WORLD NEWS TRUST: The Subliminal Slam-Dunk (Mary Lyon)

[Tace]

Mary Lyon, From The Left -- World News Trust

I was going to start out by calling the second Presidential Candidates’ Debate between Barack Obama and John McCain a “running out the clock” affair for Obama. Basically a draw -- no big wins or losses, with an edge to Obama because he didn’t give up any ground and McCain didn’t gain any. But then I kept watching after the debate itself ended. And I know who won hands down. It was all in the body language and other nonverbals, and it put Obama decisively over the top, because it said more about the character issue for the two candidates and their wives than anyone’s verbiage had just done.

The debate itself had just wrapped and the principals began to mill about on the floor, shaking hands, thanking moderator Tom Brokaw, congratulating each other and their loved ones. I watched as the two contenders and their wives started making the rounds of the nonaligned voters who made up the audience, and more handshaking ensued. Except for Cindy McCain. She trailed around just a couple of steps behind her husband, hands firmly clasped behind her. Perhaps she didn’t intend to convey this, but it still evoked an aura of a sheltered aristocrat who doesn’t want to touch or be touched by the hoi polloi. Then, the McCains vanished altogether, while Barack and Michelle Obama hung around to shake every last hand. It struck me then and there that Obama had won over the whole room of undecideds, simply by doing that.

During the debate Obama held his ground and even scored a point or two, countering McCain’s attempts to portray him as “green behind the ears” on national security issues with the recklessness that comes from someone singing “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran” or threatening to annihilate North Korea. Obama cleverly hijacked the “my opponent just doesn’t understand” refrain by John McCain by saying there were indeed some things he didn’t understand -- such as why we had to go to war with a country that hadn’t attacked us.

The most memorable gesture by John McCain, and I felt it was a very off-putting one, was a riff off of the last debate when he found it impossible to look at his opponent. This time, McCain made more of an effort to do so, but twice referred to Obama as a thing rather than a person. He wondered aloud -- who voted for some energy bill loaded with all kinds of “goodies.” Answer: “that one,” gesturing over at Obama without looking in his direction. Later, something similar when he again swept his hand toward Obama without looking at him, saying “this is the most liberal big-spending record in the United States Senate.” At best, odd. At worst, dismissive, demeaning, and dehumanizing.

more

http://www.worldnewstrust.com/wnt-selected/commentary/the-subliminal-slam-dunk-mary-lyon.html

[OneGrassRoot]

1. Absolutely! Obama won the debate itself, hands down...

yet the contrast AFTER the debate was rather startling.

McCain disappeared!!! Barack and Michelle were in their element, interacting WITH the people, taking pictures, talking, hugging.

The McCains were MIA.

[calimary]

5. That just told me a WORLD of information, then and there.

Why did john and cindy disappear so swiftly? And why didn't she want to reach out and shake hands that much? Granted, she did do a few, but she went to the default position (hands clasped behind her) quickly, and stayed in it.

Yeah, people. Obama hung around afterwards to meet you and shake your hand and share some chit-chat and camaraderie. With his wife. She hung out and schmoozed with everybody, too. Guess they didn't think they were too big for you, or that they'd already spent their quote of time on you. Maybe, like barbara bush, they were "through with you." Gives a whole new meaning to the notion of "the guy I could go have a beer with." Not if you take the first exit as quickly as you can, and leave a whole room full of people who probably would have enjoyed meeting you face-to-face and shaking your hand.

Guess what those people will talk about in the days ahead, and what they'll tell their friends? That they went to the debate and saw the candidates in person, and then after it was over, actually got to MEET Barack Obama and shake hands with him! Cool 'eh? He's really tall and he has such a nice smile! Really seems like a nice guy... etc etc.

Guess what they WON'T be talking about in the days ahead? It won't be the old guy and his fancy wife who skipped out early.

[Tace]

2. Kick For Mary

: )

[calimary]

3. Thanks, Tace!

I'm kicking for me, too!

It was just so startling how the mccains didn't stick around. They missed a chance to nail down the support of some of those undecided voters in the room with "the schmooze offensive." Instead, Barack and Michelle stayed and hung out and mixed and met everybody and talked to everybody and shook hands and I bet they won a few more converts that way.

[Tace]

4. I See The Column Was Posted On Huff Post

Congrats!