McCain’s Inability to Make Eye Contact will Cost Him

[OhioChick]

X-posted from "Editorials" for those that might miss it.

You know the saying, “You shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth?” Well John McCain must know it well, because at tonight’s debate, he barely glanced anywhere in the vicinity of Barack Obama, who will be gifting McCain an early retirement in November.

hotobucket has yet to post the requisite handshake photos, but I find it remarkable that even during these brief moments, McCain managed to avoid looking at Obama, shaking his hand limply and focusing on the audience instead.

Another old saying holds that a liar won’t look you in the eye, but McCain’s behavior this evening reveals much more than his dishonesty.

For McCain to repeat throughout the entire debate that “Senator Obama just doesn’t understand ” coupled with not even looking up when Obama addressed him directly indicates a fundamental disrespect for people with whom he disagrees, conduct which has long been recognized as McCainian throughout Washington D.C.

“I honestly don’t believe Senator Obama has the knowledge…” was another gem. John McCain is attempting to convince America that Obama is not smart. Bark up another tree, old man. He outsmarts you every time.

You chided Obama because he wouldn’t rush to deliver an opinion on the economic crisis or the situation in Georgia. HE’S THINKING. You should try it. Thinking before acting would’ve prevented the war in Iraq and a host of other hastily decided mistakes made by this administration.

McCain’s surrogates should take note that by occasionally “agreeing” with McCain throughout the debate, Obama was being honorable, not handing McCain a V.

Condescending. Bitter. Snarling. Those undecided voters who had not previously had a chance to see the Maverick under pressure got a wake up call tonight. This is how McCain will treat our allies and enemies alike if elected. This is conduct unbecoming of the office of the presidency.

http://opedna.com/2008/09/27/mccains-inability-to-make-eye-contact-will-cost-him/

[neverforget]

1. If he can't look Obama in the eye, how can he look Putin in the eye?

[BlueIdaho]

2. BIG. TIME. nm.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. By tomorrow this will be in editorials, McCain's inability to look Obama in the eye nt

[Petrushka]

4. McCain seemed to address his comments to the moderator; Obama spoke to the camera. So . . .

. . . <**shrug**>

[Captiosus]

7. Which would be acceptable if the debates weren't designed

to speak to the audience, including the in house audience and the TV audience. But debates are designed to give your platform and why you're different than your opponent to the audience, not just the moderator.

Obama spoke to the audience. He looked at the crowd, he looked into the cameras. He looked at McCain while McCain was addressing him or rebuking him.

McCain looked at Lehrer, and only Lehrer, the entire time. Didn't look at the crowd, didn't look at the cameras, and absolutely refused to look at Obama at ANY point.

I agree that this behavior is very telling. He couldn't look the crowd in the eye and back up his statements. He couldn't look Obama in the eyes when trying to make an anti-Obama point. These are the actions of a liar and a person who has poor overall communication skills, not to mention the actions of a man who can't put aside his temper and/or dislike of someone to at least TRY to be amicable. It was like watching kids in my old high school public speaking class. You could tell the ones who learned and the ones who just didn't care. McCain didn't care.

It was very disrespectful, not only to Obama but to each and every American citizen who watched the debates.

[EC]

10. Much of the time Obama was looking directly at

mccain, as shown in some of the clips shot from stage left...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. McCain is an ass nt

[FrenchieCat]

5. Aye!

[AtomicKitten]

6. It was rude and boorish, beneath the presidency.

[Miss Chybil]

8. Bad form, Mr. McCain. Bad form. nt

[gulliver]

9. McCain was calling Obama a liar and unworthy of the presidency.

McCain showed disrespect to Obama in order to convey a message to other people that Obama doesn't deserve respect.

It was an outrage. For a serial-lying, chameleonic, watery-eyed, "daddy's name" dummy like McCain to dare to show disrespect for a self-made man and intellectual superior like Obama turns the world on its head.