By Kadie Hayward, Journalism II
Just hours after the nation elected the first black president, news outlets were flooded with recounts of the night. Many articles that covered President-Elect Barack Obama’s address from Chicago were more focused on the new First Lady’s dress than the inspiring words of her husband. Dozens of online discussion boards have had thousands of hits.
Yahoo! News ran a story on Michelle Obama’s red and black Narciso Rodriguez dress. It had 21,000 comments just twelve hours after being published. An article discussing Obama’s address received less than 14,000 comments in the same amount of time.
Fashion in politics has been a hot topic since the news broke that the GOP budgeted $150,000 for Sarah Palin’s campaign wardrobe.
Many University of Tampa students agree that fashion is a real issue in politics.
“Fashion is an inevitable part of politics. Politics are about image and therefore, about the way you present yourself,” explained junior, Greta Van Collie. “I think it is unfortunate that voters become so distracted by what someone is wearing that they forget what a candidate said.”
Jill Biden, foreground, and Michelle Obama, rear, come out on stage after President-elect Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech after it was announced he has won the presidential election at his Election Night Rally in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois, November 4, 2008. (Chuck Kennedy/MCT)
Van Collie mentioned the most recent Vice Presidential debate as a perfect case. “Media coverage talked more about her perfectly quaffed hair and sharp suit than what she said and how she responded to important questions.”
Even students who do not follow fashion believe it has a regrettable part in the political playground.
“I do not follow fashion at all, so I don’t particularly notice what candidates are wearing but I know other people do.” Junior Laura Olds continued, “I wish it wasn’t the case but people rely a lot on how our leaders look.”
Junior Sarah Strickland agreed, “It is important that our leaders look put together and that they present themselves well. I do not necessarily think that a put together image and a fashionable one are the same thing, however.”
Strickland also noted that there is rarely any discussion on male politician’s style. “I definitely think there is a double standard when it comes to fashion in the public eye. Male politicians can be overweight, balding, and in a plain suit and that is fine. They can also spend thousands of dollars on a suit, and be perfectly manicured and there is no mention.”
“Hillary Clinton is criticized for being frumpy and too matronly. Sarah Palin is the other end of that spectrum and is criticized for being too concerned with her appearance. There is no common ground for women.”
This focus on fashion and image can certainly overshadow bigger issues for our country’s leaders. In a poll done by CBS, 76 percent of the survey participants believed it was just as important for a candidate to look presentable and to speak well than it is to have experience. Fifty-six percent believed they had been influenced by a candidate’s fashion choice.
Now, as the country gives props to Michelle Obama’s fashion choices, let’s hope they pay the same attention to her husband’s plans for America.
