Third, the “looks bad” factor is somewhat different. Edwards’ whole campaign was based on how he’d come up from poverty as the son of a mill worker and had spent his life fighting for the little man. A $400 haircut rather undercuts the everyman image. Yes, Ryan is proposing draconian cuts in federal programs for the less fortunate. So there’s a natural “well, that’s easy for you to say, Mr. I Can Spend $472 For One Meal” factor. But there’s nothing hypocritical about it unless his expensive wine is on the taxpayer’s dime.