March 2, 2006

'CAUSE, BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE: (via Bryan Francoeur and Rick Turley):

Rice shows off her fitness regime (AP, 3/02/06)

Condoleezza Rice, the nation's top diplomat, is appearing in a three-part TV interview in which she rides a bike, works on her abs, pumps iron and talks about her weight.

Public figures usually do not go public when they work on their figures, though when they do, it can help humanize their images. President George W. Bush is sometimes photographed trying to stay fit on his bike, and President Clinton took some high-profile jogs.

But secretaries of state, a job most people associate with the stiff, inscrutable language of diplomacy? Three days on TV in the gym?

Hard to picture her predecessors Colin Powell or Madeleine Albright doing the same. How about Warren Christopher? Alexander Haig? Not likely.

Samantha von Sperling, a New York-based image consultant whose customers include politicians, was skeptical. She admires Rice, but finds this all to be a bit "Oprah-esque."

"It just strikes me as, what's the point?" she said. "Why do I need to see her in Spandex?"


As Brother Francoeur so artfully put it of Ms von Sperling: "Only a twist could be that thick."

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 2, 2006 1:24 PM
Comments

Because it humanizes her, Ms. Von Sperling. It makes her admirable on a level most people understand. It makes her likable, Ms. Von Sperling, and when a person runs for a high office in the United States they have to appear as likable, understandable, human beings.

Go, Condi, Go!

Posted by: Mikey at March 2, 2006 2:24 PM

Yeah, I don't think that's what Bryan was thinking.

Posted by: David Cohen at March 2, 2006 2:31 PM

And you didn't sit across from him at work for three years....

You couldn't get his mind out of the gutter with a steam shovel.

Posted by: oj at March 2, 2006 2:35 PM

"Why do I need to see her in Spandex?"

Seven years ago, I would have wholeheartedly supported this statement, had Ms. von Sperling voiced it about the Secretary of State. In fact, if she had taken out the "in Spandex" part, I would have endorsed the remark even more.

Posted by: John at March 2, 2006 3:46 PM

The most powerful woman of color ever to walk the earth . . . and she looks good in Spandex.

Posted by: Mike Morley at March 2, 2006 4:39 PM

Frankly, I think it would do all of us a lot of good to see Madeleine Albright in spandex.

Posted by: Barry Meislin at March 2, 2006 5:01 PM

Or you could just fill a burlap bag with hammers.

Posted by: Bill Clinton at March 2, 2006 5:07 PM

Or two bulldogs in a sack, trying to fight their way out.

Posted by: ratbert at March 2, 2006 7:54 PM

All I can think of is the generic exchange I have with She Who Is Perfect In All Ways whenever I buy some gadget:

SWIPIAW: What is that?

AOG: [Technobabble] … isn't it cool?

SWIPIAW: Do you really need one of those?

AOG: No. But I like it.

Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at March 2, 2006 8:09 PM

The most powerful woman of color ever to walk the earth, and she looks good in Spandex.

You're just out to ruin my marriage, aren't you?

Posted by: Gideon at March 2, 2006 8:52 PM
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