Touching politics...

I'm not a 'touchy-feely' person.  I don't like someone I don't know rushing up to me and hugging me.  I don't like strangers invading my personal space, putting their hands on my shoulders, arms, grabbing my hand as if to pull me into them.  It assumes too much. The unwanted toucher seems to be making a power play, trying to get the upper hand, control over the situation.  It's just plain icky.  I reserve touching for those near and dear to me and I like to choose to touch and be touched.  Enter politics: 

Charlie Gibson: This is No Way to Interview a Vice-Presidential Candidate Even if She is Sarah Palin., Phyllis Chesler:

I watched ABC News Anchorman Charlie Gibson interview Governor Palin last night and was horrified by his blatant disdain for her and by the Grand Inquisitorial nature of the interview. He was not there to draw her out but to trap, shame and expose her as an unqualified fraud. He never smiled. He never paused. He literally looked down at her as he peered through his half-lowered glasses. He grilled her relentlessly, on and on, and when he thought she did not have the right answer e.g. as to what the Bush Doctrine really is, he “failed” her right on camera.

If Gibson represents the kind of gauntlet the mainstream media has in store for Palin–I suggest that in the future she come fully armed! (Just joking but I’m not sure what else would inspire any civility towards her).

Contrast this with O’Reilly’s interview with Obama. They were affable, jocular, relaxed. Both were “tough” but there was a level playing field between them. Obama has a habit of “touching” his opponents. He did this with Hillary, and I’ve seen him do it with McCain. He did this again with O’Reilly. Obama just enters their personal physical space. Psychological research on “touching” indicates that it is a statement of power. Whoever does the “touching” is indicating that he is the more powerful of the dyad. Thus, “touching” is not necessarily a touchy-feely anti-corporate kinda thing but is quite the opposite.

Contrast the Gibson-Palin scandal with the interviews of both candidates last night at Columbia University by PBS’s Judy Woodruff and Richard Stengel. The candidates were not on stage at the same time, although they met long enough for Obama to assert his “touching” authority over McCain. ...  (continue reading at the Chesler Chronicles)

Now there is a "New Obama Line of Attack: Senators are Out of Touch and Shouldn't be Elected President. (RedState) Ok a different kind of touch.

Of course to at least one pea-brain, Republicans "are “fanactics comparable to Al-Qaeda… the terror organization is as bullheaded as the religious right in the Midwest”.  -Til Schweiger  is a well known German actor who has as little talent as grey brain cells-  Read about it at Politically Incorrect News.

But as Charles Krauthammer says, this is Obama's race to lose -- and he just might.  Yes the polls are looking good for Republicans in all categories, so Obama might want to pull back on all this touchy-feely stuff and try to give some specifics on the issues -- and I DON'T mean service.  It is laughable to me that someone like Barack Obama would entice the media to do a forum on service. 

As if Americans need to be told to get out and serve their fellow humans, it's crazy.  Americans continually step up to serve their neighbors in this wonderful country every single time they need help.  Americans give, and give, and give, of their time, talents and money.  We don't need the title of Community Organizer to serve people, Mr. Obama.  We certainly cannot use YOU as an example of service.

Other reading:

Be sure to read:  9/11 returned compassion to Americans; the 2008 election takes it away, at Independent Mail

FBI Agents To Gain Extensive New Powers

YouTube Bans Terrorism Training Videos

 

Comments

[Debbie]

Just look at people in Texas today, they are stepping up and helping neighbors, doing what needs to be done. They didn't need Obama to TELL them, they did not need the government to start a new program to encourage them, and they sure didn't wait for a pay check to SERVE.

[Maggie Thornton]

Dittos on your comment about Americans already doing service work. Millions of churches of all denominations reaching out, and volunteer organizations - with citizens supporting them as well as their churches. We know the Party that does little in the way of donations.

So right you are. I had the same thoughts as he spoke.

Maggie

[Faultline USA]

If Gibson had a little more self-confidence he wouldn’t have tried so hard to look “professorial” but actually come off as smug and condescending. I lost all respect for Gibson.

[Skunkfeathers]

As I said before, Gibson's arrogant conduct with Palin is SOP for a media now bent on trying to undermine her any way possible, since they threw journalistic integrity out the window some time ago, on their mission to help George Soros buy a presidency. Be ready for much more of the same from a growing collection of empty suits that used to exemplify journalism, and now just exemplify "trailer trash TV".

[jack]

--the touchy thing is cultural--with obama it is all about impression and conveying something--smiles to appear likeable--then touching in a certain way to appear patronizing and imply superiority while being "nice"--

but the mccain camp does need to get to basic lines that summarize postions--ie left will want to highlight palin's position against abortion even in case of rape (very very low percentage stuff but a way to distract from the issue) horrible as that is--the fact is that they now have studies that show that women who have abortions have resulting depression and to my shock even in the case of rape the women that deliver the baby do better psychologically--considering the media are out to "stereotype" and distort they have to have quick bottom line info --

--attacking palin for ear marks is another distortion--let's first talk about obama's ear marks and bidens--then charlie has the nerve to compare her state to obama's state--well let's really compare--alaska is a frontier state that has become accustomed to bring in $$$ by cruise ships and federal money--and palin has done dramatic stuff to turn around that trend and the underlying attitude--they have to get that info out--it is however real frontier american landscape where someone without a single connection and without an ivy league education can become governor on merit alone--AS OPPOSED TO obama's city and state where you join their mafia of nepotism and connection to get ahead--the CONTRASTS are striking and very very favorable to palin---THEY --have to get that stuff out--

obama's ad is meant to make mccain seem like a an old goat who doesn't get--well a fighter pilot would be far more more talented in any technological area--his brain is superior to obama's--but if he can't tie his shoe laces then a key board would be a problem--obama camp knows that they are just trying to hammer home a certain impression--IN REALITY mccain GETS IT far better than obama--obama's sense of how to get ahead DOES NOT represent THE BEST CORE PART OF AMERICA --but rather one of the worst--the McCain story the Palin story and their fundamental beliefs DO REPRESENT WHAT IS BEST AND UNIQUE ABOUT AMERICA --the public started to get a sense of that after the conventions and that is why mccain is up in the polls--the obama camp wants to preempt that--that is why ie the columbia forum they tried to nail mccain on exceptionalism--it is rooted in the left notion that americans need to apologize for being americans--

if the mccain supporters can just get the facts out it will be a landslide win

[David]

"Psychological research on “touching” indicates that it is a statement of power."

Not so sure about this. The Obamassiah's personal space issues may relate more to the culture of his formative years. Remember his early childhood was spent in a "close personal space" culture in Indonesia. Indeed, the culture there, by and large, has one of the closest personal space tolerances in the world--very similar to Arab cultures, not as close as Chinese or Japanese.

Here in the US, in general (although urban areas are closer, rural aras less so), an average "comfort zone" for personal space is at least 18"--easily the largest average cultural personal comfort zone in the world.

Variations exist, of course, among individuals and sub-cultures, but we Americans like our personal space. "Getting in someone's face" can result in serious physical repercussions... among the more civilized among us (of which number I am not :-)), it may only result in ostacization or other social punishments, but "in your face" (or handsy, on-your-body) contact is something that is generally reserved for ones own circle.

And even then, it can have consequences the intruder would be wise to look out for.

[MK]

I saw Obama do that too, it's annoying, it's like he's reaching out to a child and saying, calm down dear, no need to get upset. Also patronizing.

[Debbie]

Ditto Courtney! "When in doubt knock 'me out."

[courtneyme109]

Ha! Lams Stream Media seems like the man who has a wolf by both ears - and dares not let go1 That Iview was tough but Sarah aced it.

Pre emptive war is a sound doctrine for sure.

"When in doubt - knock 'em out"