I do not like you, John McCain. My feeling has nothing to do with issues. It has to do with common courtesy. During the debate, you refused to look Barack Obama in the eye. Indeed, you refused to look at him at all. Even when the two of you shook hands at the start, you used your eyes only to locate his hand, and then gazed past him as you shook it.
Obama is my guy. If you are rude to him, you are rude to me. If you came to dinner at my house and refused to look at or speak with one of my guests, that would be bad manners and I would be offended. Same thing if I went to your house. During the debate, you were America’s guest.
What was your problem? Do you hold this man in such contempt that you cannot bear to gaze upon him? Will you not even speak to him directly?
Do you think he doesn’t have the right to be running for President?
Were you angry because after you said you wouldn’t attend the debate, he said a President should be able to concern himself with two things at the same time? He was right. The proof is, you were there. Were you angry with him because he called your bluff?
Guess who’s not coming to dinner :: rogerebert.com :: News & comment.
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I’m not really sure a film critic is the right person to look for in the political realm, but as someone who studies human interaction (and judges representations of it) for a living, I think he’s qualified to talk about this particular aspect of the debate.
[this one goes on for a while and turns into a rant…]
I was more listening to the debate than watching intently, but I still did pick up on the rudeness Ebert highlights. It was a general disdain, and it came through loud and clear. Like Ebert, Obams is my guy, and the reasons are because I liked a lot of his answers during the debate. A couple times he answered almost exactly like I would (at least from tone and facts). Then McCain would call him naive. Then I look at all the times McCain has been called on his bullshit and he says, “Well, there it is. Think what you will.”
I have thought about it, my friend, and I, like that my other friend with the thumb that goes up and down, am getting sick of your crap. Blaming Obama for your low-brow, low-blow campaign because he wouldn’t agree to your “pre-conditions” for townhall meetings is a perfect example of you being a petulant spoiled brat. And since you are a 72-year old petulant spoiled brat, we are getting very, very close to a situation bordering on pathetic.
Man up and look your opponent in the eye.
You looked Putin in the eye and saw the initials of an intelligence service that hasn’t existed for nearly 20 years.
What is it you really see when you look at Obama?
I see a man who should be President, and I’m starting to suspect that you really just see a Black Man, who doesn’t deserve the common courtesy of being looked in the eye.
It’s a common feeling of those in your generation. In mine, not so much.
Man up and show your opponent the simple respect I offer to everyone I argue politics with in a bar, or on a train, or in a shop.
When I disagree with someone, but I still want to respect their point of view and intelligence, I look them in the eye and tell them exactly where I stand and why I stand there. Now this isn’t the first part of any conversation, but in a “debate” there comes a point when you have to stand up for your position or concede the point. I do it this way because I think it’s the way such discussions should be handled. So it looks like there’s something else we disagree on, Senator McCain. Which makes this a good place to end this rant, as I don’t feel like giving you the common courtesy of looking you in the eye and telling you I disagree and I respect your opinion.
I’m not going to look you in the face and lie to you, after all.
Hmmm…maybe that’s why you wouldn’t look at Obama. You didn’t want to look him in the eye and lie. Avoiding eye contact was the only way for you, internally, to retain your honor.
Yea, it’s a stretch, but given your serivce to the country, I’m willing to give you benefit of the doubt.
Robot Pirate Ninja 