Budget deficit worries can fade away when we’re absorbed in figuring out whether or not a political figure has had a facelift. Nancy Pelosi appeared on CNBC, October 28th, 2011 to talk about a 1.25 trillion budget cut. But the response she got was a whole lot of conjecture about what she had done to her face. The Washington Times interviewed a plastic surgeon who said, “A woman her age shouldn’t look that good. It appears that she has had a good amount of surgery.”

Nancy Pelosi looks very good for her age and the media is not letting her get away with it. After the CNBC interview Pelosi is accused of undergoing plastic surgery and/or Botox or filler injections (as if they were illegal). Fringe websites sport cartoon pictures of her, her skin blowing off her face as if in a wind tunnel, her unblinking eyes rotating rapidly. Mainstream media takes a scholarly approach, “Looking at recent pictures of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, I believe she had Botox and fillers like Juvederm injected in her marionette lines. Further, she definitely underwent a facelift a few years ago. The reason she looks different now is because she used to look pulled and tight.”

The Washington Times article has an altogether different slant, stating that in the rush to look young, politicians forget that they need to express emotion convincingly. Paul Ekman, psychology professor at the University of California Medical School, says that Botox may get rid of some wrinkles and my make you look a little younger, but you will not get votes if your face doesn’t move.

Political figures are between a rock and a hard place. Drew Weston, a university professor who studies emotion in politics says, “We want our politicians to be fresh-faced but expect them to come by their good looks naturally.” Further, a politician who undergoes plastic surgery is considered vain and frivolous. No wonder political figures get cosmetic surgery but don’t own up to it.