Do you think a person, a man (I'm not considering bearded ladies here) with a beard or a mustache could still be elected President of the United States.

Sure. We have a black president right now.

How does facial even factor into an election for presidency?

I think it’s not only possible but likely… someday… again. I wouldn’t just say that “we’ve had more than a few” bearded presidents; until this century most of them were bearded. I don’t see why styles might not change again to make beards even more popular than they are now. And they certainly are more popular now than they were in my youth, when anyone with a beard was automatically assumed to be a rebel, a hippie, or a poet or college professor.

I don’t think it’d be a big deal… Fewer people in general have beards and mustaches now, hence why more people see them as being unusual or potentially off-putting. Being clean-shaven is certainly safer at the present time, since fewer people will make facial hair-related assumptions about you. Mustaches more so than beards. I don’t think there’d be an issue with a fully bearded candidate. That’s a classy look. A goatee or soul patch might be too much for people to handle because of the youthful connotations with such. And I personally would vote for ANYONE with mutton chops. That look reeks of awesomeness.

@Facade I’m not really sure. I was just thinking about having a President with a beard or a mustache. We’ve had so many, but it just seems that it’s been a very long time since we had one and I was just wondering. And all sorts of things factor into elections. Sadly image and presentation, how a candidate is perceived by a lot people. The process by which people decide to vote for a candidate is not always entirely rational.

I am not sure about the mustache. You know what I mean…

You know, you’re right lillycoyote. We haven’t had a president with facial hair since, what, Roosevelt? Facial hair must be a no-no for US presidents anymore.

@CyanoticWasp Yeah I know. When I first wrote the question I said ” a whole lot of bearded and mustached presidents” then, I decided to change it to “more than a few” because I didn’t want have to research it to determine exactly how many bearded and mustached presidents we have had.

Most recent mustache – Teddy Roosevelt (1901–1909)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/theodoreroosevelt

Most recent beard – Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/benjaminharrison

@Facade

How does race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or age factor into a presidential election? I’m not really sure, but it does.

@Kelly_Obrien Well I thought I was right! :) People are saying it doesn’t/shouldn’t matter, but then again it’s been a very long time since we’ve had a president with facial hair so maybe it does matter.

@jaytkay Thank you. That’s research I should have done but was too lazy to do.

@lillycoyote… The clean shaven look has been in since the fifties. Facial hair denotes an evil doer/bad guy persona. It is a Hollywood thing. And of course, most of us remember How Nixon looked versus Kennedy in that televised debate back in 1960.
No politician worth his salt would be caught dead with facial hair since the Nixon debacle!!!

Years ago presidents would have beards because it was considered the norm plus it made them appear older and age was linked with wisdom. Today, there aren’t too many people with beards. Many people feel it ages you and aging is linked more with senility plus another link with beards today is crazy bombers and hicks. So I don’t think we will be seeing anyone running for presidency sport a beard any time soon.

@lillycoyote That’s research I should have done but was too lazy to do

Glad to help! I think Fluther attracts two groups:
1) People who throw questions
2) People who fetch answers

I never thought about it before, but maybe my avatar is significant…

@jaytkay I’m a little bit 1, a little bit 2, a little bit country, a little bit rock&roll, :) a little bit… well, a little bit all sorts of other stuff.

I don’t see why not…. The hair on his face isn’t going to make him a worse or a better president and should have nothing to do with his qualifications as a leader of this country…

@toomuchcoffee911 I really don’t think that Barack Obama would have been elected if he had a beard. I really don’t. Think about. I don’t know why, but I just don’t think it would have happened. Facial hair. The final frontier.

@Ivan Those things have nothing to do with something as benign as facial hair.

@Facade

Nobody seems to agree on what’s benign and what’s not.

As a bearded person myself, I certainly hope so.

@jaytkay Are Great Danes good fetchers? I don’t know much about them except that when I was growing up our neighbor had one and he used to torment our cat, he’d be on the ground and she’d be up on the ledge, but she would always get the best of him. A few strategic claw strokes down his nose and he would always back off.

Lurve for ‘bearded ladies’

@Laina I didn’t necessarily want to leave bearded ladies out of the equation, I didn’t necessarily feel good about it, but I thought “Do you think a bearded lady will ever be elected President of the United States” was kind of a separate issue.

@lillycoyote Are Great Danes good fetchers?

Not sure. Most dogs I’ve known love to play fetch. Doh, wait, I just realized you were asking about my picture. She was a boxer. She was more into tug of war.

@jaytkay Funny, I was confused too! The dog my cat used to get into it with was actually a Boxer, now that you mention it.

Yes. If Israel wanted him to be the President of the United States.

@toomuchcoffee911 ahem We have a half Black President now to be totally correct. :-)

Oh, hell, @Hypocrisy_Central—we’ve had gray presidents for-damn-ever. Been there, done that… all the time.

Now. I have to ask. Why couldn’t a bearded lady be elected President. Hmmmmm???
This country hasn’t gotten over Charles Mansion and The Hippies so…..