Obama says Richardson should have kept his beard

Posted 12/03/2008 01:55:00 PM

Gov. Bill Richardson’s beard has received a lot of attention lately. Barack Obama gave it even more today.

At the news conference in which he was nominated to be commerce secretary, Richardson was asked about his recent decision to shave his beard. Obama decided to answer the question for him.

“I think it was a mistake for him to get rid of it,” Obama said with a smile. “I thought that whole Western, rugged look was really working for him. For some reason, maybe it because it was scratchy when he kissed his wife, he was forced to get rid of it. But we’re deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard.”

Richardson grew the salt-and-pepper facial hair, which you can see by clicking here, after he dropped out of the presidential race earlier this year. He shaved the beard off about the same time he started gunning for a job in Obama’s administration.

Here’s video of Obama’s remarks: