It's one small squeeze for woman, one giant leap for hug-kind. I didn't believe the prevalence of the McCain/Palin embrace until I went searching for pictures — and found the mother lode of warm greetings. The second mixed-gender ticket in history is breaking the boundaries of the cold handshake with a now signature — yet brief and businesslike — clinch.
What a change from 1984, when candidate Walter Mondale had a strict look-don't-touch policy with his running mate, Geraldine Ferraro — so much so that he didn't even put palm to back when the two stood side by side on stage, with waving arms high. Ferraro remembers, “people were afraid that it would look like, ‘Oh, my God, they’re dating.’ ”
While Palin gets the hugs, Cindy gets the smooches — and now the first introduction — when they're all on stage together. To see how that evolved, and who disapproves, read more.
Campaign advisors say all of the affection rules have evolved on the trail naturally, but some etiquette experts disagree. The former White House social secretary under Jacqueline Kennedy says, "He's hugging her to show the world that he’s all for her, and protecting her, but she doesn’t need that."
The McCain/Palin hugs, of course, have a chaste distance to them — or as Christopher Buckley mused, “As the nuns used to say before school dances, 'Leave room for the Holy Ghost.'" Is there enough room? Does all the hugging make you warm and fuzzy — or is he treating (and greeting) her differently because she's a gal?
Lyie Van Rycke
D.E.P.T
Christian Dior
I think he's got a crush on her. Who calls their vice-presidential running mate, who they met once, a soulmate?
1Religious fanatic hug session.
Maybe she should drop out of the race.
2McCain is looking at her young hott and body and thinking "Cindy isn't so young anymore".
3
I think it's CUTE! 
4a former white house social secretary under jackie kennedy. can she even see anymore to make her dumb opinion?
I think its sweet to hug, nuthin wrong there.
5She's going to make a very attractive Vice President.
6I know a soulmate from first meetings, but i call them "kindred spirits"
7I can't wait till the "McCain/Palin speak in tongues while having sex" headline.
8Palin - "God told me to do it."
9I knew my 11th grade science teacher Mr. Will was my soulmate after I met him. He kinda looked like Donkey from Shrek.
10I'm not sure married men who only live with their wives on weekends and who have a history of dumping wives for younger models should be calling their younger, spunkier running mates their soul mate.
Kindred spirit would have been a less suggestive alternative.
11wade -
-- getting the holy ghost
12(shuddering at the thought of John McCain getting busy) no more no more, erasing erasing
13I think it would be best if we left al the business getting out of this discussion.
14:shudder:
Speaking of cheating with younger women, have y'all heard the report out today that Reverend Wright was having an affair with another man's wife? Men!
15That's relevant how???
16But no I hadn't heard it till you mentioned it.
17Is he running for President??? I must have missed that headline.
18I find the hugging to be quite normal considering the dynamics. She's a woman, he wouldn't be hugging Romney. It also has it's campaign benefits but never the less it's normal.
19Speaking in tongues is relevant how? This thread is about a hug. No tongues involved. Well, tongues could be involved I suppose. I would just rather not discuss McCain having sex. He is old and that's just not my thing.
20I was joking relax (about the tongues thing). R. Wright has absolutely nothing to do with this, at least I was talking about McCain and Palin.
21To be fair -- she's hugging him like she would her grandfather -- well he is older than dirt. It makes for a cute May/December Ticket.
It's just so much fun to make fun of that's all.
22I thought we were talking about extra-marrital affairs. Hence the Rev Wright comment.
23I guess people can't make jokes anymore Dream.
24The only (current) Presidential nominee that's has extra-marital affairs is McCain.
25No we were joking about them hugging it out.
26I guess
27Yes Ma'am!
28Thank you dream. A hug doesn't have to be a partisan thing. Steph, what the heck?
29I understand what's she saying about soulmat thing. Why the hell is he calling Palin his soulmate, shouldn't that be your wife (or at least your current wife). It just sounds weird.
30I just enter the twilight zone -- GS is thanking me
31It does sound weird Wade -- I agree -- but then again I am a jealous woman
32I don't see anything wrong with the hugging, but I do see it as sending the message, "She's part of the family now, so treat her accordingly" very distinctly and probably intentionally.
33I think, if you are looking for something to be offended by and or weirded out by, you will find it. To the rest of us, soulmate clearly means kindred spirit, or like mined person etc. I think from this point on everyone just needs to accept that from the color of their shoelaces for the most part it is going to be a partisan decision around here.
34I'm not really keen on the hugging thing--I personally think a handshake looks a lot better, especially in this particular arena--but then again I didn't come from a family of huggers...so that may shape my opinion, too.
Oh, this is also random, but I remember Condoleeza Rice calling Bush her "work husband" a few years back. I never got that concept and also thought that was mildly creepy.
35Dream. I see both ways. And AofD, wise as always. Well, not if you buy more ikea, but you get my drift.
36that we know of......
37lol, and as tight as$ as a lot of libs like to see conservatives, we are actually very affectionate people. Just ask Jude, I am always humping her leg.
38Oh and "soulmate" was a poor choice of words, IMO, and I don't think I'm really looking for something to be offended/weirded out by (I know that wasn't directed at anyone specifically, GS, just saying).
39Well my definition (since we're giving definitions) is a person that you have deep friendship, intimacy, etc, for. IMO it's a little strange for McCain to say that's Palin's his soulmate when he just met her like a week and a half ago (except for the other 2 random visits).
40I prefer the Obama damp/butt slap myself. There's nothing like a goo butt slap!
41*dap
42GS humping Jude's leg. That sounds interesting.
43lol, damp butt slap?!? That sounds messy and unhygienic!
44lol, out of the gutter dave! I don't think I can bend down that far!
45I agree, I think the Dems should spin this into something naughty like the Repubs did "terrorist" fist jab.
46(except for the other 2 random visits)
--
(kidding)
47They were to see how Alaska was coping with their newly acquired Washington money -- geeze -- lay off
The "soul mate" remark admittedly was a little off. But if he had said "Political soul mate" then it would have made sense.
And I'm not sure this is the first time he's met the woman. Was that reported somewhere? Because I get the feeling he's known her for a while. Just because WE are only now hearing about her doesn't mean he didn't know her.
And the hug is great. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's not a sexy embrace, it's a warm hug between friends. I hug my co-workers if they've had a bad day (Don't get the wrong idea, we're a small company and we're all like family almost) and no one blinks.
It's just a hug, not a, um, well, a cigar.
48Oh dear, GS. I thought that was just between you and me.
In all seriousness though, McCain seems to just really like hugging people. I saw this slideshow the other day of him hugging Bush II in various settings. I think he's just demonstrative. It just looks really bad because Palin happens to be a younger and attractive woman whom he lifted to national prominence and the 2nd-in-command position seemingly out of nowhere.
49really wade. So one reporter mentioning it is a vast conspiracy?
50Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.