Presidential Hopefuls' Non-Verbal Communication Skills

[patricia]

I wasn't sure where this would fit in the threads already existing, so thought it might be interesting to talk about how the candidates' body language and mannerisms affect who you feel is being real.

The reason I ask is that when I watch John McCain, for example, I inexplicably feel nervous, I think because he seems defensive and anxious to show how tough he is, despite his obviously being elderly.

Ms. Clinton also makes me nervous when she feels she's being attacked, or just challenged in even a minor way. She stiffens up, her voice gets higher and her eyes bug out so I think her head is going to explode.
I also get the impression that some feel that she would rely too much on advice from the former President, even though he is unelected, so would be a President's spouse, much as Ms. Clinton was when her husband was in the Big Chair.

Barack Obama is admittedly relatively new in the major political league in Washington.
But, I am impressed with his cool and measured response to attacks on his candidacy, whether they are because of his relative youth, his heritage, or his not knowing first-hand on how things are done in the established political culture in Washington.
Quite honestly, the "who do you want answering the red phone in the middle of the night?" question made me think that I'd rather have somebody calm in a crisis, than somebody who seems hesitant or combative.
I think that if someone in the White House had been calmer in an apparent crisis in '03, rather than siccing the dogs of war on Iraq, before the inspectors could discover..................nothing, the world would not be in the fix it's in now.

In any case, the original idea for the thread is how the candidate's body language sometimes indicates their mindset more accurately than what they say.
Witness, for example, the inappropriate smirks and snickers and darting eyes that the present occupant of the White House displays when delivering a serious speech about wars and the deaths and the casualties resulting, or floods, or other serious subjects. That makes me nervous.

What do you think?

[Scott Dolan]

I think McCains little downward fist pumping dealy that he does when he's really trying to hammer home some tired ass point is equally frightening and amusing. It gives him such an inept old man look. And that bump on the side of his faced is hard to stop looking at.

Hillary's cheeks freak me out. And that laugh. Ugh...I suppose my laugh is just as irritating to others, but I ain't running for President. So fuck those assholes who don't like it.

Obama's long tall head is kinda borderline freak show. And his Dumbo ears only highlight it even more. I like his demeanor though.

[kenny weir]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

I think but I ain't running for President.

Woe is us!

[Monte Smith]

When you are criticizing McCain's body language, be aware that he had his arms broken in a POW camp in North Vietnam, after he was shot out of the sky, and is unable to move his upper body in an ordinary manner.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by kenny weir

Woe is us!

I know, I know.

It's a disappointment to everyone. But, I just don't have the fucking time. Honestly.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

When you are criticizing McCain's body language, be aware that he had his arms broken in a POW camp in North Vietnam, after he was shot out of the sky, and is unable to move his upper body in an ordinary manner.

Things are terribly wrong when Monte tries to take the high moral ground from us.

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Things are terribly wrong when Monte tries to take the high moral ground from us.

Who would have thought that Monte would ever do that?
But, unfortunately, even when there is a good reason for personal quirks or frailties, the fact remains that McCain's stiffness is not a plus.

I find Clinton's attempts at being witty a little forced and unnatural. Maybe just a change of speechwriters is the answer. The xerox quip was totally lame, as are most of those scripted clevernesses. She just isn't the kind of person who can deliver a written line like that naturally, in an offhand way.

Obama is relaxed and dynamic right from the time he bounds up to the platform to when he delivers a speech and in interviews he seems to be able to handle questions in a thoughful and natural way, without seeming to have been caught off guard. Thinking on his feet seems to come easy to him.
He looks people in the eye and considers his answers, just for a second, before giving them, which avoids unfortunate gaffes. That, IMO, is one of his biggest assets.

[Scott Dolan]

I'm starting to get the idea from your two completely unbiased posts here that you are leaning towards Obama.

Would that be a correct assumption on my part, particia?

[sonic1]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

When you are criticizing McCain's body language, be aware that he had his arms broken in a POW camp in North Vietnam, after he was shot out of the sky, and is unable to move his upper body in an ordinary manner.

Bah, what kinda pussy excuse is that?

[Scott Dolan]

Some lady called into one of my podcasts one night and was berating John McCain and saying "all my military friends say that if you are captured, you did something wrong". And she was Republican.

Bob Shrum, of all people, was on the show and just let this fucking broad have it! As he, or anyone else, should have.

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

I'm starting to get the idea from your two completely unbiased posts here that you are leaning towards Obama.

Would that be a correct assumption on my part, particia?

I've made no secret, as you know, from the beginning of his candidacy that I am impressed by Obama's composure under pressure and his ability to think on his feet, with intelligence.
As you know also, I am a neutral observer, so what I notice doesn't really have much weight, beyond seeing really superb communication skills.

I do presentations to groups from time to time, so I do see the difference between someone who knows how to do it and someone who is not comfortable speaking to large numbers of people. It's facinating.

[steve(thelil)]

Originally Posted by patricia

I've made no secret, as you know, from the beginning of his candidacy that I am impressed by Obama's composure under pressure and his ability to think on his feet, with intelligence.
As you know also, I am a neutral observer, so what I notice doesn't really have much weight, beyond seeing really superb communication skills.

I do presentations to groups from time to time, so I do see the difference between someone who knows how to do it and someone who is not comfortable speaking to large numbers of people. It's facinating.

I don't think you underestimate the value of communication skills in a President, especially if coupled with skills at looking for and finding common ground. I belive the Barackster has this combo.

People overestimate a President's power at times, as in debates when they announce all the great policy initiatives they stand for. It aint so easy to get the legislation passed. That takes communication likability AND skills at negotiation and communication.

[patricia]

Exactly. If people aren't listening to the speaker, interested in what he/she is saying, the speaker is wasting his/her time.

When there is an opportunity to invite audience participation, that is really hard to do successfully. And to make it even more difficult, if you bomb and people sit there like cigar store indians, it's almost impossible to recover. But, Obama is a master at it, as well as managing his material to maintain the listener's attention.
It doesn't hurt that he is easy on the eyes and fit. Those are just a couple more arrows in his quiver.
Some personal assets you can acquire, if you know you don't have them.
Some are natural and simply utilized.
Obama's command of the crowd and his personal appeal can't as you say, steve[thelil] be underestimated.

Geraldine Ferraro's claim that being black is what got Obama where he is now is patently ludicrous. He got where he is because somebody, or several somebodies could see the intangeables we are discussing. Being black is almost incidental, if it figures in at all, IMO.
Of course, if a person is biased against minorities or women, it really doesn't matter how brilliant the candidate is, they won't rate their support, on principle, they'll claim, without realizing how truly stupid that sounds.

[Scott Dolan]

Yet I'd be willing to wager that Ferraro would never say Hillary got where she is because she's the wife of a former popular President.

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Yet I'd be willing to wager that Ferraro would never say Hillary got where she is because she's the wife of a former popular President.

No kidding. It's the thing that almost nobody dares say. But, honestly, would she have even been considered as a contender otherwise??
Of course, we can't blame her for taking the opportunity. If she were more appealing than she is, she would have a huge advantage, that Gore passed on. Bill Clinton was coming off his run and was still missed in '00. Something has happened to him I think in the interim. He would never have made the race-baiting remarks he did in NC in his prime. I can't help thinking that it was not as accidental as he claims. But.................why?

As for Ms. Clinton's speaking style, the way her voice gets high and irritating when she wants to make a point should be corrected somehow. And, for God's sake, speechwriters, she doesn't do wit, or jokes. Also, the bug-eye thing should be mentioned to her. It's creepy.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by particia

No kidding. It's the thing that almost nobody dares say. But, honestly, would she have even been considered as a contender otherwise??

Um...no.

Of course, we can't blame her for taking the opportunity.

Without question.

But.................why?

I'll assume that is some kind of rhetorical question.

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

I'll assume that is some kind of rhetorical question.

Thinking out loud. It makes no sense.

[Tom Storer]

Originally Posted by patricia

He would never have made the race-baiting remarks he did in NC in his prime. I can't help thinking that it was not as accidental as he claims. But.................why?

To reduce the number of votes for Obama, of course.

[Gary Sisco]

They haven't been able and he's apparently not willing to control himself and his mouth during her campaign. Imagine if he were bouncing around the White House again, going off autonomously. It's not the place for an ex-president to be, in my view. Fucking retire already. Get a job. Something.