Clinton-Obama Body Politics: It's All In The Faces (PHOTOS)

Click here to read Body Politics: The Clinton-Obama Relationship, Part 1...

In our last post we looked at the element of touch and the role it plays in the burgeoning relationship between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Now, we want to explore a play of expressions on and around their mouths. Our mouths are exquisitely sensitive reflectors of emotion. They go into an "O" of surprise and fear; they tremble when we're about to cry; they form a tight line when we're angry. Fortunately, they also spread wide and turn up when happiness is purring inside us or when we see a beloved.

A hundred years ago it was very controversial when Freud and others circulated a breakthrough insight: the oral area often reflects, and even carries in the very shape of it, long-ago dramas in our early nursing and feeding experience. These dramas, and the unconscious decisions we make during them, later shape how close we allow ourselves to get in relationships and how we interact with the world in general. Therapists often see three clinical extremes of life-shaping oral issues: Oral-Unsatisfied, Oral-Deprived and Oral-Aggressive. Sometimes these early life-scripts can be seen in the actual configuration of the person's mouth, leading clinicians to speak of "mouth-set" as well as mind-set.

We don't see any of these extremes in the mouth-set of either Obama or Clinton. We'd like to invite our readers to confirm our observation or comment on things we might not be picking up on. The person with Oral-Unsatisfied issues carries an attitude of "Nothing is ever quite right" while the person with a Deprived background often approaches life with an attitude of "I give up--I'll never get my needs met." In the Oral-Aggressive person whose early life experience with feeding was accompanied by anger, the resulting attitude is along the lines of "Nobody's gonna mess with me." None of these attitudes can be seen at play in the relationship between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton (whispering to Barack) are all smiles following the first debate of the 2008 presidential campaign April 26, 2007 at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Friendship Or Flirtation?

At this stage of their relationship, it's not possible to tell if their smiles, touches and overall comfortable way of being with each other will lead to a genuine friendship. That's our hope, because these two remarkable people could work a great deal of practical magic through the synergy of their talents. We're holding a hope that the "no-drama" approach of Barack Obama will infect Hilary Clinton, whose brilliance has at times been obscured behind a steam-cloud of drama.

Are their smiles and touches genuine or a show for the cameras? We had a memorable experience once on a television show, hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael, where we had been invited to comment on the body-language of a couple of entertainers who were being accused of nefarious activities. One was Michael Jackson, who had just been accused of sexual molestation but had not yet been to trial. The other was Tonya Harding, a figure-skater who had been accused of involvement in harming a rival skater. They both had publicly proclaimed their innocence, and it was the video of these proclamations that we were asked to comment on.

We pointed out a lot of guilty body-language, signals that spoke as loudly to us as if they had both written "I DID IT!" on their foreheads in red lipstick. Another expert on the show, whose name we can't recall, lit into us vigorously, defending both Jackson and Harding, and branding us as picky charlatans. Time vindicated us, of course, but we'll never forget the other expert's parting comment to us, delivered on the Manhattan sidewalk after the show as we waited for a cab. The expert rushed up to us and said, "Hey, all that was just for the show. The producers asked me to be controversial. I actually love your work."

It was early in our television experience, and we had not yet learned to tell the difference between sincere words and those that had been uttered "just for the show." Several hundred shows later, we've learned to tell the difference most of the time. In the relationship between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, our observation is that their comfort around each other is not "just for the show." We hope we're right, because a genuine friendship and collaboration between them could change the world dramatically for the better.

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Comments

[NoToGOP08]

These are like family pics - you never see the hating and fighting that goes on right before everyone says Cheers!

[ExpatDane]

As I have written a few times in other areas on Huff post, there is no doubt in my mind that Barack and Hillary have enourmous respect for each other - and although I'm not 100% sure about Hillary, I know that Barack genuinely likes her. People looking for fireworks between these two are going to be disappointed.

[nana4g]

I agree. A whole lot of chatter about nothing. She will do her part to help make this country succeed again. He said one time that his Grandmother, Tutu, told him that Hillary Clinton was tough, a fighter, smart, and that she reminded her of herself....he said that at a rally. He has done what he needs to do to determine the character and the mettle of this woman and he has decided and everything else from the pundits, the spinners, the naysayers, the skeptics is just their own musings, some based on their own personal insecurities that they are projecting.

[Beka13]

I am so excited to watch these awesome folks lead our country to a new wonderful place :)

[CeeCee]

What I got out of the photographs: Those two are genuinely fond of each other.

[DoofusMarie]

When I look at the pictures attached to this article (body language, faces) what I see is not only mutual respect but that they genuinely like and enjoy one another. I think they already have and will continue to have a powerful connection and will grow to genuinely love one another if they don't already.

[QueenOfViolets]

Not many people have been a front runner Democrat in a presidential race where a Democrat actually has a chance of winning.

That's a special and unique experience they share, so they do have a basis for bonding.

There are some things they're going to feel and understand that the people around them won't get because they haven't traveled in those exact shoes.

[Yves Papa]

"I give up--I'll never get my needs met." can also stem from a much earlier imprint - "I give up - I will not make it" of the birthing baby who gets in near-death distress in a difficult delivery. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaQcs8hVpdE&feature=related

[cjgnew]

I love your posts, and that's not just for the show. I, for one, believe that that just-for-the-show attidue you just mentioned, which permeated both the McCain and Clinton campaigns, was in part what the American people rejected on Nov. 4th. They saw Obama as the more genuine person, and his no-drama approach carried the day. As the economy tanked, it became obvious to the majority of people that the showbiz people were not going to fix our problems--we needed innovation and grace under fire, and our President-elect exhibited both not just in his actions and statements, but in his body language as well.

[GHendricks]

I appreciate your insight about the American people seeing Obama as the more genuine person. His congruence came through clearly throughout the whole campaign. Thanks for the articulate observation.

[cjgnew]

You are welcome!

[AmbivalentGuy]

Hello Kathlyn and Gay

I post the following clip from a post i made on another thread.
It is indicative of my concerns about my students
(I am a professor) and is
directly relevant to the your area of study.

The premise is that the wired generation (those about
20 and younger who have never been without 24/7 virtual distraction)
are in reality isolated and lacking real social skills.

"[Social Networking Sites are]
just one of the distractions that distance students from reality.
Along with incessant texting, IMing, video games, etc.
Anything except face to face interaction. When I walk to work I see students
playing PSP games, with earbuds in, & Bluetooth headsets on -
all while they are taking a walk in what is essentially a park.
Anything except interacting with the real world.

There was a study on this showing that all this "social networking"
on websites actually leads to poor interpersonal skills - things
like "reading" people.

Additionally. 10 years ago college freshmen
reported an average of 2.6 "close personal confidants",
two years ago it was down to 1.6, with a MODE of 0 (zero).
[The MODE is the most common answer]."

[BelGazou]

Sarah Palin's movements of her mouth and chin certainly seem as though she is an "Oral Aggressive" person. Tina Fey's impersonation, although very good, never seemed to capture the just barely-below-, the-surface anger of Palin, despite mimicking her famous lower chin thrusts.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Body Language = Rubbish

[AmbivalentGuy]

Really?
You never know what's going down if there aren't words?
You've never noticed physical movement that you have
responded to or knew was indicative of danger?
You don't know when you're being flirted with?
You've never know that yoou embarased someone or frightened
them without them telling you their response in words?

Or is it just the idea that one can make the subtle judgments
the authors claim?

I think the historical introduction to the Freudian influence has
distracted you.

I'm afraid I just don't agree with you, I've been teaching
for a long time, and a good teacher is responsive to a
number of non-verbal cues. For instance,
I almost always know when a
student is lying to me, and I often correctly identify the
basis for their need to lie.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Ok... let me clarify... Body Language + Politics = Rubbish.

I think you are talking about "real" life. I am talking about a superficial view of politics based on still pictures and a few video clips. I agree with you on situations you mentioned.

[MSMSucksCom]

I meant "not let such stuff affect his goals." I don't like it when I make mistakes.

[MSMSucksCom]

Obama is a man of compassion, understanding, common sense and a high degree of intellect. He knows that the campaign was just politics. He can see through all the nonsense and attacks and let such stuff affect his goals, which is to be the most effective President since FDR.

In fact, I think he has decided to model himself after FDR.

Hillary is an amazing talent and she will be an extremely effective SOS.

Because Obama is a man of his word and he honors his promises, he is fulfilling his promise to Hillary to offer her SOS in return for her 18 million voters.

I am so, so happy that we have Obama as President Elect. His cabinet picks, including Clinton, are a testament that this man will be one of the greatest presidents in American history.

[titantom]

Also Joe Biden is a Scorpio.

[titantom]

Since everyone is talking about body language and oral signs I wonder if anyone has noticed that Hillary Clinton was born on the same day and Barack Obama Grandmother October 26th which makes them both Scorpio woman. I think the two woman have a lot in common. I have met many Scorpio woman and they are all very similar so I am sure they are a lot alike and it probably give Barack a perspective that the woman are alike. I was born on October 24th so I understand what being a Scorpio is about. Also I thougth it was interesting that Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are both Leo's. I believe Leo's and Scorpio respect eachother and challenge eachother's intelligence and battle in ideas but respect the hell out of each other.

[cjgnew]

That's an interesting observation! I am a Scorpio who is married to a Scorpio, and I adore my wife's honesty and intelligence. My oldest sister was a Leo. I respected her so much that I put my life practically on hold in order to take care of her while she was dying of cancer. Having said that, I know that I am attracted to intelligence and integrity like nothing else. I admired my sister's integrity, courage and kind heart. She didn't have Barack's education, for sure, but her integrity and courage were character traits that I couldn't stop admiring even if I had ever wanted to. I know that she admired my intelligence, sense of fairness, and passion. That was the only way that this proud woman could have allowed her little brother to wash and clean her private parts when she was no longer physically able to. The admiration between Barack and Hillary is somewhat similar to what I just described.

[justShareandbeNice]

My birthday is October 26th. Just thought I would let you know. :-)