Heard on the Hill: Yes, He Did
Roll Call Staff
Forget “a little off the top.” The newest look for patrons of the House barbershop is a little bolder — and a lot more Barack-y.
David Beraka, a 24-year-old junior professional staffer on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, eschewed a more traditional trim last week and got a large “O” — a la the logo used in the campaign of President-elect Obama — shaved onto the back of his head.
It all started when Beraka, who is obviously an Obama enthusiast, and a few friends were joking around about how to mark their candidate’s victory. The idea of a commemorative ’do came up, and Beraka told us he didn’t even have to be double-
dog-dared to go under the razor. “This felt like a good way to celebrate before the president-elect has to begin digging us out of all the problems the country faces right now,” he said.
On Thursday, barber Khanh Nguyen of the House Barber Shop, who usually specializes in much more conservative styles, complied with his client’s unusual request.
After the cut, it occurred to the newly shorn staffer that perhaps his new ’do might not be the most professional look to sport around the oh-so-buttoned-up halls of Congress, where even facial hair can earn one a few stares. But he’s betting that his boss, Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), will like it — or at least appreciate the sentiment behind it. “Chairman Berman was one of Obama’s biggest backers, so he could hardly disapprove,” he told us.
Obama Forever (Really). While hair might grow back quickly (see previous item), a tattoo is forever. Just ask stars like Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, who’ve had the names of their beloveds inked on their skin, only to break up with those not-quite-forever loves.
And for some locals, the 2008 presidential race will never be a distant memory — at least unless they get a painful tattoo- removal procedure.
At Capitol Tattoo in Silver Spring, Md., artist Chris Thayer said a customer came in before the elections and had President- elect Obama’s campaign logo tattooed on his hand, a piece of skin artwork that set the Obama-lover back $160. Thayer says he and his colleagues urged their client to think it through first. “We warned him at the maximum, [Obama’s] president for eight years,” Thayer said. “To get it before he won, that’s ballsy.”
And at Handmade Tattoo Parlor in Manassas, Va., tattoo apprentice Will Armstrong told HOH he’s planning to have an illustration of Obama’s face etched onto his leg. He had been talking with his boss, a supporter of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), about it for a little while now, he said, although the additional art wouldn’t be a big stretch — Armstrong even has tattoos on his eyelids (ouch!). Such a detailed, portrait-style tattoo would run about $800, he estimated, but it’s free for him because he’s an employee. “It’s something we were talking about,” he said. “I’ve got tattoos already so it’s not out of the norm.”
And if the recipient of an Obama tattoo ever changes his political stripes, there’s always the tattoo makeover: Depp, for example had his “Winona Forever” tat (in honor of his girlfriend, actress Winona Ryder) changed to “Wino Forever.” Former “Baywatch” babe Pamela Anderson had her homage to ex-husband, rocker Tommy Lee changed from “Tommy” to “Mommy.”
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