McCain was afraid of Obama.

[kpete]

from a reader at Talking Points Memo:

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://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/220226.php

[HowHasItComeToThis]

1. I THINK HE IS TERRIFIED OF THE TRUTH

HE IS A GOLEM LOOKING FOR THE PRECIOUS.

[JBoris]

2. Maybe so. Shaky voice and no eye contact=cowering old man?... pic

[1corona4u]

17. BINGO...the top pic.....

that's what mccrap fears...

[FrenchieCat]

3. Inferiority complex?

Knows he ain't winning this one?

Knows he's been dishonorable and lying like a big dog?

All of the above?

[nc4bo]

4. This is just too freaking weird. Something's wrong. He disses O, acts scared and seething mad. nt

[speedoo]

5. I think that's one of three (or more) explanations.

Some others being:

1. As Gene Robinson of WaPo suggested, McCain always treats his opponents this way. (I do not think this is supported by McCain's behavior in other debates.)

2. It's more contempt than fear. McCain simply despises Obama, does not see him as an equal.

3. It's more tactical... he does not want to lose his temper, and thinks that not looking at Obama helps him with this problem.

Whatever it is, it's a huge problem for McCain. He cannot win the election behaving this way.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. I think part of it may be to not show the left side of his face.

That's why he's on the audience's left on the stage also. But that's his problem, whether it's due to fear, contempt, or disfigurement, it looks shitty as all hell and people pick up on it. He needs to work it out or go down in flames. Sucks to be him.

[speedoo]

18. That's not it IMO.

If he turned to look at Obama, he'd be showing the right side of his face, for one thing.

[JBoris]

11. ... or 4. McC was genuinely ashamed of his attempted stunt after Obama's phone call ...

Obama tried to reach out to make a joint statement and McC played low-ball games. Of course that assumes that McC has a conscious.

[kitkat65]

14. Gene's full of it. Check out these pics from previous McCain debates.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7215633&mesg_id=7215633

[speedoo]

16. Right, but it's possible that McCain does not see his fellow rethugs as opponents...

the same way he sees Obama as one.

I really don't know, so I prefer leaving all possibilities on the table.

[napi21]

6. I don't think so. I agree with the assessment of MSNBC when they

said he was dissing him. He thinks he's so much more qualified, he doesn't think Obama has any right to be on the same stage with him. I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but McNuts is more arrogant than Shrub!!!!!

[bevoette]

8. disrespect. i don't think he's afraid...i think he thinks Obama is beneath him. (nm)

[Eurobabe]

9. OMFG. This is so true. I just started watching the debate and it is

clear from his body language and demeanor that he hates Obama, and is threatened by him.

[Eurobabe]

10. dupe

[Cronus Protagonist]

12. That's exactly what I saw. Obama has gonads, McCain has NO NADS

He's a pussy.

[1corona4u]

19. They probably shriveled up and fell off years ago....

[jpertello]

13. If McCain started flinging his feces at Obama then we would've really understood his behavior.

[nc4bo]

15. Mccain is probably a racist and a bigot. nt

[SmileyRose]

20. McCain is NOT a monkey - though he does fling poo.

I think he's just an angry old man who sees his life's ambition being flushed before his very eyes - and is desperately trying to salvage SOMETHING.