Beard Loses Election

Clean Shaven Zapatero Beats Bearded Opponent Rajoy

As a Canadian living overseas, I find it fascinating Europeans would have a major political candidate with a face full of stubble. Facial hair in U.S. politics is verboten. So, it has been interesting to follow the campaign of conservative candidate Mariano Rajoy against the current incumbent, clean shaven socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero who recently won re-election.

I was curious to understand each candidate's platform. But my meagre Spanish comprehension meant largely trying to assess each politican based on images I saw on television, the newspaper and on banners posted on lamp posts. Finding out what each politican really stands for meant I would have to track down English commentary on the web and since I don't have a vote, was not too really motivated to do so.

Style versus Substance

But it got me thinking about the U.S. primaries and it's been said in many editorials that Hilary and Obama are similar in ideology, being democrats to the core. So if both politicans have similar viewpoints on major issues, to voters, does it really become an issue of style? Are people as apathetic when it comes to doing their due diligence when their vote really counts?

Many political consultants are highly compensated to ensure their candidate wears the right color tie, shirt and suit color to appeal to the masses. A well-manicured look is just a part of the package. It is likely that even those voters who are carefully considering the candidates based on their platforms are unconsciously influenced by a clean shaven, neat appearance.

Beard versus Brow

So with scruffy conservative challenger, Rajoy, with his ill-fitting suits and salt & pepper, shaggy beard I was dubious as to whether he could pull through a victory, based solely on his looks. A shallow view of politics, perhaps, but probably realistic. However, Zapatero's highly defined, arched eye brows give him a bit of a shifty appearance, so I was giving Zapatero only slighty better odds in being re-elected.

History of Beards in Politics