Presidential Debate Round 1: McCain's Rude Showing

I don't know if giving eye contact is another thing on John McCain's long list of ailments, but it was severely lacking in this first round of debates. Perhaps he was upset with Senator Obama for having to show up to the debate that he thought would be canceled. But one thing is for sure... it did not show well on television. It started right at the beginning. When the moderator called them from backstage, Senator Obama warmly embraced Senator McCain's hand. Obama looked McCain in the face and phrased some perfunctory pleasantry while Senator McCain did not even look him in the face.

It went on for the rest of the evening. It seemed both men were a little shy about talking to each other as evidenced by the continually prodding of the moderator for them to ask each other questions. However, finally they warmed up to the idea of an actual debate. Senator Obama adjusted his footing and somewhat faced Senator McCain, meanwhile when Senator Obama was talking directly to Senator McCain-- John McCain would look forward and huff and smirk smugly. It was awful, it played so bad on television. It looked as if John was saying that Barack was beneath him somehow and that his opinions did not matter. I was disappointed in his antics.

If the saying that body language speaks volumes is true, then McCain's was cranked up at a level ten. But what was it saying? Did he have contempt for the Senator from Illinois? Was he afraid of him? I guess it can be likened to two kids on a playground going blow for blow talking about each other's mama... It's always that kid who has run out of ammunition that tries to overcompensate with no eye contact and the smug smile-- trying his best to condescend and cover his ineptness.

Here's another theory. Remember when the debate when Ronald Reagan said that he would not hold his opponent's age and inexperience against him? Perhaps Senator McCain could not get over the fact that this young and arguably inexperienced man could even make it this far and possibly wreck his dream of sitting in the highest office in the land. It reminds me very present problem taking place in corporate America today. All the young whipper-snappers are coming out of college with their fancy computer skills and fresh innovative ideas, while the baby boomers are threatened by the fact that the generation is so new and confusing. They tend to look down on the Generation X and Y'ers. Senator McCain's kept repeating how Senator Obama "doesn't understand" or "is naive." He had no patience for the fact that doing things a different way could possibly yield better outcomes.

I found it humorous that Senator Obama said that McCain style of punishing world leaders by not speaking to them was perhaps a wrong way of getting results. That very tactic was on display as McCain thought inside his head, "Ah ha! I'll use the ol' silent treatment that'll get him. And then if I just don't look his way, that just means he doesn't really exist." I almost half-expected Senator McCain to tug on his shirt collar and ask the moderator, "Is it hot in here?"

Even if Senator McCain is more experienced and knowledgeable in foreign relations he doesn't have to be arrogant about it. I read a comment on another blog that said There is a difference between knowing you have superior knowledge of the issues and showing it, as opposed to having a sort of false confidence that is rooted in nothing else but pride and arrogance. McCain clearly falls into the latter category and the fact that he cannot look Obama in the eyes says a lot about how shallow that projection of strength is.

On a side note, I can wait til the day when John McCain's military records are no longer sealed so we can see who this man is. I just hope that we are not discovering those things as he sits in the White House.