e barbershop, a place once known as “the walking gazette,” provides trims, shaves and a fre-

quently used forum for discussion

 on politics and problems of both

Lionel Comb, left, and Scott Vice are in the middle of a discussion recently at Clyde's Hair Designs. Much of the time, especially this time of year, talk turns to politics. -- Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

local and national importance, say local barbers.

“If you could do a survey of barbershops in Los Angeles, New York (and other places), tally ’em up, you’d have a pretty good idea of who was going to be elected,” said Charles Kirkpatrick, Arkansas-based executive officer of Barbers International and barber for 40 years, of U.S. senators and presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

Barber Tim Vice, who will be retiring from his job at the city’s compliance department in a year or so to take over Vice Barber shop from his father, said barbershops have “always” been a forum for political discussion, mentioning portrayals in old movies and “The Andy Griffith Show.”

“We just listen to people,” said Vice. “You hear all kinds of stuff. Some stuff I don’t hear about and I’m in the (City Hall) building.”

Discussion at the shop tends toward the local, said Vice, such as local political races and issues like policing, the sheriff’s race and rumors.

Nationally, Vice said shop customers tend not to like either candidate, but dislike McCain less. Obama, he said, doesn’t have a record.

“Where’d they get this guy from? He’s like Arnold Schwarzenegger, like they put him together for the purpose of running,” he said.

As far as McCain, Vice said people talk, on the negative side, about his age. They also talk about his war service and his wife, who is “worth a lot of duckies.”

A barber shop, said Vice, is “a fun place to be.”

Arthur Malveaux, who has been a barber at Bill’s Hair Fashions for three years, said people discuss local politics when possible and are curious to see who is running against local council members. Nationally, he said “We deal with a lot of people in favor of Barack Obama — a few for McCain. That’s how some of our debates get started.”

Malveaux said many people worry McCain opposes affirmative action, “which they feel levels the playing field.”

The state of the economy is a major topic of conversation, he said.

“It’s almost to the point right now there’s no middle class, just poor and rich,” he said.

“Many minorities are feeling the pinch.”

Malveaux said barbers are taught in barber school to try and keep away from potentially acrimonious topics.

“It involves too much emotion,” he said. “But you can’t stop it. It’s all in harmony, just verbal.”

Clyde Boutte of Clyde’s Hair Designs has been a barber for 50 years.

“We talk a lot of politics in here,” Boutte said. “Mostly gripes about politicians. The whole thing — national and local.”

The presidential race is “a big thing,” he said. “Most people I talk to are afraid Obama gets in. They don’t like him. They don’t like McCain that much either, but they say he’s a better choice than Obama.”

The St. Peter Barber Shop, said barber Raywood Sons, is mostly conservative.

“Jokingly, someone will walk in and say ‘Who are you voting for?’ ” he said.

“They know most of us here are for McCain. The major conversation is of course the oil, the price of gas and the cost of food items. People also want to open up the U.S. to more drilling.”

No matter what someone’s politics are, most agree barber shops are a good place to find out what is going on.

“Barbers are like psychologists — they (customers) tend to unload on you,” Kirkpatrick said.