The Networks didn't show it but McFolksy-Town-Hall bugged out.

[breadandwine]

I watched the debate tonight on the New York Times home page, which had the whole debate and with a full screen option. Unlike the networks, which I'm sure cut away when the debate ended (advertising revenue and all that), the Times kept the feed going till 11:02 PM EST. And the cameras, for something like 20 straight minutes, showed close-ups of Obama and Michelle walking around the room meeting people after the debate ended, with everyone in the room wanting to shake his hand and get their picture taken with him.

After a while I began to wonder, where's Johnny? Why isn't HE there doing the same thing? Wasn't HE the one wanting all that folksy town hall stuff? He had originally wanted ALL the debates to be town hall debates. I kept waiting to see the camera cut to shots of McCain also strolling around the room like Obama, saying hello to people after the debate, and it was only when they occasionally cut to wide shots of the room that I realized that McCain had left almost immediately after the end of the debate.

McCain was the one who wanted the town hall format, with all its opportunity to connect with the voters in a "folksy" way. And then boom. As soon as the debate formally ended, he cut out.

Some networks may have shown split screen shots of McCain and Obama but the Times view was never split screen. So it's hard for me to tell what McCain's demeanor was much of the time, which I would really like to know.

But I am wondering how symbolic was this quick exit by McFolksy, symbolic of the debate and campaign as a whole. In this respect McCain seemed much more aloof and "out of touch," if you will, than Obama. Was McCain happy or miserable? I couldn't really tell. Unfortunately I'm sure the networks stopped showing the debate hall shortly after the debate ended and I bet they won't focus on McCain's quick exit. I didn't see much fireworks in the debate and it seems that the networks may have missed what for me was one of the main events --- McCain's quick departure. I bet they don't mention it.

[CAG]

1. He had to get to beddy-by with schnookims

[breadandwine]

4. Has anyone seen any mention of this by any network?

I thought it was significant but I bet the media completely ignores it.

[MountainMamma]

16. MSNBC picked up on it - Keith Olberman of course.

[roguevalley]

28. the talking heads thought it was dumb of him, even Pat Robinson.

[high density]

46. MSNBC even showed the Obamas mingling with the voters for quite a while in split-screen

I thought it was great.

[AldebTX]

2. It was raining In Nashville

He was concerned Cindy would melt so he had to get her to safety.

[eleny]

3. Maybe he sensed that he ran out of "friends":to engage with

[Frisbee]

5. He had to get back to..

working on the economy. Country first, ya know.

[debbierlus]

6. My bet is they told him to just get the hell out - and OFF camera as soon as possible

Didn't want any pesky audience members giving a bad photo op moment for John......

[RamboLiberal]

7. KO just mentioned it - said Obama's hung around 15 minutes

while the McCain's got out of Dodge.

[breadandwine]

9. Thanks. I wonder if anybody else mentioned it.

I bet not. Did KO actually use the term "Dodge"?

[cui bono]

20. No, actually he used "Chevy".

"Chevy Maverick"

[TornadoTN]

41. It was far more than just 15 minutes total - I estimate closer to 30

The local media in Nashville was reporting 45 minutes and he was still taking pictures with people on his way out!

[masshole]

8. I don't fault McCain

you try walking around and shaking hands while your adult diaper needs changing.

[Divernan]

40. Seriously, many guys McCain's age have to visit a urinal about every hour.

Some of the older trial judges I know can be counted on to call a recess every hour for exactly that reason. And the older guys on the jury are in the same situation.

[masshole]

47. seriously, I'm well aware

I'm at "that" age myself, can't make it through the night any longer.
a couple of Saw Palmetto capsules every day helps. ;)

My diaper comment was meant not just about McCain's age, but his performance in the debate.

[LynneSin]

10. MSNBC kept on the debate floor when they were doing wrap up

I think I posted it a couple of times that the Obamas were both out there and even Michelle was shaking hands. McCain did a few hand shakes and Cindy just look disgusted.

[breadandwine]

11. Okay. I didn't really notice at the time but I assume McCain & Obama shook hands at the start.

But did McCain shake Obama's hand at the end? If I'm correct Cindy didn't shake anybody's hand, apparently due to her hand injury a while back. Did McCain shake Obama's hand in the end before he left?

[johnaries]

14. Actually, Obama started to shake his hand and McSame

motioned for him to shake with Cindy. Hand injury, my ass.

[breadandwine]

15. So then did Obama actually end up shaking McCain's hand at all?

Even in the beginning?

[endthewar]

19. They shook hands beforehand and immediately after the debate

After the debate they shook hands right before Brokaw said they were in the way of his script. A minute or so later when they were working the crowd, McCain snubbed Obama on a handshake.

[leftofthedial]

12. he knows he got his clock cleaned

[MrScorpio]

13. C-Span kept the broadcast going

The only candidate left on stage was Obama

[myrna minx]

17. As others have pointed out, Keith Olbermann pointed out McCain's "bug out". n/t

[fortyfeetunder]

18. I think McCain realizes its an upward battle

I suspect McCain thought having a TH format was going to work clearly in his favor, that Obama for some reason would stumble and fail to connect.

However, Obama proved he could handle himself on the issues plus brush off the indignities and attacks from McCain.

McCain lost on that account. He will only win next month if it's a steal...

[krkaufman]

21. It was probably like in St. Louis... where the McCain campaign had some other venue ...

... filled with supporters watching the debate on a big screen. After the VP debate, Palin was rushed over there to speak to the faithful. (Remember the Palin family leaving the debate stage while the Biden clan hung around talking to Gwen Ifill?)

[Cronus Protagonist]

22. He rembered a "bill" that he had to "pass" right away.

Full Depends.

[MaryBear]

23. Well said,, breadandwine!

While watching the debate I saw no enthusiasm for McCain while he spoke when the camera panned the audience.

The reverse was true when Obama spoke. Maybe McCain saw it too.

-mb

[breadandwine]

24. Thanks! That's interesting.

The audience was supposed to have been pre-selected for all being undecided voters. Did you see enthusiasm during the debate for Obama? I'm not counting the end, since then everyone wanted to meet the candidates and shake their hands and it's not their fault that McCain bugged out. But during the debate -- was there an obvious disparity in the way people looked at McCain vs. Obama?

[MaryBear]

26. Enthusiasm may be too strong a word.

However, yes I did see a difference.

I noticed how I felt and then looked to see if the audience bought what he said and to me they appeared carefully neutral, whereas when Obama spoke they seemed a little brighter and more engaged, listening.

Could be my projection but I think it an accurate perception.

-mb

[jbnow]

33. It was noted the audience was asked not to show

any reaction. I don't know why. It went beyond don't clap, don't boo, it was not to show reaction. Maybe it was just people near the front that were likely to be seen on camera, but why? To not influence home audience? That would make no sense.

Anyway that's what they noted on both msnbc and cnn.

[FrenchieCat]

25. He had to go change his depends!

[goodgd_yall]

27. Well, he is elderly.

Could be his energy was giving out, or his calmative was wearing off.

[vaberella]

29. Every network mentioned McCain's disappearance. It says so much. n/t

[grace0418]

30. Several pundits remarked on this post debate. They thought it was bad form

for McCain to leave like that.

[intheflow]

31. That's what I heard on CNN.

They were all talking about how very odd it was, and also how Obama went over to the last audience member who asked a question, the Navy guy, and talked one-on-one with him for a while. Obama and Michelle are a class act. The McShallows? Not so much.

[breadandwine]

35. Okay, thanks much for that. So the obvious question is why did McCain do it?

He had to know that any voter in that room could be interviewed by a reporter. Every extra minute a candidate spends with those voters is an extra minute to win them over before some reporter might talk to them.

[grace0418]

44. My gut feeling? He was pissed off and petulant. Plus, he could probably tell immediately

that people in the room gravitated to Obama (and why wouldn't they?), which only pissed him off more. I don't think he gave a flying fuck about the voters, the polls or what the pundits would say, he wanted to take his ball and go home.

[Withywindle]

32. From what I saw, Barack and Michelle stuck around

Hanging out, shaking hands with people, talking, posing for pictures, etcetera.

NO sign of the McCains. :shrug:

[opihimoimoi]

34. The PRESSURE WAS APPROACHING CRITICAL MASS....he had to leave ASAP

He woulda start SCREAMING as he usually does when crit mass is reached....ya saw some of it in his town hall meetings of late...he even sounds like Batmans Penguin when laughing.....but as he rants,,,he comes close to losing it.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

36. I noticed it too on BBC News

I think they were using CNN's cameras as the angles were exactly the same. I said to my parents in MN, "Did you notice Obama's still there and McCain's not?"

[breadandwine]

37. WOW! Check <<< THIS >>> out:

First, here's KO talking about McCain bugging out of the debate, now on DU (video)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x209105

And it now suddenly occurred to me that this is not the first time that McCain rushed out of a meeting. Here is a link I came across recently on YouTube. Take a look at <<< THIS >>> video of McCain storming out in a fury at a POW hearing after having been accused of white washing the plight of POWs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CazKanlYDg

I'll bet the MSM won't touch that with a ten foot pole.

[Borgnine]

38. He didn't want to talk to "his friends?"

[breadandwine]

39. Here's veteran broadcaster Mary Lyon making the same point:

DU thread ---

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7365729

referring to Mary Lyon article ---

http://www.worldnewstrust.com/wnt-selected/commentary/the-subliminal-slam-dunk-mary-lyon.html

She says the big event in the debate was McCain bugging out and other "nonverbals."

[jfkraus]

42. He knows he's lost

He is just going through the motions until election day. Hoe doesn't care how dirty his campaign gets because it's already over. He just wants to go home, but has to stick it out to the end. It's like that time in a footballl game with 5 minutes left in the forth quarter and you're getting beat 48-3 and you know there is not enough time left and you've lost, but you still need to go out on the field and take your licks. I almost feel sorry for...well, maybe not.

[beachmom]

43. Anderson Cooper pointed this out apparently. A friend of mine watched CNN

and mentioned this to me.

[E-Z-B]

45. I didn't notice it at first, but my wife pointed it out.