John McCain responds to the eye contact question

John McCain was asked today about the charge, pressed by some Barack Obama supporters in comments posted to The Ticket and elsewhere, that he intentionally avoided eye contact with his rival during their Friday night debate as a way of expressing his disdain for him.

Here's what he said on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos": “I was looking at the moderator a great deal of time. I was writing a lot of the time. I in no way know how that in any way would be disdainful."

He also noted that in many of the debates in which he has participated, "I don't look at my opponents because I'm focusing on the people and the American people that I'm talking to.”

He did not mention what others have postulated -- that the severe injuries he suffered as a prisoner of war make a shoulder pivot awkward for him.

Regardless, the vibe between McCain and Obama -- which, as The Ticket previously noted can be key to public reactions to the debates -- will now be even more closely watched Oct.7, when the two next share a stage. It will be a town-hall format for their encounter in Nashville, so there should be lots of body language to analyze.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[john]

I'm sure that through out the South, folks are calling McCain racism for not reconizing a black man.

It is a fact of that culture

[Gaias Child]

For me it demonstrated the rigidity and disdain that McCain feels for Obama. Additionally, it shows a sort of cowardice and guilt because in his free time McCain joins with his campaign to launch negative campaigns and rehearses them in his apartment. Obama's negativity toward the rival campaign is professional and not personal. Personal attacks are pretty much 75 to 80 percent of what McCain does. It didn't work for Hillary Clinton either.

[sam]

If most Americans are stupid enough to elect McCain and Palin because they just can't bring themselves to overcome their racist views for their own sake, the world will laugh and say that USA definetely represents the great power of stupidity.

[The right]

Sure, why not? And the Obama-nation showed lots of respect called McCain, John, or was it Tom? Right-o. You all have a hum dinger there, hmmm, yea, an organizer? Just wait 4 more years says HIllary....

[Emma Becker]

As a mental health professional, I perceive McCain as being rageful that a bright and capable opponent would dare to run against him. In my mind, he is not doing a good job of hiding the rage he fills about this guy he perceives as a young whippersnapper. I also am convinced, as a 72 year-old (caucasian) that he easily loses his focus and that would interfere with his ability to remember the words that were scripted or wired into his brain. Yes, we all have some loss of our thinking acuity as we age.

[blair]

Perhaps one reason for McCain not looking at Obama more often is that all he would see is Obama smirking, trying to project an image of superiority, and the like.

You know, how the democrats try to project that they know everything about everything.

Just like comparing the many Americans just as trailer trash.

[John]

I want my president to be able to make decisions and to move beyond words to action. I say lets leave pretty boy conduct to Brad Pitt and fashion models. I would encourage everyone to watch the VP debate. It is time for a change - but not just any change- we need to go to a dedicated course to protect America's financial and personal freedoms.

With Obama we seem to get a good "act".
With McCain we just might get good action.

Posted by: Desiree in Seattle | September 28, 2008 at 01:26 PM

Desiree,
Mr. Brad Pitt happens to be a great human being, McCain could only wish to have the dignity and grace of Brad Pitt. Do you have any idea how much good Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie do in this world ? From working with the U.N. refugee programs,medical assistance and food for the needy to using millions of their own money in rebuilding New Orleans and around the world to make this world a better place. Brad Pitt is no PRETTY BOY, he's a BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING.

Just what kind of action do you want from your President ?

If it's World War Three, then McCain's your man.

If you want a President who'll work on our problems in America and still keep us safe then vote Obama.

[msx]

After the debate I flipped the channel to MSNBC and all the were talking about for an hour was McCain and the eye contact thing-- not the issues. I thought, "how stupid can people be to think that was such a big deal"? Well I guess I just have to realise that the majority of people will elect to not use their own minds and buy into what someone tells them to think. Left or right wing, it doesn't matter.
Now as for his POW injuries, the man cannot raise his arms more than at a 90deg angle. That effects body language in a big way. Shoulder pivots, waving, putting your hands behind your back, you name it. Think of all the functions your shoulders have and try to not move those joints for a day. Seriously. We all know that Barack's style and salesmanship has gotten him very very far, but I am far more concerned with the substance of a person and not how they flash a smile, thank you.

[ate mely]

Eye contact? my foot! Who cares about 'eye contact'! McCain won the debate on issues - foreign policy and economics. He suspended his campaign to support House Republicans in the bailout crisis. He suspended his campaign to get in the midst of the bailout mess. His suspension of the campaign focus everyone, Democrat & Republican on the seriousness of this Democrat enhanced mortgage credit mess. He's not exactly ideologically conservative in Rush Limbaugh league but 'Country First' in heart and soul to discern, this credit mess is or will be soon a major, major crisis. Judgment, wisdom and discernment of priorities McCain has.

[Ronald Loui]

For anyone who wants to invent excuses for McCain's disdain, please have a look at how disrespectfully he greets his fellow Senator. It started the moment they stepped on stage.

Just keep believing whatever you want to believe, I guess, and you can somehow convince yourself to vote for four more years of lies, ineptitude, an unsustainable economics of greed, and very badly managed foreign policy.

[ate mely]

"I don't look at my opponents because I'm focusing on the people and the American people that I'm talking to.”
McCain don't have to make eye contact with someone who patronizingly call him John each and everytime instead of Senator McCain. His not talking to Obama, his talking to the American people. This is not harvard debating society, my friends. McCain is interviewing with the American people for the biggest job in the world , of which he is qualified and Obama is not.

[D]

Hello Desiree in Seattle,

You can't convince those that are so blinded by the media and talk shows to solely base their decisions.

They speak such hateful words and I feel sorry for them.

On a positive note:

"I say time for you and I to sign up more voters. "John McCain :)"

[SaveYourCountry]

In the last 24 hours, John McCain was ‘projecting’ with the statement, “It was clear that Senator Obama still sees the financial crisis in America as a national problem to be exploited first and solved later.’’

A journalist has as their primary motivation, to keep their job. This motivation is what prevents them from telling it like it is: McCain exibits traits of one with one.... or several personality disorders. Countless sociopaths rise to positions of power in every area of life, as they are often highly charming to the unskilled observer. I'm especially upset on how McCain changed the Eisenhower story to fit or 'defect' attention from his serious error about firing the SEC Chairman. There's no way any student of war history could have got that story confused. Impossible. McCain simply changed a historic event, to bail himself out of another blunder. He is a master of manipulation and he pulled this switcheroo again in Fridays debate.

Sociopaths and antisocial personalities have as routine, a habit of shifting blame to others, on things that they are guilty of doing. It's called "deflection", a diversion of ones attention. It's also highly effective, but rendered ineffective if the person attempting the technique, is cleverly 'called on it' by anyone watching or on the receiving end.

It’s nearly impossible to believe that such behavior is occuring and succeeding, from a US Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate. This precise technique is common among……well, if you want 'straight talk'....it's very commonplace among criminals and ex-cons.

Anyone understanding criminal justice and forensic psychology would know this to be fact. I have years of background in both disciplines. It's unfortunate but understandable that most news editors won’t let their staff go quite this far; to place this label on a candidate. Therefore, McCain/Palin are getting away with their "non factual" statements...that 'Straight Talk' would define as an outright lie. A socipopath or manipulator is a master at deflection and completely derailing conversations. It's a method of control.

John McCain does this in nearly every interview.

Please urge the journalists at the LAT to continue asking these McCain and Palin questions....until they get an answer, not a deflection. If they have no access to them, then the local reporters or editorial board should have the freedom to write the truth of what they see, not write articles that will help them maintain their jobs.

The press drives the narrative and will decide this election. I've read Ohio papers; it's no wonder Republicans always win Ohio.

You saw what happened when Katie Couric persisted until she got an answer!
Resist McCain and he will flee.

[Luisa]

To those who are saying that the whole eye contact issue is no big deal: so? It's not like people are disregarding the whole debate and are only focusing on the reason McCain didn't look Obama in the eye.

If you want people to state their opinon on the actual debate, then go to a different topic. This is, after all, a topic regarding a specific issue (which is, you know, the eye contact thing?)

Anyway, I do think that it came across as rude that McCain didn't once look at Obama. Especially because there were many times that Obama addressed McCain directly. If he was taking notes or looking elsewhere, it still shouldn't have been too difficult to look him in the eye.

[billybrigg]

I hope NObama is elected and he cuts the military as he purposes, take away the existing tools to fight terrorism...

because it will be under his watch, we have a 9/11 greater than 9/1/2001.. (whom if Clinton had balls, would have done something the 8 years in office to kill bin laden) and it can come to be brought upon your idiotic ways for this solialism path we are heading into electing NOBAMA.

[Kd3mom]

You all are CRAZY!! I was APPALLED at how many times Senator Obama called Senator McCain "John" by his first name during the debate!!! That right there is a HUGE sign of disrespect! Not once did Senator McCain called his "Barack". He always called him Senator Obama. I'm still out on this one folks...but if he will disrespect there, he will disrespect all of us!!!

[Patmac]

If he can move his feet, and he can, he can turn and look at Obama--at some point in the 90 minute debate. Even when they were face to face, he couldn't look him in the eye. Instead, oddly, McCain somehow managed to look both angry and ashamed. (No wonder he doesn’t want to go face to face with with an enemy. They would walk all over him, behaving as he does like a scared and embittered child.) Only one person displayed Presidential Dignity, Authority, and intelligence: Obama.

[billybrigg]

> I also am convinced, as a 72 year-old (caucasian) that >he easily loses his focus and that would interfere with >his ability to remember the words that were scripted or >wired into his brain.

Emma,

all NOBAMA can say when not scripted with a teleprompter is:

ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh

SO STFU idiot.

[Kelly]

I can't help but notice that the majority of pro-McCain comments here appear to be written by twits.

[glad2bindie]

Obama lovers only see what's bad from their opponent, and ignore their idol's scowling looks and smirking. He's the one who's disrespectful towards the old and wise man.

[leo]

McCain is know in the Senate and amoung his colleages to have a temper and blows up when things not going his way. Maybe he could not look at Obama so as to avoid the personally problem he has.
McCain looked like an old man on that stage who has not advanced with the times.
How can anyone vote for him and Palin. I am a Republican and I will not vote Republican this year. That ticket is a disaster.

[Terry Murphy]

A used car salesperson, and a member of congress can look you square in the eye and lie!

[Derrick]

Why the uproar over Obama caliing McCain "John"?

Isn't that his name?

[Cru]

ate mely,
You ain't my friend, and neither is McCain, please stop pandering.

[dave]

it is hardly news to anyone that ever bothered to take a few minutes and a hard and honest look at all the candidates, that both candidates selected and recruited (not elected) and presented to the american people as the prospective next 'presidential puppet', suffer severe personality disorders, are corrupt and completely unsuitable for the presidential office. there is no constitutional basis for this, the representative 'democratic' process of the republic has been and is being, completely circumvented, undermined and disrespected. the majority of the media have been, and are a crucial part in this scheme. the legitimate and sincere candidates, e.g. RON PAUL, did not and do not receive fair coverage and treatment, as their message is not favorable to the
'establishment', but challenges their social ideology and global agenda. it does not take any special professional skills to detect this.