RUSH: Now, this theory of mine based on this Drudge picture of Mrs. Clinton, with the headline: ‘The Toll of a Campaign.’ Now, it could well be that that’s a sympathy photo, too, to make people feel sorry for how tough the campaign trail is. Now, I want to preface this by saying I know it’s going to get out there. Media Matters is going to get hold of this and they’re going to take it all out of context. We can expect that. It’s a badge of honor when this happens, but for the rest of you, I want you to understand that I am talking about the evolution of American culture here, and not so much Mrs. Clinton. It could be anybody, and it is really not very complicated. Americans are addicted to physical perfection, thanks to Hollywood and thanks to television. We know it because we see it. We see everybody and their uncle in gyms. We see people starving themselves. We see people taking every miracle fad drug there is to lose weight. We see guys trying to get six-pack abs. We have women starving themselves trying to get into size zero and size one clothes; makeovers, facials, plastic surgery, everybody in the world does Botox, and this affects men, too. As you know, the haughty John Kerry Botoxed his wrinkles out during the campaign.
We know that the presidency ages the occupants of that office rapidly. You go back and look at… Well, you can’t use Clinton because he dyed his hair based on the audience he was speaking to, but take a look some pictures of Bush in 2000, when he was campaigning, or 2001 when he was inaugurated. Take a look at him now. Just been eight years. The difference is stark. He’s kept himself in good shape and so forth, but you can say that this is a sad, unfortunate thing. But men aging makes them look more authoritative, accomplished, distinguished. Sadly, it’s not that way for women, and they will tell you. (interruption) Well, Snerdley, you’re just sitting there thinking I’m on the precipice of the cliff here without a bungee cord. I’m not. I am trying to be… Look, if I’m on the edge of the bungee cord, then I’ll take the leap. The bungee cord will save me. I’m just giving an honest assessment here of American culture. Look at all of the evidence. I mean, I’ve just barely scratched the surface with some of the evidence, and so: Will Americans want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis? And that woman, by the way, is not going to want to look like she’s getting older, because it will impact poll numbers. It will impact perceptions.
In politics, perceptions are reality. So there will have to be steps taken to avoid the appearance of aging. You know, politics is not for sissies. Now, I’m looking at people on the other side of the glass here and they’re laughing and they’re smiling. They think I’m making a joke here and there’s some big punch line coming. I’m not. You’re not laughing at that? What are you laughing at? You’re laughing at how…? (interruption) He’s smiling because it’s true! Okay. Maimone is smiling because it’s true, and what also happens in this country when you say something that’s true that people don’t want to hear, man, do you catch it. I am fully prepared. I’m going to catch it here. That’s really why he’s smiling because he knows I’m going to catch it, but you’re also responding because you know I can take it, you know that I can catch it, and throw it right back. So, politics isn’t for sissies, and being president ages men faster than normal. I think this is one of the intangibles. And another thing, by the way: How many times have you said in your adult life, you’ve had a candidate for president or some office that you really like, but just doesn’t come off well on television. Just for some reason, television doesn’t complement this person. I’ve often reminded you that politics is ‘showbiz for the ugly,’ and it is.
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