The Top 5 Body-Language Moments Of Election Day (PHOTOS)

5. The Exploding Veep
The first big dose of revelatory body language came for us the morning of Election Day, when we finally saw the tape of Dick Cheney endorsing John McCain. If you missed it, here's the key moment: At the peak of the speech, Cheney belted out the punchline, "I believe the right leader for this moment in history is John McCain." A split-second after these words left his mouth, he exploded into a coughing fit of epic proportions.

It was as if his body, after a lifetime of concealment and control, could no longer keep from erupting when forced to utter another lie.

4. All The Way Hume
We switched over to Fox News from time to time, in order to get the far-right spin on the events of the evening. We were particularly interested to see what some of their cocky bombasts would look like eating large helpings of crow. In body language terms, voice-flags are those vocal tones and tremors that communicate hidden emotions. Brit Hume's voice-flag was the one that stood out like a sore tongue. Throughout the evening, each time he was forced to announce one more McCain loss, he unconsciously lowered his voice to a sepulchral depth usually reserved for state funerals.

It was as if he was grieving more than the loss of his favorite candidate--he was mourning the declining fortunes of his employer and the movement it has trumpeted.

3. Taking The Tics Out Of Politics
In an earlier post we commented on the stunning array of tics, twitches and jaw-clenches that played across John McCain's face during the campaign. If you study the tape of his concession speech on election night, though, you'll see very little of that kind of body language. Why? Where did it go?

The answer is simple but has profound consequences for health and happiness. The reason McCain's facial flickers were so quiet is that he wasn't trying to be two people at once. It requires body tension to feel anger but pretend it isn't there. It takes effort to seal off fear, and even more effort to whistle along pretending it was never there. "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways," says the Book of James, and during the campaign, McCain's instability played across his face incessantly. Now, though, John McCain does not have to pretend to be anything he isn't. He doesn't have to be an honorable man trying to live inside his skin with a fear-mongering alien bent on winning by sowing seeds of hate. He's the better for it, and so are we.

2. The Crowd At Grant Park
We watched Obama's victory speech in a room with people ranging in age from 10 to 63, and all of us had tears in our eyes. Looking around the room, we saw the same emotions on our faces as we saw in the crowd at Grant Park. Some of them were crying tears of relief, others tears of pride, others pure elation. Beyond emotion, though, the amazing phenomenon was the size of the crowd. We wondered what other event and what other person could inspire a couple hundred thousand people to stand out in the admittedly not-so-cold (Ed Note: Thanks for pointing that out, JenniferFive!) at midnight. They were there to celebrate Obama and to see history being made, but the looks on their faces told a deeper story: They were there to celebrate the triumph of love and hope over fear and divisiveness.

1. Power, Joy, Grief And Fatigue = One Whole Person
When Obama took the stage, we saw a man embodying a complex array of feeling. He looked tired, of course, and who wouldn't be? A ten-year-old in the room, who hadn't heard of the death of Barack's grandmother, said "He looks sad." It takes a deeply integrated person to let his grief be visible on a night of overwhelming victory. This is a key to his personality, and bodes well for the future of his presidency. It takes enormous strength to let your vulnerabilities rest so comfortably in yourself that they can be readily seen.

There was one emotion we're glad was missing from Obama and the crowd in Grant Park: any sense of triumphant glee. We couldn't help wondering if it would have been present in McCain's supporters had the tables been turned. John McCain had to silence a few boos and jeers from his audience, but by and large they just looked sad, tired and meek.

Finally, we were deeply moved by Obama's body language at the end, in the easy way he brought forth the other members of his and Biden's family to share the stage. He seemed to melt into them, as if he knows deep in his bones that none of this is really about him as an individual ego. There's a huge difference between needing to be the center of things and simply being in the middle of things. Somehow, despite all the adulation and glory (as well as the relentless attacks mounted by the other side) Obama still knows what he's known all along: he's one of us.

• • • • • • • • • • 5. "The Exploding Veep" Dick Cheney endorses John McCain...

Related:
Election Hangovers: 3 Things To Do The Morning After

America Gives Obama The Chance To Govern From The Heart

Election Night PDA: See The Vice President And The President Elect Celebrate

You Deserve A Break Today; Making History Is Hard Work

Comments

[jefft1]

The vast majority of comments regarding this article indicates clearly that we have all fallen in' like' with this superior human being . What we feel is pure truth and that it comes from his inner self. There is no guile here, no political staging and a great deal of humility and soul. Soul is that part that has touched our souls. It is beyond words, phrases. It is also that what we see in his mannerisms, carriage and grace and that of him and his wife and children and embrace of the Bidens is something called 'faith'. It was explained to me once that faith is like the floors that we walk on wherever we are. We don't focus on whether they will support us. We can't see what holds them up and allows up to walk on them but it is there nonetheless. This is what we miraculously seem to be experiencing from Barack--we have faith in him from the beginning. Despite the elegance and articulation he allows us into his world and we have this faith . My God, when is the last time we experienced this in a president?

[galinha]

"Power, Joy, Grief And Fatigue, All In One Whole Person" .......and humility. I must say I saw a lot of humility in Obama's face when he came to the stage on election night. It was as if he was saying, I am here because of you. America really has struck gold with this man.

[jaydeedub]

http://flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/sets/72157608716313371/show/

[allwrite]

Was that McCain doing a Steve Martin impression, or vice versa?

[margardner]

A night to remember!

My favorite pic, the Obama and Biden family as one American family up on stage. Wow!

[nrborod]

One point that I don't hear much talk about is what the possible effect on the public the example of the Obamas' marriage might have. My sense is that the energy is very clear between them. She can stand next to him as a peer. Whatever conflicts they may have are not an issue. Well integrated man as PREZ, in touch with emotion in a healthy way, good marriage.... we may not think about it, or some may not, but as human beings we are always projecting--transferring, so it is important what these major public figures represent and present.
Obviously, this has nothing to do with policies. But it has plenty to do with reality.

[nrborod]

Thankyou for this interesting article--a good reminder to always look past the surface--especially when it comes to public figures.

[BlueBoomer]

I am THRILLED with the outcome of the election, but these "body-watchers" missed the most glaringly obvious displays of all: John McCains easy handling of his appearance on SNL, and his look of relief during his concession speech...
Add this DRAMATIC CHANGE IN DEMEANOR from the aforementioned tics/weirdness, his apparent discomfort during the nastiest moments of the campaign, his devotion to "Drill Baby Drill " and to "Joe the Plumber", his rally reference to "my fellow prisoners", his verbal "mis-steps" when referring to John Murtha's comments about racism in Western PA, and his over-the-top grasp for the most superlative superlatives when asked about his feelings regarding Sarah Palin as VP, and what you have is the behavior of a man who realized when Palin was chosen over his choice for VP, that he was NOT in control, NOR WOULD HE BE SHOULD HE BE ELECTED... A soldier who decided that the best and perhaps only way he could put "COUNTRY FIRST" would be to fall on his sword...
Which is what I believe John McCain did: He deliberately made his campaign SO unattractive that it could not win... He fell on his sword and took one for the "Team"... our country.

If we are to begin our healing process, I suggest that we consider this scenario and likewise consider saying "Thank You" to John McCain as we wish GodSpeed to Barak Obama and Joe Biden.

[heartshine]

It's about REAL TRUE CHANGE. A President who does his job from his heart. President-elect Obama is all heart.
I liked McCain's concession speach whereas previously I found it hard to watch him. After reading this article I realized WHY it was hard to watch him.
Thank You, this was a great article.

[DBtv]

Great insight into the differences between the emerging and declining factions of American culture.

We, as a people, are moving into a wonderful future, led by a transformative man of integrity and wisdom.

[shashinyc]

Fascinating observations! One obvious thing that's obvious from their body language is how much Obama and Biden genuinely adore children. Barack is always holding his girls' hands or wrapping a protective arm around them or picking up Sasha and always smiling with pride and joy. Joe regards his kids with love, humor and appreciation -- the best grandpa.The pictures also show how they have literally embraced each others' families. The Republicans spout "family values," but Obama and Biden actually live them. I'm sure the welfare of children and families will be central missions of their administration. And to the legions of "children of divorce," these men can serve as new American role models.

[nick53]

Nice photo essay. I do look forward to a more normal McCain now. As for Obama well I trust fully that with time, people of all affiliations will see in him what we see. http://www.spinwhip.com/obama

[majii]

I love this article and the pics.

[joycehelene]

John McCain was a better loser than a campaigner, his body language betrayed him, when he couldn't look at Obama directly in the face during the debate. I am glad that in the end the authentic Mccain appeared and he redeemed himself for the good man that he really is.

[RTH]

Great article.

I thought Sen. McCain seemed relieved...he was relaxed, easy and actually, likable. I'll bet now that it's all over, he realizes that at age 72 (an old 72 at that) with all the troubles over the land and the rest of the planet, he doesn't really need this in his golden years.

Sen., I mean, President-Elect Obama, seemed tired, yes, happy too, but also serious. He does understand the immensity of what is now upon him...it's a good thing he has a strong marriage. It will be a place of refuge for him instead of a pain in the ass...like for the Clintons.