McCain, the abusive: How did women perceive McCain last night?

[cali]

Women are more apt to place importance on non-verbal cues and cooperation; on HOW someone communicates not just what they're saying. I'd be very curious to see who undecided women thought was the better candidate last night. It may be a broad generalization, but women put a premium on, for lack of a better word, "niceness". As a woman, albeit a very biased one, I thought McCain had an abusive air last night.

[peacebird]

1. I was very taken aback by his refusal to look Obama in the eyes. Seemed like he felt

offended that a young black man was being considered as his equal.

(originally I thought it was just that a black man was considered his equal, but another poster here suggested it was perhaps that he felt Obama had not put in the time McSame has, hence I modified my view to include age)

[mtnsnake]

5. Yup, it was also McCain's way of saying, "I have no respect for you, junior."

[Frustratedlady]

9. I agree! I spent more time watching for McCain to look at Obama...

than I did listening to the debate. I was trying to figure out why he wouldn't look at him. It was so obvious, it was unbelievable and distracting...and, rude. McCain reminded me of a young school boy who was called up before the class. He didn't want to be there, was uneasy, but wanted to look macho-macho before his friends. His only defense was to snicker and give knowing looks to his buddies.

I had little respect for him going into the debate, but lost even that by the end of the debate.

He is an immature man.

[searchingforlight]

I think he was afraid that he would lose his famous temper

and was approaching it as a town hall meeting.

[CTyankee]

11. Yup. That's my verdict, too. Didja notice his jaw muscles working furiously?

I think his handlers told him "If you feel you're gonna blow, don't look at him!"

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

2. One poll I saw of undecided women had them 70-30 for Obama

Sorry, no link. But you're absolutely right - a lot of women will be turned off by McCain's attitude.

[BeyondGeography]

3. I saw one number that had him losing female undecideds 69-31 last night

That would be your answer.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. dupe

[1corona4u]

6. He repulses me...always has...

at any rate, I called a friend right after the debate, and she said; it didn't go well, so I said; what do you mean? didn't go well for whom?, she says; well, mccain came across as honest, I said; NO HE DIDN'T!--she's kind of out of the loop though....but her response bothered me, because she is definitely voting for Obama...she said she could hardly stand to look/listen to mccain though.

[Sparkly]

7. I think the patronizing "You don't understand" is all too familiar to women.

It rings a bell we really dislike.

[Hepburn]

13. Spot on...and thanks for saying this!

I became a lawyer when it was still considered that something was wrong with a female who wanted into a man's world. Yep, that is what that reminded me of...that superior 'tude that I got from some of the OLD BOY crowd. It was sooooooooo much fun kicking their butts in the courtroom and watching the melt down in the court hallway when I walked out and offered to shake hands with them...LOL...while sincerely looking the male pig in the eye and telling him what a pleasure it was to have met him!

:evilgrin:

Same 'tude of "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE WITH ME..." Oh, yeah...I remember it well and I am sure of of the OLD BOY assholes remember the ass kicking they got from me!

:hi:

[MikeE]

17. My wife, she doesn't understand me

I wonder if that's wha he said to Cindy when he was cheating on his first wife :rofl:

[DevonRex]

23. YES!!! That is something I couldn't quite put my finger on, how it made

me feel. But you nailed it. That is exactly what I was feeling. It was very similar to the way a certain agent at ATF treated me during my career there. Funny thing, but I was always proven to be right and he was always proven to be wrong. Didn't stop his condescending bullshit, but at least everyone else I worked with knew he was just an aggressive blowhard with shit for brains.

[msanthrope]

8. Demeanor of a Friday night drunk--guy who has had a tough

week, goes and gets loaded on Friday night 'cause he 'deserves to'--comes home looking for trouble.

Woe to the woman who doesn't know how to put the noisy kids to bed early on Friday night and have his potpie hot and ready. And if she doesn't know how to smile through his whiskey dick pumping????

Volunteered at a women's shelter long enough to know the type--thanks for pointing it out....

[cali]

10. I'm some what sensitive- or perhaps over sensitive to it.

I definitely see McCain as the abusive type.

[msanthrope]

19. Abusive because he's kept that 'mask' on all day--sees his family

as the ultimate stress relief---

I know the type....we had lots and lots of Saturday morning admissions at the shelter I worked at.

[paregdem]

12. Was half expecting to hear him tell disgusting RAPE joke again...

I can't speak for the undecided women voters because I have a serious Obama bias, hopefully the numbers will lean heavily in Obama's favor.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. During the debate, I've been told that cnn had some sort of tracking poll

and every time McCain spoke disdainfully towards Obama, his ratings went way down. And several folks on air commented on the fact that McCain wouldn't look at Obama.

[JustAnotherGen]

15. At another board

I belong to - we have a 'back room' political discussion going on. It's strictly women at this site.

One woman who a month ago was strongly behind McCain? I think McCain nailed his own coffin shut with her last night. I threw the first handful of dirt on the casket this morning by reminding her he had no idea who Zapatero was. ;-)

[RockaFowler]

16. I felt offended

Why didn't he look at Obama?? why did he seem like the old guy who had no clue?? Well, I think it does go back to the fact that he doesn't think Obama should be there because it was his turn for the Presidency. That's childish. Waah!

[hlthe2b]

18. You are right and his contemptuous, condescending attitude,

his overt anger at times, and his refusal to look at Obama were the kind of cues I have seen in men that are insecure and ABUSIVE. McCain came off as a bully and not at all confident, despite his aggressive (and highly focused) stance. I think there are many many many women, who have had to deal with a man like this in the workplace, or home and WE HAVE HIS NUMBER. Think of women--some who may be less educated and less informed and thus less inclined to vote for Obama. But seeing MCCain act the part of their past abusive boyfriend, spouse, brother-in-law, or boss, that's going to stick!

Niceness is not what I put a premium on, but civility and professionalism is. One can be neither when one treats their rival with such overt disdain--not to mention the fact that his constant blinking belied his lies. Obama's calm, genial manner was a perfect counterpart to McCain, showing the latter for the abusive, insecure, hothead that he is. I think Obama overdid the "I agree with John" at times, but ultimately, I think Obama was playing perfect reverse psychology on McCain, who came damned close to losing it, several times.

[ellie]

20. To me, he

looked like a mean, old man. What a dick.

[Happyhippychick]

21. I heard somebody say he reminded her of her ex-husband. That can't be good.

[DevonRex]

22. I couldn't even watch the whole thing because of McCain's aggression

and rudeness. I know I'm not the only woman out here who felt that way. Obama looked and acted like a statesman. McCain was way over the top and frightened me.

Sometimes I went back downstairs and watched a bit. Every time, Obama was decisive yet civil. And every time, McCain was aggressive, yet didn't even have the courage to look Obama in the eye. That says sleezeball to me.

[Chorophyll]

24. I perceived him as tense, shifty, and hair-trigger.

Whereas Obama looked calm and used more open body language.

Of course, I have some pre-conceived ideas about both of them. Obama's a Democrat -- for the most part I share his ideas. He's also young, tall and good-looking. He and Michelle seem to love and respect one another, whereas McCain called his wife a c*** within the earshot of the press.

Just saying, I didn't watch the debates expecting to be very impressed by McCain. Hopefully those legendary "undecideds" weren't impressed by him either.