Obama needs eye contact with Romney at debates

[wt1531]

One of the glaring mistakes Obama was making at the debates, at least to me, was avoiding eye contact with Romney for mos of the time while Romney was staring at him and leveling all kind of accusations in front of 60 million tv watchers. Obama was looking down and not correcting any of Mitt's false statements. That made Mitt look credible and Obama admitting guilt. As they say, unfortunately, style beats substance every time and Obama allowed Mitt the crook to win in that front. I know Bill Clinton will not have Romney get away with that many lies and would have tied Romney to the extreme Republicans in Congess leaving him flustered and defensive. People will take the assertive jerk over the wimpy nice guy every time when it comes to leadership and hope Obama and Biden will look confident in defending their record and reminding voters about Romney's terrible ideas.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Pres. Obama had better change his style

in the next debate. He is capable of doing better, and Romney will take full adavantage of it if he doesn't.

We're running out of second chances.

[TroyD]

2. I agree - I was surprised Obama hadn't been coached on body language

They said the same thing afterwards on CNN.

James Carville (who is still predicting an Obama win) said it looked bad because it seemed Obama didn't want to be there.

David Gergen said Romney looked hungry, and Obama did not.

And yes, there was too much note-taking, looking down, smiling (RNC ad out now calls it smirking) & looking away while Romney was talking.

All of that needs to be changed for next time.

[helpisontheway]

3. I was watching with volume off

And Obama looked scared and weak. He may have been trying to look presidential but he did not look presidential.

[MgtPA]

5. I agree, split-screen optics weren't great

[fugop]

4. Not at the town hall

At the town hall he needs to connect with the people asking questions. Screw Romney. If Obama can connect on a personal level with the questioners, he'll be good.

I just hope the people aren't all picked by Candy or we'll get question after question of "so when did you stop beating your wife?"

[TroyD]

6. Maybe not for the Town Hall, but for the Foreign Policy debate n/t

[SoFlaJet]

7. I know why he wasn't looking at him

because frankly he was DISGUSTED by Romney. I know because I am the same way when it comes to liars and I KNEW it watching it that night that was the reason. It's like they are disrespecting you when they so blatantly lie right to your face. Obama has to not be so damn polite this next time and stare the scumbag right back down because Romney IS a fucking COWARD. We all know this already by the way he cow tows to every crazier than the next faction in his own party. It starts Thurday night with Biden

[TroyD]

8. I feel the same way

I have a hatred of Romney that I did not feel for McCain.

But Obama let that get in the way of a good debate. All he has to do is look at him for one more month and then it will be over. If he doesn't beat him, he may be looking at Mitt for the next 4 years on his .t.v every day, if you know what I mean.

[hexola]

9. Ann and the Romney boys were sitting right in front of the Prez

That had to be annoying...not an excuse.

He was probably trying to find a place to look and NOT see a Romney!!!

[justiceischeap]

10. I just want to point out, that maybe you need to watch the debate again

because he did attempt to refute the RMoney lies (at least in regards to the tax plan). After a while, when nothing BUT lies came from RMoney's mouth, I think President Obama just gave up on trying to refute them.

There comes a time, particularly on TV, when if a person continue's refuting another person's position, one of them end's up sounding like they don't know what they're talking about.

Reading the news after the debate, it seems to me that the only folks who weren't pleased with President Obama's performance are Dems. His positive's went up, when he went on the attack, according to the CNN instant tracker poll, his numbers went down.

[TroyD]

11. Not sure if we should pay attention to the CNN instant tracker poll

Wasn't their sample comprised mainly of white Southern Republicans?

[justiceischeap]

17. Yes but he did REALLY well with women when he wasn't aggressive.

I think that tells us something. I would have liked to have seen a better debate but I don't think he did as poorly as everyone thinks he did.

[faithfulcitizen]

12. YES YES YES!

That is what really bothered me too...and the few times he did look Romney directly in the eye when Romney was speaking, he got very flustered.

[bushisanidiot]

13. Bull. Why should the President look at the jerk who is smirking and trying to get under his skin

I say ignore the ass clown Romney and let him keep showing americans
why a snobbish nervous, rude, asshole he is.

[budkin]

15. Because it was on TV and it made him look weak

Not being able to look his enemy in the eye

[budkin]

14. It was inexcusable. I think more than anything that is why he lost

It made him look disinterested and apathetic.

[MjolnirTime]

16. tell us more about body language, please!!

[yellowcanine]

18. OTOH we don't want him pulling a Poppy Bush (puking on Japan PM).

Unintended consequences are a bitch.

[flamingdem]

19. Can't blame him for not wanting to look at Rmoney, since Rmoney has practiced

all his facial expressions with the goal of psyching out his opponent, ick.