A Tale Of Two Open Microphones

I can't help but point to these two recorded open microphone clips and the differences they reveal.
The first from Bush/Cheney:



And this from Obama/Biden:



In the first, the word "asshole" is used in malice against NYT writer Clymer, and almost immediately, Cheney jumps in to validate Bush's comment (like a schoolyard boy mimicking a friend who has just made a bad choice).

In the second, even though Biden uses the F bomb in a moment of excitement (not anger), Obama, as usual, has none of it and continues as if nothing was even said. He doesn't get pulled into sloppy Joe's gaffe. This is Obama's huge advantage. He always comes off as the guy with the most dignity.