The real qualifications for a president

Much has been made lately of Hillary Clinton's income tax forms. Will she release them to the public or not? Her primary opponent has made much of that and we all know how that kind of political sniping works.

But really, why should we care about her IRS forms? Or anyone else's IRS forms, for that matter. We'd look for ways she's apparently declaring her income and expenses to minimize how much goes to the IRS, but wouldn't we all try to keep as much of our money as possible? And maybe for the sake of snoopiness we'd like to know how much any candidate earns, but really is that any of our business? Any candidate's taxable income or list of deductions is not going to make me vote one way or another.

So if I am to consider whether or not I'll vote for Hillary Clinton, here's what I think is important:

Where does she get those pant suits and how much does she pay for them? If she's buying designer duds and paying full price for them, then that makes a difference. I can't afford designer pantsuits, so why should I vote for someone who can? Would she have my best interests in mind? If she gets her clothes on sale at least 40 percent off, or off a clearance rack marked down 60 percent or more, then I know this is a serious shopper who can squeeze a nickel until the buffalo belches.

Another thing, is she one of those people who cuts off the size tags once she gets her clothes home from the store? Makes you wonder what she has to hide.

Hillary has had the same hairstyle since she got elected to the senate, instead of changing almost weekly like she did when she was First Lady. What I want to know is does she wash it and blow it dry herself every morning? What does her haircut cost? Does she go to a salon and gossip with the stylist and the other customers? Is she just one of us or does she have a stylist on retainer kind of like an attorney?

Fragrance. I've never met the woman, so I don't know if she uses a fragrance, but if she does how much does she pay for it? Would she ever consider buying a knockoff version of her favorite designer perfume and save a few dollars? Has she ever ripped out a perfume ad from a magazine and run the sample scent over her pulse points?

Does she get her makeup from Walgreen's? From the Avon Lady? Has she ever been to a Mary Kay party? Or does she go to those high end department stores and buy her makeup? Can we trust a president who pays more than six bucks for mascara?

Does she ask for a "go" box when she eats out, or does she let food go to waste if she can't finish her lunch? Surely she, of all people, should know where people in the world are starving.

Is she a coupon clipper? I mean, coupons other than on stock certificates. I recently got two packages of toilet paper for a dollar with a coupon; can she relate to that kind of bargain and the smug satisfaction that goes with it?

Has she ever experienced the joy of finding a buy one, get one free shoe sale, and actually found two pairs of shoes that she likes, that fit, and don't rub blisters?

I wonder if she's ever pushed a cart through a Target store. Browsed through a half-off rack at a sidewalk sale. Found treasures at a flea market. Can any candidate lead the country if they don't know how ordinary taxpayers cope because they don't have the option of increasing their budgets without regard for how it'll be paid back. Well, maybe some people do, but that's why we have credit counseling services now. Has she ever been to one of those — or sent a congressional delegation to learn from such a service? Bottom line: Is she, or any other candidate, just one of us? Can any candidate really relate to the average wage-earner who casts a ballot?

One more thing: Think twice about voting for any candidate who can walk by a cat or a dog and not pet it.