21/2008 @ 8:10pm

    Hey, hey, hey, buddy. RIO BRAVO does NOT need to read something to look like a fool!

    Yeah!

    Posted by Mask at 04/21/2008 @ 8:11pm

22. An American flag on the lapel is a sign of respect - a core value that has been lost on cynicism, ignorance and apathy.

    Posted by USAPRIDE at 04/21/2008 @ 8:24pm

23. Posted by USAPRIDE 04/21/2008 @ 8:24pm

    Do you wear a flag on your lapel everyday?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 8:28pm

24. No, I don't wear a flag on my lapel every day, but when I do, it is out of respect.

    Posted by USAPRIDE at 04/21/2008 @ 8:34pm

25. Posted by USAPRIDE 04/21/2008 @ 8:34pm\

    And when Obama does which he did the day before that debate in Philly it is too. So what's your gripe? That he doesn't wear it often enough? Should he wear it everyday? We don't all have to show our patriotism by wearing it on our sleeve some of us embody with our actions and choose to not put stickers on our car. Some of us put stickers on our cars but never carry out what can be considered a patriotic action. Symbolism in my mind isn't as important as action.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 8:42pm

26. My gripe is that it is wrong to accuse someone of wearing it as a prop. This a personal thing. The pin nor the person wearing it should be judged by others.

    Posted by USAPRIDE at 04/21/2008 @ 8:55pm

27. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/21/2008 @ 9:11pm

    That's the best you could come up with? Jesus if I had been your parents I would be sad to call you my son...

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 9:55pm

28. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/21/2008 @ 9:11pm

    Couldn't resist. This is the second "he's rubber and you're glue" post frin RB out of the two threads that I've read so far this evening.

    Posted by canaar at 04/21/2008 @ 10:38pm

29. I really don't buy the assertation that the white pundits are trying to keep up their blue collor cred. The issue they are poorly trying to raise is that of character. Hillary and Obama have the same problem of not having enough. So their media machines manufacture these blue collar encounters to make up a character for the current PA primary. Same as in every other geographic region they visit. It's easy news and everyone gets to look good. The msm isn't going to force these canidates to debate (serious)character and policy differences. And Barry and Hilldog are afraid to go head to head too. McCain is smartly staying quiet right now. The less hes in the news the better off his chances when the democrats finally decide.

    Posted by mARKlATTIN at 04/22/2008 @ 02:13am

30. rio bravo you're retarded

    Posted by freeminded at 04/22/2008 @ 06:04am

31. "these pundits will always question a man purchasing a $300 hair cut, but they'll never question a guy who drives a Hummer."

    Posted by DARLADOON 04/21/2008 @ 3:20pm

    (Chuckle.)

    A manly overexpenditure is not waste...

    Posted by drhammer at 04/22/2008 @ 07:38am

32. Flag decals, magnetic ribbons, blahblahblah...

    One of society's more perceptive commentators spoke of this [tinyurl.com] years ago.

    Posted by drhammer at 04/22/2008 @ 07:51am

33. Well, no because there's no reason to believe it's out of the ordinary.----Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/22/2008 @ 08:43am |

    Of course not....he's a Republican.

    Again, 2008- Obama "mis-spent youth"...vital to the national dialogue.

    2000- Bush "mis-spent youth"...."He repudiated it, let's Move On!"

    I think we know the qualifier, Darin.

    Posted by Mask at 04/22/2008 @ 09:07am

34. joe and jane america need REAL beer.

    FROSTY ZOOM, '08 -- Scrap the Duds, I've got Suds!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/22/2008 @ 09:30am

35. I know he has a personal stylist.----Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/22/2008 @ 09:29am

    So would that be a "disqualifier" for McCain...as many on the Right talked about Edwards and HIS haircuts?

    Posted by Mask at 04/22/2008 @ 09:58am

36. st. pauli girl can stick to me.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/22/2008 @ 11:48am

37. Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/22/2008 @ 11:36am

    Okay, Darin....next YouTube video unflattering to McCain, no complaints from you or cries of "taken out of context", okay?

    As far as McCain and his stylist, does it take a "stylist" to get somebody to comb your hair...not your wife or staff...if it doesn't have SOMETHING to do with "preening"?

    Posted by Mask at 04/22/2008 @ 12:14pm

38. an "effeminate" president would be fantastic, or even a metrosexual. that would be even better.

    Posted by darladoon at 04/22/2008 @ 12:37pm

39. seems like mr. mccain's botox injections might be going in a little too deep.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/22/2008 @ 1:02pm

40. THE SIGN THAT PRINCE USED AS HIS NAME FOR A WHILE, '08

    -- A Purple Rain That Unites Red and Blue. --

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/22/2008 @ 1:04pm

41. an "effeminate" president would be fantastic, or even a metrosexual. that would be even better.

    Posted by DARLADOON 04/22/2008 @ 12:37pm

    Yeah, that's an image that would command respect in the world (lol)

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 04/22/2008 @ 1:26pm

42. Okay, back on the topic of "Who Would Joe Sixpack Vote For?"...

    let's take a page from...........Ronald Reagan, huh?

    Remember Reagan's question of 1980..."Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?"

    Who wins that....McCain or Obama?

    Posted by Mask at 04/22/2008 @ 2:45pm

43. Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/22/2008 @ 3:19pm

    Or the guy promising "more of the same that the incumbent gave you"?

    Or am I missing some major difference between "Bush-44" (McCain) and Bush on economic policy???

    Posted by Mask at 04/22/2008 @ 4:41pm

44. Posted by MASK 04/22/2008 @ 4:41pm

    As opposed to images of the 1930's and Obama raising taxes.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 04/22/2008 @ 7:31pm

45. Posted by MARYBRETBRAD 04/22/2008 @ 6:04pm

    What ELSE is the McCain candiacy but the bumper sticker...

    "Four More Years!"?

    Posted by Mask at 04/22/2008 @ 7:48pm

46. Posted by LVLIBERTY1 04/22/2008 @ 7:31pm

    We're going to have a LOVELY economy this summer and into the fall, LVLIB....but I'm sure you saying "OH! But it will get much, MUCH worse if we elect Obama" will sell!

    Posted by Mask at 04/22/2008 @ 7:50pm

47. Questions about Joe or Jane Sixpack are a good example of the worthless BS that is the mainstream of presidential politics. Asking such questions only energizes and falsely legitimizes these worthless discussions.

    Posted by uknowit at 04/24/2008 @ 1:29pm

48. I've been speaking to quite a few women here in Texas about their options, as most are upset with both Billary and Barack campaigns' polarizing negativity. So I asked them rather than deciding between one or the other, McCave, or not voting at all, if Al Gore were to become a choice, what would you do? 11 of the 15 said they'd go with Al Gore!?!?! This is here in Austin, Texas, so it may not be what would be going on in the rest of the country. I'm just a little surprised as the 5-6 of the women were either staunch Barack or Billary supporters. I'd like to see more polling in that direction beyond just the one Newsweek poll a few days ago including Al Gore against McCave.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 04/25/2008 @ 11:52am

49. "An American flag on the lapel is a sign of respect - a core value that has been lost on cynicism, ignorance and apathy."

    Yeah, either that or it's a cheap bauble that anyone can wear in an attempt to look cool. I mean, who vets these flag wearers to make sure theiy're real-deal patriots, and not some poser?

    Posted by johnny canuck at 04/26/2008 @ 10:14pm

50. AGAIN THANKS. MATTHEWS HAS CLEARLY JOINED THE RANKS OF THE CORPORATE SYCOPHANTS. HE HAS BEEN A DISHONEST BROKER OF FACT FOR SOME TIME NOW

    Posted by julien38 at 04/27/2008 @ 2:21pm

51. USAPRIDE,

    Question: Was your lapel pin made in the U.S.?

    Posted by C2kSeven at 04/27/2008 @ 2:26pm