What if Donald Trump Weren't So Good Looking?

Presidential candidate Donald Trump is once again taking some heat for a controversial statement he made while out on the campaign trail. As reported by writer Paul Solotaroff of Rolling Stone, who recently traveled with Mr. Trump for a story, the billionaire had some choice words for fellow GOP hopeful, Carly Fiorina — not so much regarding her candidacy, but rather her physical appearance.

While watching a televised interview with Fiorina aboard his private plane, Trump's facial expression reportedly soured in disgust before he said, "Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?! I mean, she's a woman, and I'm not supposed to say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?"

The comments quickly made national headlines, and gave Trump critics even more ammunition for which to portray the Republican front-runner as someone whose conduct doesn't make him worthy of the Oval Office.

As someone who has been very critical of Mr. Trump's candidacy for a variety of reasons, my readers are likely expecting me to take him to task once again, this time for his adolescent and personally insulting attitude toward Fiorina.

I'm not going to do that — not this time. In fact, I believe Trump made a solid point about the physical appearances of presidential candidates.

I've long argued that we're at a time in our history when the national electorate is far less concerned about policies and the future of our country, than they are about superficial, aesthetically-appealing measurements of the candidates. Donald Trump not only understands this, but is a testament to it.

There's a reason, after all, why Mr. Trump is leading the Republican field in every single national poll: He's a devastatingly handsome man.

Let's face it: The orangutan-orange hair, the tense eyebrows, the crisp tan, the chronically pursed lips, the broad torso... It's all a turn-on. Even the way the man wears a "Make America Great Again" trucker-hat is pretty damn sexy, and few people can pull off that look!

When you think about it, it's almost unfair that Trump is so good looking. If he weren't, he probably never would have gotten away with such things as mocking American POWs for being captured, suggesting that a menstrual cycle compelled a female journalist to ask him tough questions, and defining his Middle East policy by promising to be "so good at the military” that our “heads will spin.”

Trump's got hot-guy privilege, and he's wielding it as an effective political weapon. It's too bad others in the race have genetics working against them.

Could you imagine the hideous-looking Marco Rubio (was he in a car accident or something?) telling the world that he'll make Mexico pay for a border wall to stop its own government from dumping their rapists in our country? Such hyperbole would never fly! If he had Trump's devilishly handsome smile, on the other hand, he'd make it work.

And what if that overweight, balding Rick Perry ran on an economic platform for the GOP nomination that mirrored President Obama's from 2012? Would he be polling around 30% right now? No way. Spend more time on the treadmill, Mr. Perry. Once you've got Trump's waistline, get back to us then.

This isn't just a Republican thing, either. If Bernie Sanders weren't the spitting image of Brad Pitt (Legends of the Fall era), would he be eating into Hillary's lead like he is? Hell no.  If you've got it, flaunt it. That's how Bernie rolls.

Like it or not, hotties are better equipped to persuade the masses in this country. That's what makes Donald Trump a successful candidate, and there's nothing wrong with him pointing that out. He's absolutely right to be concerned about a GOP presidential nominee not being sufficiently attractive, because voters just can't get behind someone who doesn't top the field in the looks department, the way Donald does. Bottom line: People shouldn't hate Trump because he's beautiful.

There's a lot riding on this election, folks, and it's time we take the process seriously. Let me know when the swimsuit competition begins.