A semi-celebrity once chastised us for not looking them in the eye when shaking their hand for the first time. Ever since, we've been really self-conscious about it-- and perhaps pick up on it when others don't look us in the eyes when shaking hands.
This could explain why were so weirded out by McCain's debate performance. Had he been instructed not to ever once look Obama in the eye? Or was it something more, like a sudden deep-seeded hatred?
Republicans explain it by saying-- gotta love this twisted logic-- McCain was actually being respectful... by locking eyes with the public instead. Or maybe Jim Lehrer, who was, after all, asking the questions. Hmm... so, how does that explain the fact that McCain didn't look Obama in the eye during the handshake, when Obama was addressing him, and so on?
Others responded on the blogs by using the Rovian tactic of trying to turn the question back on their opponents. "Actually, it was disrespectful of Senator Obama to call Senator McCain 'John,'" goes the commenters' logic. Interesting observation, but looking back on the debate, we don't remember the first-name-basis sounding condescending or disrespectful or anything negative like that. In fact, it made them both more likable and made John McCain seem more like a regular schmoe, as Bush voters surely want.
So, with all those Republican explanations ruled out, what do you think or the debate and what did you think of the eyeball thing?
(By the way, the early post-debate polling said that Obama won with between 51 to 68 percent, depending on the network, while later numbers indicate a slight uptick for him but, on further reflection, the public thinks that it was pretty much a draw for Round One.)
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