Two quck observations on the debate tonight

[JMDEM]

I'm catching a re-run. So far it sort of reminds me of when onion rings re-run on me...

But I noticed three things right off the bat:

1. There was much more lighting on Clinton than Obama, making Obama look somewhat dark and sinister.

2. Clinton's microphone was several inches closer to her mouth than Barak's, making Clinton's responses loud and clear, while Barack's were a bit muted and fuzzy.

3. The camera angle on Clinton was far better than on Obama -- she had a full blue backdrop. Barak had half a red backdrop, then the backdrop stopped and there were seats and rails and stuff behind him.


This is nasty sly stuff. Remember that Nixon lost an election because he didn't shave close enough before his debate.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Another view...

1. There was much more lighting on Clinton than Obama, making Obama look somewhat dark and sinister.

2. Clinton's microphone was several inches closer to her mouth than Barak's, making Clinton's responses loud and clear, while Barack's were a bit muted and fuzzy.

3. The camera angle on Clinton was far better than on Obama -- she had a full blue backdrop. Barak had half a red backdrop, then the backdrop stopped and there were seats and rails and stuff behind him.

1. Lighting on Clinton that may be a trick of the colors they were wearing. Women get to wear something besides dark blue, or black.

2. Microphones he is taller. Aside from that, public speakers have got to get good with speaking into microphones. This was Howard Dean's problem in Iowa. Listen to Christopher Hitchens sometime, that drunk knows how to work a microphone.

3. Backgrounds the plain background can also seen as sterile and separate from other people and things; not with the rest of the world. And it looked amateurish.

This is nasty sly stuff.

Agreed.

Good observation, BTW.

[masshole]

2. did you notice Chelsea in the audience?

She looked like an angel. Lit up in a nice warm glow. Everyone around her was in shadows.

[Diane R]

3. I noticed that, too. Very unfair. Was Michelle in the audience?

[TahitiNut]

4. I hope she was with their daughters. (I sure would be.)

It's not unusual for debates to avoid cutaways to the audience ... and I think they were appallingly ill-timed and one-sided.