Why wouldn't McCain look at Obama? Some interesting observations at TPM

[Hamlette]

As a psychotherapist and someone who treats people with anger management problems, we typically try to educate people that anger is often an emotion that masks other emotions. I think it's significant that McCain didn't make much, if any, eye contact because it suggests one of two things to me; he doesn't want to make eye contact because he is prone to losing control of his emotions if he deals directly with the other person, or, his anger masks fear and the eye contact may increase or substantiate the fear.

I noticed him doing the same thing in the Republican primary debates. The perception observers are likely to have is that he is unwilling to acknowledge the opponent's legitimacy and/or is contemptuous of the opponent.

snip

I think people really are missing the point about McCain's failure to look at Obama. McCain was afraid of Obama. It was really clear--look at how much McCain blinked in the first half hour. I study monkey behavior--low ranking monkeys don't look at high ranking monkeys. In a physical, instinctive sense, Obama owned McCain tonight and I think the instant polling reflects that.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

From two readers of TPM. Both make sense to me, not sure who is right. We know McCain doesn't like Obama (fight early on in Obama's career, can't remember what it was about) it shows McCain can't control his temper. The rumor we've heard about for years. Or he's afraid of Obama. I know my dogs are like that, when they know I'm going to scold them. McCain is terrified of being beat on TV?

We'll know next time. If he thinks he won this debate, he won't be afraid of Obama next time. Then if he doesn't look at him, we'll know its anger or contempt (racist? Could be.)

[Booster]

1. I really don't think it's racist. I think he's really scared of Obama

because he knows Obama is much smarter than he is and that grates him and he knows he could lose his temper over that. It was all that anyone I talked to after the debate mentioned so people noticed and they didn't like it.

[blonndee]

2. Definitely fear.

I made a little comment in another thread about how dogs will not make eye contact when there is the potential of a conflict if they are afraid, or when they know they are not the alpha dog, in order to avoid conflict. It is a sign of weakness not to make eye contact.

With dogs (and I guess, monkeys, too) it's not a moral judgment, just the way things are. I really, really think that McCan't is afraid of Obama because of his own insecurity and awareness of his own deficiencies. He just cannot compete with Obama when it comes down to it. He attempts to mask this with his words and therefore his refusal to look at Obama may seem to others (and maybe even himself) as condescension; however, any confident and stable individual would never hesitate to meet an opponent's gaze. It is not natural! McCan't is scared, and he should be.

[opihimoimoi]

3. McLost is Toast. Obama got MANA and he doesn't

:toast: :toast: :beer: :bounce: :) :free steaks: :toast: :hugs:

[sakabatou]

7. Obama may have mana

but can he cast magic missile?

:yoiks:

[elkston]

10. Maybe, but Obama has a massive Will saving throw!!! (eom)

[sakabatou]

18. And I know for sure that neither Palin nor McLame

can't cast Holy.

[ecstatic]

4. Well based on what we know about his temper, I'll go with that theory nt

[featherman]

5. Similar but slightly different take. Fear, yes. But mostly a fear of losing track of what

he was going to say and committing a damaging gaffe. His mind may be wandering a bit and he was just fiercely concentrating. This is a 72 year old man who has been protected in a bubble, after all... no press conferences, controlled rallies with teleprompters, etc.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Defintely attempts to control temper. That is what I thought when I saw those inane smiles

McSame kept exhibiting. He was sort of biting his lips so as to keep control.

[TwilightGardener]

8. I think it's contempt, a way to diminish an opponent by not acknowledging him.

Hillary used to call Obama "my opponent" to achieve the same effect--if you don't look at somebody, even with physical contact like a handshake, or you don't use their name, you are dehumanizing them.

[Politicub]

9. Because McCain is an arrogant asshole?

:shrug:

[justiceischeap]

11. There was also a lot of teeth clenching going on

When I'm stressed or angry, I have a tendency to clench and/or grind my teeth. For me, when I clench in my waking hours, it's a tendency to mask anger.

[eShirl]

12. you can even see it a little in this older photo

he's trying to cover it up


I don't know the context of this photo, but it's at the very least a few months old

[stillcool]

13. I think it's fear..

but I don't know what the fear is about. I think it has more to do with how John McCain feels about John McCain then what John McCain thinks about Obama.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. I think he was trying to control his anger. McCain is a very rich @-hole and thinks that his money

wins him rights. The fact that he has Obama to compete with feels to him unfair somehow.

[Laelth]

15. Very interesting observations. n/t

k&r

:dem:

-Laelth

[BurtWorm]

16. I thought it was a debating technique, based on the idea that if you look at a person

you know they are a person and it's a little more difficult to sustain an attack based on lies on someone you think of as a person (assuming you have a conscience and can empathize with other persons).

[wildflowergardener]

17. eye contact

I think I probably don't often make eye contact with people due to shyness, unless I know a person - (though I will look at them) so it can definitely be that you are fearful of a person for some reason - if only because they are someone you don't know, or for another reason.

Meg

[krkaufman]

19. Interesting. I expect McCain knows he's an (1) intellectual inferior to Obama ...

... and (2) recognizes Obama as having been a much more serious person at a similar stage in life.

Or McCain is just an a**.