Obama goes off half cocked

The light fantastic at play In the kitchen early morning, bumped up a notch with Photoshop's "paint daubs" filter.

"Sen. Barack Obama, one of the two front runners for the Democrat presidential nomination, often seemed to stumble through his answers to Pastor Warren’s questions, continually glancing down to his right, with his head cocked at a 45-degree angle for nearly the entire hour," writes Satirist-in-Chief Scott Ott* of ScrappleFace re last night's Saddleback Civil Forum.

Update: Screenshot from a replay this evening of the civil forum that was.

Most opinionators are giving high marks for style and content to both participants, with John McCain being declared the "winner" for exceeding expectations.

Dogs and Democrat presidential presumptives may cock their heads to suggest engagement, but cats and the Republican presumptive focus straight ahead on the task at hand. Tiny, above, applies the Think System to Tuck's dinner plate, just off camera.

We dozed off between toe curls during the live broadcast but caught most of it in bits and pieces later on in replays. So what's with the mock-earnest cock of the golden boy's head? Googling around the body-language sites of cyberspace, we found at least three possibilities:

1. Submission, according eSSORTMENT's "Reading body language":

In the game of dominance/submission, a long, unblinking stare is associated with aggression and a desire to dominate. You can pick this up in animals by observing two dogs that meet. The dominant dog will stare straight at the other dog, and eventually one will back down by either looking down or “offering his throat” in play to show the other dog he means no challenge. This is done in humans in more subtle ways. The dominant person will hold the gaze and the submissive person will dart their eyes to one side, look down, or cock their head to the side to begin listening (our civilized version of offering the throat). Try watching an angry boss communicate with a hapless employee to see evidence of this domination/submission choreography.

2. Flirtation, according to Positive Thinking Magazine's website:

Here's another gesture that appeals to both women and men. Cock your head to the side while lifting one shoulder slightly. One, this lets the other person know you're interested in them. Two, it looks absolutely adorable. (If you have a dog, you know how effective this is!)

[Who let all these dogs in here? —ed]

3. Feigned interest in questioner, according to Alan Axelrod in Getting Your Way Every Day: Mastering the Lost Art of Pure Persuasion:

What you do with your head contributes in a major way to the impression of relaxed energy … when you are in a Q & A session. The head cocked slightly to one side conveys that you are listening very closely and with great interest. While this is a most desirable gesture, be certain that you vary it. No body language gesture is positive if it is maintained statically.

A well aimed paw thrust is another move from the feline body-language playbook. Here Babe signals his intentions toward the contents of Tuck's plate.

We'd say all three possibilities for going off half cocked fit the Barack Obama we have come to know — the "whatever it takes" one who gratuitously called us a racist way back when — to a turn.

Senator McCain, by contrast "looked up and at the audience or the camera, giving a much more personal feel," as a CNN Political Ticker commenter noted approvingly.

*NOTE: Blogfriend Scott has acquired press credentials for the Republican National Convention and is asking fans to help out financially:

As a result, ScrappleFace readers, and those who follow Scott Ott at Townhall.com, on Twitter and on Facebook will enjoy gavel-to-gavel satirical (and serious) written coverage of the convention … Since this excursion was not included in the ScrappleFace Enterprise Institute’s fiscal 2008 budget, the vast board of directors of ScrappleFace.com has decided to turn to ScrappleFace readers (AKA Scrapplers) to fund this journalistic adventure. Your generous gift is tax-deductible only if you’re the kind of person who cheats on your taxes. However, by hitting PayPal now to sponsor [email protected] 2008, you will have the warm feeling that you’re actually making a difference in the future of our country.

Be sure to check out Scott's latest serious piece at Townhall, "McCain Won My Conservative Vote at Saddleback." It may help those like our blogbuddy Brooklyn of HNAV who are still having serious doubts, to "stop worrying and love John McCain." Or maybe not.

Update: "Mr. Um Uh, Inarticulate, Stutter, Stutter no longer has the lead, writes Susan of Mind of Mog with a link to us — Thanks, doll! — and good news from the mind of pollster John Zogby, who notes “That hairline difference between nuance and what appears to be flip-flopping is hurting [Obama] with liberal voters. Susan explains:

Bout time too, a reversal at the polls. McCain now leads.

McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama’s solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll.

Now, if only the talking heads at CNN and fellow travelers would stop mistaking empty rhetoric for — in Bill Schneider's words — "complex, thoughtful, very subtle" discourse.

Update: If it's complex, thoughtful, very subtle discourse you're after, head on over to Dr. Sanity's Carnival of the Insanities.

Comments

[goomp]

Maybe Obama has his head cocked so he can read his notes on what to say.

[Joan of Argghh!]

I think his skin, no matter the color, is thin. All the remarks about his "elitist" and superior mien have gotten to him. Those scads of pics with his head in a lofty 45-degree gaze into the future had to be countered in some way.

[firefirefire]

The Obama also used the word "Yo" a couple of times to begin his response to a question.
I guess that was to demonstrate his street cred with any of the hip-hop crowd that may have been watching.
Yo Obama, get some chops then come back and see us in a decade or so.

[hnav]

Great insight about Obama and this first gathering of the two Nominees.

I especially enjoyed that amazing photo with BABE and Senator McCain in the background!

Of course Obama is a disaster, but at least his offering does match the misguided Democrat Party. Perhaps like Pelosi, this vapid nature will benefit the more sound alternative.

I think when John McCain now claims he will do everything he never tried to do, in all those years in the Senate or the House, I simply grow weary.

It was a good line to reference Nancy and Crew leaving for Vacation, but I couldn't help but think that John McCain hasn't been at work in the Senate for some time.

I wish he had been leading the effort for Domestic Drilling, passing legislation to stop Pork, joined the President to fight for the reform of Social Security, many years ago and wonder if the promises of today mean anything.

Some of the these current Vows seem to be slight digs on the Bush Administration, like this recent promise to get Osama Bin Laden.

Chasing to the fires of hell?

We shall see, but if we are fortunate to have this Maverick Republican as President, he best deliver on that promise after such a passionate display.

I can only see Hillary running ads, asking why John McCain hasn't gotten the Terrorist still, prior to the 2012 elections.

My concerns would be greatly tempered, with the a return of the GOP Majority in one Body of Congress.

One can dream...

[Teresa]

Sorry, I still can't bring myself to watch this stuff.

Since we're stuck with 2 Senators running for this office - we're stuck with 2 men who have had a chance to change things and done nothing. (if the nominee had been Hillary, you could say the same thing) Obama has had less time to do nothing on the national level and more time to do nothing in Illinois. It comes out about even.

As for a GOP majority - they had it - they blew it big time - hugely big time. Unless they get something approaching actual leaders in the party, the only way to prevent disastrously bad law making and money grabbing is to make sure the split is about even and no one can get anything passed. The entire bunch needs to be swept out... but that will never happen.

In the meantime, gridlock is our friend. Heh.

[Gayle Miller]

WHEN is this torture going to end, that's what I want to know. I'm sick of Obama and his paper thin resume and his almost-absent character. I'm not wild about Senator McCain but at least HE can be trusted to keep us safe. And I agree with goomp - Senator Obama was checking his notes.

[yonason]

It looks like an expression of CONDESCENDING ARROGANCE to me.

But then, what else would you expect from a RAVING MARXIST?

[mog]

Thanks for the link/update.

Maybe his head tilt to the right is his attempt to appeal to the right or at least center. Only thing right about him.

Gridlock is not always our friend. Now Pelosilock is downright stupid considering most people don't like paying $4 a gallon for gas. I hope the Dems gets voted out of being the majority in Congress, her in particular.

Even some Dems don't like her but for different reasons.