[Political Interest]

It is very interesting to observe the body language of politicians. It reveals a great deal and is very fascinating. You can see here that Obama is deliberately trying to assert the dominance of his party over Cameron. Look at his body language, relaxed and lying back in the seat. Obama's way of speaking is confident and assertive, almost arrogant. By contrast Cameron is forward in his seat and looks tense. The way Cameron speaks is quiet and seems nervous. Obama continually makes command like statements such as referring to Cameron having to drink the beer cold in US style but also saying he will never drink the beer warm as is done in the UK. Similarly he says as a joke at the end that while riding in Obama's car Cameron did as he was told like a good passenger by putting on his seat belt.

All of this reveals the attempt by Obama to dominate Cameron and assert his primacy in the special relationship'.

This is the video:

[youtube]O45M_mOgFfM[/youtube]

[SE23]

It wouldn't be hard, David Cameron has as much charisma as a squid, just like the majority of british politicians, gone are the days of Gladstone and Disraeli giving speeches to thousands that lasted for hours, while on high doses of morphine.

[Thompson_NCL]

Actually I'd say you got the body language assessment back to front based on traditional body language analysis.

Camerons body language is very open and confident. Obama is showing that he is very defensive by crossing his legs and angling his body away from Cameron.

Obama is uncomfortable, Cameron is collected.

You need to read up on body language.

[Rainbow Crow]

Obama is not exactly the big dog in a room. Many Presidents have not been. Romney was all over Obama in the debates, trying to crowd him out, but we know who won the election...

[Corporatios]

Well, there have been several threads and articles about politicians' body language and they are funny and interesting, but body language is supposed to affect the ignorant pleb. Instead people who are supposed to be able to read through such tricks, are getting the most fired up with them. I really don't get it.

[Rainbow Crow]

Depends what you mean by "fired up." Body language is instinctual so I wouldn't expect people who understand it well to stop using it or anything.

[Corporatios]

I don't believe it to be entirely instinctual. Some high profile politicians like Obama have people behind them advising them how to act.

[Vilko]

All of this reveals the attempt by Obama to dominate Cameron and assert his primacy in the special relationship'.

It also shows that Obama isn't very well at ease asserting dominance. As Thompson said:

Camerons body language is very open and confident. Obama is showing that he is very defensive by crossing his legs and angling his body away from Cameron.

Obama is uncomfortable, Cameron is collected.

Exactly so. When Cameron speaks, Obama touches his chin (revealing his anxiety) and then he clutches the sides of his armchair, as if to reassure himself by holding to something solid.

To me, Obama looks like a guy who knows he has to play the role of the leader and who isn't at ease with that role. Notice, also, that Obama speaks in very general terms, with many short pauses inside his sentences (as if he didn't quite know what to say and how to say it), whereas Cameron is more specific on the issues. He mentions economic policies, which Obama didn't. Economic policies are the important thing.

Obama speaks more slowly, and with a deeper voice than Cameron: it's an unconscious way to assert dominance. But Cameron looks like the guy who will eventually get what he wants.

Obama nods his head when Cameron speaks. He lets Cameron convey the main message, about financial deficits and economic policies, which shows that his dominance is only for the show. Obama, who is the president of a country whose economy is several times larger than Britain's, conveys the jokes instead, and the platitudes about the special relationship.

Since the video was made, what happened? Obama knows that the UK won't go to war with the USA neither in Syria nor in Iran. The embargo against Iran is unraveling. Next Monday a delegation of UK lawmakers will visit Iran to improve relationships.

Some high profile politicians like Obama have people behind them advising them how to act.

Usually it makes them look even worse, because it makes them lose their spontaneity.

[Beren]

Obama is uncomfortable, because he's acting, and lying (about Cameron as well as the Special Relationship).