Since the first Obama/McCain debate concluded, much has been written about John McCain's inability to make eye contact with Barack Obama. Mutiple diaries on Daily Kos and other left leaning websites have explored McCain's strange behavior last night; even the MSM noticed.
Reasons to explain why McCain failed to make eye contact have varied. Some believe McCain's behavior documented his fear. Some think it could be racial. Was it a display of pure contempt towards Obama.....or was it guilt about the scandalous lies his campaign has championed?
Follow me , below the fold, for a review of McCain's past debate performances. A careful look may help provide some answers.
When I bgan looking at clips of McCain's previous debate performances- one thing stands out. McCain's behavior, specifically his inability to make eye contact, was atypical behavior for him. It seemed as though every debate clip I watched, McCain was engaged with his debate opponent and made frequent eye contact.
Was it Racial?
When McCain debated Alan Keyes and George W. Bush during the Republican primary in 2000, the clip below clearly documents that McCain was engaged with both Keyes and Bush; he frequently looked them straight in the eye. Please note how McCain makes eye contact with Keyes, starting at the 1:08 mark, in particular:
Because of this clip, I tend to believe that the lack of eye contact from McCain last night was not racially motivated.
Was it Contempt?
It's well known that John McCain and Mitt Romney are not the best of friends. They may even hate each other. Note McCain's comment about Romney this past January:
“Never get into a wrestling match with a pig,” Senator John McCain said in New Hampshire this month after reporters asked him about Mr. Romney. “You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”
-New York Times
I think that might be considered contempt. But watch McCain during this Republican primary debate earlier this year, starting at the 1:40 mark:
McCain and Ron Paul also wrestled during the primary season. In the following clip, note McCain' making eye contact with Paul, starting at 1:04:
I'm not sure if McCain's dislike, or the contempt he holds toward his opponent is the answer.
That leaves us with fear and guilt.
Was McCain's lack of eye contact due to simple fear? Fear of failing during his first ever presidential debate? Fear of losing his temper? It's possible.
Does McCain feel guilty about the manner in which his campaign has turned negative? It's been pretty sleazy to this point....and I know that I'd feel ashamed.
I don't know if I have provided any answers, but I do now this- John McCain's performance last night was not typical of his debate performances in the past. We may never know the answer for his behavior last night, but I am certain it was not missed by the those that watched the debates last night. If it continues in the next two debates, it will sink him, permanently.