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What Obama and Bush said without knowing it
Tue Nov 11, 12:09 pm ETFeatured Topics:Barack Obama,Presidential Transition 
When President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama met for the first time infront of the White House, they didn’ttake questions from reporters. But asfar as body-language experts wereconcerned, the two men saidvolumes
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"Physically, [Obama] was definitelyin charge there," says Allan Pease,author of "The Definitive Book of Body Language." Obama grabbedBush’s upper arm during their, whichis a "control gesture.""President-elect Obama has his headraised to make eye contact with thepresident," signaling "I am equal instatus," according to Susan K.Abrams, a corporate and political image consultant atwww.politicalicon.com.Via email, Abrams said Obama showed a readiness to engage with the president, whileBush’s initial stance suggested he was being territorial."The president stands his ground andfirmly positions his feet in a stancethat suggests 'this is my territory' andextends his hand (leans slightlyforward) to shake hands but only sofar, which requires President-electObama to reach forward and moveforward to accept greeting."But Abrams says, as a whole, thegestures between Obama and Bushcommunicate "the civility of therelationship at this point."So, was all of this body languagesubconscious? Yes and no, saysPease.Some of it is the natural way in whichObama and Bush interact. But Peasesuspects at least part of the WhiteHouse meeting was carefully choreographed.
US President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, Michelle Obamaand President-elect Barack Obama stand outside the White House.Obama has met Bush for face-to-face talks at the White House, withhelp for the ailing US auto industry reportedly a top issue.President and Mrs. Bush greet President-elect Obama and MichelleObama at the White House in Washington , Monday, Nov. 10, 2008.
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