Much - too much - is being made about whether Democratic presidential candidate John Forbes Kerry had Botox injections.

No doubt, he did. A few weeks ago, the man's forehead was as furrowed as a field at planting time; Now he has the smooth unruffled forehead of a - dare we say it - John F. Kennedy. (Gee, their initials are the same…hmm …)

More than 40 years after his death, John F. Kennedy is still the candidate that Democrats - even Republicans - would like to be. He was the first to successfully tap into the power of television and make the most of his movie star good looks, youth and winning way with words.

So who could blame Kerry if he resorted to a little borrowed glamour?

Yet who can blame those of us who are living with nature's little alterations for thinking that Botox has a home in your basic horror movie:

Evil scientist, needle poised: "I am going to inject your face with a needle that will paralyze your muscles, rendering you unable to express displeasure. I will charge you hundreds of dollars for this. Bwa-hahahah!"

Victim: "OK, then! Proceed."

The truth is, many perfectly nice, reasonable people have restored to Botox to stall the effects of time a bit longer, including Kerry's 65-year old wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. She is a walking advertisement for Botox's youthful look-enhancing properties.

Yet there is something unseemly in admitting it, apparently, judging by the non-denial-denial that Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter issued when Kerry's critics accused him of using Botox. Cutter told reporters, "Have you looked at him? He looks like a 60-year-old man who has been working too hard running for president, with little time for sleep and no time to worry about what he looks like."

Yea, Botox didn't do anything for Kerry's droopy hound-dog cheek and eyes. But there's no denying something's going on with that forehead. And so what? Looks matter, whether in the presidential race or when walking into a roomful of strangers. That's Kerry's reality, so who can blame him for seeking help in a hypo of Botox?

Until we stop making such a fuss over good-looking people and care more about our leaders' intelligence and their ability to inspire, smooth foreheads and six-pack abs will continue to have a disproportionate influence on big decisions, like … say … who should be governor of California …