I have a hard time being friendly to people I'm mad at....Don't you?

[Armstead]

Who knows what the actual dynamics on the Floor of Congress were last night, with this "handshake-gate" flap?

But let's suppose Obama did "snub" Hillary.

Have you ever been thrown into a room with someone who you are really mad at?

If you're all kissy poo-poo with them, then you are liable to be considered (rightly so) as a phony.

In real life, I'm generally known as a nice guy, friendly, easygoing. etc. But I havta admit that if someone has done something to make me mad -- especially if they've done it to me -- it's almost impossible for me to be friendly to them...or even courteous. It's not intentionally mean or vindictive. It's just a raw, gut-level freezing up around them.

If I'm really, really angry at them, I'm even more detached, because it's one way to avoid an inapropriate public spat.

Don't tell me you're not the same way.

Perhaps Obama did succumb to this last night. Perhaps he did let his personal animosity get the better of his "poilitician" side.

So what? If so, the only thing it really means is that he's a human being, not a robot.

Can we move on? As John Edwards might say, what the hell will a handshake do to provide healthcare to anyone?

[Demeter]

1. Anything Less Is Acting, or Psychosis

and unless one is a trained actor, it's not easy to pull off.

[JuniperLea]

23. Not so...

It's called "professionalism" and it is expected of those who hold high places.

[mondo joe]

2. People in politics need to know how to work professionally. NT

[Armstead]

5. Obama knows how to work professionally

He's often accused of being too professional in his demeanor.

So friggin what if he didn't rise to that last night? I'd say it was totally understanable and human in an environment that is all too often dominated by phoniness.

[mondo joe]

6. It's not important to me - in fact I think it's funny. I don't know if it will matter to anyone

else.

:shrug:

[JuniperLea]

24. Hear hear!!! eom

[rodeodance]

3. It was a political lapse of manners from someone who is susposed to be 'Presidential'

[JuniperLea]

25. Very well said... eom

[hobbit709]

4. People that know me well

That when I become exceedingly polite, I'm about to go off on someone.

[tokenlib]

7. What if Barack had stood there with both of them?

I think that would have been rude and arrogant. Everyone is reading too much into this. I believe Barack wanted to give them a moment alone and did not want to invade their space. He did the right thing.

[sam sarrha]

8. face it.. he showed who he really was.. i saw the photo.. it was a sad moment, i

personally dont like to be forced to touch other people. i think shaking hands is a bad custom.

[NashVegas]

9. Doesn't Matter

It was a stupid and short-sighted thing to do on Obama's part. He had a huge PR victory early in the day but just had to go snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, as the saying goes.

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Obama showed his true colors last night.

Let's just move on from this.

[calico1]

11. I sometimes do, but then again,

I am not running for public office. Do you have any idea how many people Obama will have to deal with that he doesn't like should he become President? Do you really think that everyone who shakes hands or chit chats does so because they are buds? In the world of politics you need to act professionally. Especially if it is your goal to become leader of the free world.

[Cass]

12. Ok, but you are not running for President.

Its a different ballgame in their world.

Obama made a mistake in turning away from Hillary. He should have faced her, greeted her and shook her hand like a gentleman. Despite their differences they are still on the same team. Hillary handled herself professionally and with dignity, Ted Kennedy had just given a forceful endorsement of her opponent yet she shook his hand and greeted him warmly. Thats how its done. Turning away to avoid a handshake is small and petty.

[WinkyDink]

13. One rises above such feelings, when one is positioning oneself as a UNITER.

This behavior, moreover, is beyond petty from a man who says he will not hesitate to meet personally our enemies.

IOW, Obama is thin-skinned.

[joeybee12]

14. I'm not running for president...national cameras aren't on me...

...if you want to make people believe you're a grown-up, you have to act like one, swallow hard, and make nice.

[krabigirl]

15. Yes, but you have to play the game. Hated doing that at my last company, but there you go.

[mondo joe]

17. It's about professionalism. You have to be able to disagree and have conflict and then work together

in at least a cordial way.

[jpgray]

16. It'd be more understandable if his rhetoric wasn't all "bipartisanship" and "unity"

If he doesn't feel able to make nice with Clinton, even just on the base formalities, it's hard to understand how he can tout his intention to bury the animosity towards far more conservative and nasty pols. Clinton's hardly the worst of the lot.

This is a totally superficial issue, however. It shouldn't be blown out of proportion.

[TriMetFan]

18. I think what people don't get is.......

it doesn't matter if it was Obama or Hillary. If two people that are running for the highest office in our Nation can't and will not show they are higher then the bull shit they have thrown at each other on the campaign trail, then how are they going to behave when or if they become our Leader??? Will they behave just like dumb shit Bush and lie us into a war?????? ect..........

[LibraLiz1973]

19. Not in professional situations

[ljm2002]

20. Actually...

...I have had to deal with people I absolutely despised, in a work situation, show up every day and yes, be polite even though I was incensed. So I do know how grownups are able to do such things.

When one is running for President, one supposedly has long gotten over the small hurdles of standard civilized behavior, and is able to muster graciousness in almost any situation (we must always reserve our right to make exceptions, of course).

It seems that Obama can muster graciousness for those on the other side of the aisle, but not for those in his own party who have the temerity to run against him and actually land some blows while doing so.

Immature.

[Armstead]

21. I'm not saying he should yell at her

Sure one can be cooly cordial.

But if you have a co-worker who you believe has been lying about you and doing other underhanded things to get you pushed aside, are you really going to be all nicey nice to them?

[JuniperLea]

22. No, not at all... it's called "professionalism"

And I have to use it every single day of my corporate life. Further, I expect those who hold public office to be far better at this than I. This is the very, very least we should be able to expect from them.

[Beausoir]

26. We've endured 7 years of the petulant childish routine with Bush.

I'm not signing up for more.

[Texas_Kat]

27. I'm actually "mad" at Bush

Apparently Obama isn't (at least by your characterization). What's he gonna do when somebody REALLY makes him mad? Stomp his feet? Drop ground troops?

This isn't about a handshake, it's about professionalism .... and being a grownup.