Warning: race & politics ahead

[novapsyche]

Did you watch the first presidential debate?

While watching, I did notice that Obama was willing to look McCain in the eye, calling him out by name. What I didn't notice until afterwards was the converse, that McCain would not acknowledge Obama with eye contact or any other body language.

I didn't notice until pundits brought it up later that McCain tried to tar Obama with the phrase "he doesn't understand". Olbermann mentioned the phrase came up more than a handful of times and "with dizzying speed".

Apart, I would chalk up either instance as politics as usual. However, considering the racial climate America finds itself in, I actually saw something more sinister. Combined, the two tactics resulted in a complete dismissal of Obama, not just his policies. Combined, the two indicated, at least to me, that McCain is actively courting the racist vote.

McCain sought, with his verbal and body language, to diminish Obama. To me, it seemed he did all he could to show not just disdain but contempt (again, contempt for Obama the person, not merely his policies).

To me, it boils down to a matter of minimal respect. Eye contact is a measure of minimal respect, as is the willingness to address your rival/counterpart personally and by name. By doing neither, McCain endeavored to set himself as apart and above. This, to me, in terms of race, is the essence of racism--the perception that one is superior to another based on purely arbitrary traits.

Others may not agree with me. Others may not have seen, may not have interpreted things as I have. However, I would point to Olbermann's interchange with Eugene Robinson; Mr. Robinson, discussing the meaning of such body language, said that some things seemed to escape the analysis of commentators so far. If I read his statement correctly, he saw and interpreted things similarly to what I have.

(Transcript here.

(Eugene Robinson's blog response here, with commentary. Again, I think that it is far more palatable to say that McCain acted "rude" or "discourteously" instead of saying he acted in a racist fashion; however, if his actions amounted to the same things simultaneously, it is fair to label them as both.)

Comments

[pgdudda.livejournal.com]

You may find the commentary at ozarque's LJ interesting. Several people there (myself included) think that the "he doesn't understand" line may backfire, in particular because it's a Verbal Attack Pattern that's very familiar to American audiences, and causes instant sympathy for the recipient of the attack.

[pgdudda.livejournal.com]

Come to think of it, I'd love to see Obama respond with a "Take it from me, McCain just doesn't understand" parody of the DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince song... ;-)

[pstscrpt.livejournal.com]

Damn, that would be cool. I'm sure Will Smith would be onboard, but I could only guess about Jeff.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads-up. That was an interesting read. Also, it's nice to know I wasn't the only one having a reaction to nonverbal dogwhistling.

[airsucker.livejournal.com]

I did also notice the behavior of the candidates towards their wives afterwards. The Obamas are clearly a couple. John McCain stood there like Cindy wasn't even there. Says somthing, doesn't it?

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Did you notice how Barack and Michelle tilted their heads toward one another? They do this a lot on the campaign trail. I get the impression this is how they mentally reconnect to each other; certainly, I felt that way last night. After that moment, they greeted the crowd as a team.

[fountaingirl.livejournal.com]

Agreed. It was nonverbal dismissal, if we look at the interactional aspects of it -- it (I believe) qualified as what we term "nonperson treatment" where one person treats the other as though they were furniture. It was like when someone walks past a homeless person on the street and doesn't "see" them even though they clearly see them, by virtue of selective ignoring. Obama was clearly an 'object' rather than a 'subject' in McCain's speech, there was no "you," no "Barak," as I recall it was mostly "Senator Obama" which while ostensibly polite reduces again to a position and not a person.

Then there was teh defensive hunching away, and the grimacing. And the mocking smile and chuckle, almost giggle, that seemed to suggest "can you believe this shit?" then there was when he said "horseshit." Olberman thinks he said something else, but several other pundits say no, it was horseshit.

Condescending, snotty, rude, and dismissive. Giving 'voice' and image to the gut reaction of so many racist old white men out of their element in the current times. Could be very bad, come election day, for Obama.

[goodbadgirl.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of this pretty much.

I also have to wonder if his ptsd (cause, clearly this guy has some going on, and it seems to exhibit itself most frequently through his anger,) was at play. I kind of got the impression that he couldn't look at Obama or he'd lose it and look like a rage-aholic. This is another reason he scares me as a candidate.

And, however rude and dismissive I have to believe that most people came away from that debate thinking that Obama certainly had the upper hand when it came to diplomacy and being gracious toward people who are assy to you. I also think he out-debated McCain by a long shot, but I am biased. :)

[techno-shaman.livejournal.com]

I understand that he was dismissing Obama, but I dont understand how we can infer that he was doing so on grounds of his race.
It could just as easily be his political strategy to minimize him, or a reflection of a personality that finds it difficult to acknowledge the presence of a man he is insulting.
It could even be that he is just a rude asshole.

Is there anything here to connect his dismissal with Obama's ethnicity?
I find no connection. People diminish their rivals all the time in identical manners without any regard to race.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

McCain doesn't have to *court* the racist vote. He's already got it.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Ha!

I do think he was appealing to the racists who continue to live in pockets (and swaths) of the country, to their inner racists. There are a lot of people who would never label themselves such but still harbor the beliefs.

[brendand.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the debate and I didn't read the transcript. I really am trying to take a break so that I end up alive in the end.

That being said, I don't think you're wrong, except when you say "actively." To me, that means McCain is aware of what he is doing, as if it was strategized by Smart people who came up with a Plan. I believe McCain is just A Bad Person who really is racist and isn't even aware that he is, in many respects, A Bad Person.