botox
The Scotsman is a very mainstream British newspaper], It is now following Kerry's botox story. Why doesn't American mainstream press follow through? Why?
Kerry Raises Eyebrows over Botox Denial
By Mark Sage, PA News, on the US election campaign trail
Vietnam war veteran John Kerry could be president of the United States this time next year.
And while the Democratic front runner is touring the country, laying out his policies to anyone who will listen, the question on everyone's lips is: "Has he had Botox?"
His short answer is "no", but the gossip-mongers have been digging out "before and after" photos for the past few days, claiming irrefutable evidence that he has had wrinkle-zapping injections to his forehead.
It started with influential Republican on-line gossiper Matt Drudge who posted various pictures of 60-year-old Kerry on his website, The Drudge Report, at the start of the week.
The implication was that the Massachusetts Senator had had Botox - never mind that in one pose Kerry was raising his eyebrows, enhancing the wrinkles, and frowning in the next, making his lines disappear.
Then the New York Daily News got in on the act, and found an expert or two.
"Not only is it Botox, but it's classic bad Botox," said Dr Michael Kane, a private New York plastic surgeon, after viewing the snaps.
"His forehead is just way too smooth. It looks weird. It's a bizarre appearance that he's got not a wrinkle. That doesn't happen to 60-year-olds."
Dr Gerald Ember, an attending plastic surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital, agreed.
"Only Botox or a forehead lift would do this," he said.
But asked by a Boston radio station whether he had received the treatment, a bemused Kerry said he had "absolutely" not.
"I've never even heard it. Where did this come from?" he said.
His spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter added: "Since when do doctors make diagnoses based on pictures?
"It's ridiculous that people are focusing on this and not on real issues," she added.
The rival campaigns have all made snide comments. And everyone knows that the Senator's multi-millionaire wife Theresa Heinz-Kerry is a self-confessed fan of the treatment.
Now the late night comedy shows are full of Botox jokes and despite the efforts of Kerry's spin doctors the rumour just isn't going away.
Exasperated, Cutter said: "With three million lost jobs in America and 500 dead soldiers in Iraq, you'd think that everybody would be talking about something other than Botox." Wrong.
No one seems to care what Kerry plans to do with the biggest defence budget in the world if he is elected to office.
Child poverty? Not bothered. Multi-tier health service? Yawn. Occupation of Iraq, war on terror? Enough already.
While he cuts a striking figure, there is no doubt that some of Kerry's presidential rivals look younger.
In particular, there is North Carolina Senator John Edwards, who is 50 but looks 10 years younger.
And the power of looking youthful when running for president shouldn't be under estimated in a country which still craves another JFK.
If someone turns up genuine evidence that Kerry has had Botox, it would be a disaster for his campaign.
He would be a liar, and would have no excuse.
But unless he can get the media off his forehead and on to his policies - and soon - he's going to start getting worry lines.
