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Christy Clark becomes the latest political leader to start wearing glasses
Health Minister Mike de Jong resisted any urge to call the premier "Four Eyes" during a recent announcement at St. Paul's Hospital.
Stephen Thomson
Anytime I see a politician suddenly start wearing glasses in front of the media, three thoughts cross my mind:
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• They're trying to soften their image because the public thinks they're mean.
• They're hoping to make themselves look smarter than they really are. And their advisors have told them that by wearing glasses, they'll look more cerebal, even if they haven't cracked open a book in years.
• They have deriorating eyesight and they don't like contact lenses—and I've become far too cynical in seeing any nefarious motives behind the decision to don eyewear.
Recently, Premier Christy Clark joined a growing list of political leaders who've suddenly started wearing specs in public after years of going without.
She's following in the path of former premier Gordon Campbell, whose decision to wear glasses made him look a little less menacing.
More recently, Prime Minister Stephen Harper started wearing glasses, which took off his harder edge. Perhaps this helped facilitate his majority victory in the 2011 election.
Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson was next to join the crowd, giving him a more professorial air.
Earlier this year, Vancouver blogger Alex Tsakumis actually predicted Clark would copy this tactic after yet another dismal poll result for the B.C. Liberals.
"She doesn’t have the skill set or the intelligence," Tsakumis wrote scornfully in February. "Look for her to all of a sudden start wearing glasses, a la Gregor…pathetic."
Try to watch this video without noticing anyone wearing glasses.
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
There is no political astrology needed here ... Mr Tsakumis will upgrade, or has recently upgraded, to progressive/bifocal lenses himself. The Heinous Harper is in the inevitable age range, as well.
Image has little to do with this ... only the our mortal fate of our human condition.
Might be more discerning to write about the choice of frames.
We can thank Sir Richard for this.
^^this
The stink of desperation is hard to miss.
Speaking of needing glasses...
Or maybe you're of the geriatric age, that might explain it also.