Why do americans want to see people positioned behind a speaker?

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Hi,

Americans. I always asked myself: Why do you want to see people/supporters behind the guys who are performing a political speech? Like here:



European speakers, in general, do not have supporters/claquers/Jubelperser positioned behind them. It's something really US specific I'd say.

Is it something like "being in the bosom of the family", familial feelings, the feeling, that the spokesman isn't alone?

Why is this?

[karlhenning]

I like to see the look of boredom even on the faces of people who are actually there, so I don't feel so bad . . . .

[маразм1]

I like to see the look of boredom even on the faces of people who are actually there, so I don't feel so bad . . . .

funny thing is that these people cannot hear anything being said.  It's for the show

[SonicMan46]

I like to see the look of boredom even on the faces of people who are actually there, so I don't feel so bad . . . .

Agree w/ Karl - always fun to see who is fallin' asleep, bored, picking their noses, or possibly doin' 'rabbit ears'! 

[drogulus]

     It's the political consultants doing their subliminal advertising shtick.

[Sergeant Rock]

Hi, Americans. I always asked myself: Why do you want to see people/supporters behind the guys who are performing a political speech?

Show over substance. American politics are embarrassing...embarrassing to this American anyway.

Sarge

[karlhenning]

We don't need debates; do the swimwear walk!

[hornteacher]

Show over substance. American politics are embarrassing...embarrassing to this American anyway.

Sarge

This one too.

[eyeresist]

Love the bear - is that America's answer to Godzilla? And is that a sea of blood he's wading through? Talk about subliminal advertising...


BTW, there's a mobile blood donation truck that sometimes parks outside my office window, which has a huge cartoon wave of blood painted of the side to illustrate the relevant theme.

[Gustav]

i dunno, maybe it's because the arena(in most cases, they speak in sporting arenas) has seating in all directions.

[ezodisy]

dunno but the people at any of those rallies are mad, absolutely mad.

[eyeresist]

dunno but the people at any of those rallies are mad, absolutely mad.

A particularly American madness - "Look at me! I'm waving a guy's name on the end of a stick while wearing a silly hat!! I'm into politics!"

[The new erato]

Better behind a speaker than behind a gun.

[Shrunk]

The most peculiar thing I find about American politics is the preoccupation with candidates' wives.  It seem to be expected that the wife of the presidential candidate give a prominent speech at the National Convention for each party, and they are actively used as campaign issues, both pro and con.  I wouldn't even be able to recognize pictures of the wives of the last three Canadian PM's (Although admittedly Margaret Trudeau and Mila Mulroney achieved a certain degree of notoriety).  There are exceptions, of course (c.f. Nicolas Sarkozy's wife) but it seems in the US it is assumed that First Lady is almost an elected position and that the "candidate" must sacrifice any presumption of privacy just as her husband has.  (I'm using female pronouns only, because I'm not convinced the situation would be the same for the husband of a female candidate.  Hillary Clinton, of course, is not a typical case.)