VP Debate: Biden vs. Palin - Body Language Analysis

It is with some trepidation that I continue along the path of assessing the speaking styles of the candidates up for election in a few weeks. One reader was incensed with last week's letter, thinking I was overtly supporting McCain. The discrepancy came from my asking readers to notice how Senator McCain started most of his rebuttals with "He just doesn't get it." or "He just doesn't understand" even if those comments didn't fit what he was rebutting. My point was to encourage viewer awareness of subtle innuendo.

I would guess that most of you were among the record-breaking number of viewers who watched the vice presidential debate Thursday night. For me, watching this debate took me back to a time when I was in charge of training the trainers for IBM Corp. many, many years ago. First, all of the trainers were female at that time, and second, most had worked in the corporate world for a few years before coming to IBM, and third, all were very professional.

One day I was introduced to a new hiree, a cute little gal who had just graduated from college. She was as smart as a whip and as natural as can be--no make-up, hair parted in the middle, hanging down to her waist, no pretensions, and lots of energy. 

This was about the time when freedom of dress came about and I was unable to comment on her appearance, even to the point of asking her to pull her hair back. Why would I want to comment on such a cutie? One huge reason is she was not taken seriously by the executives she interacted with. Whenever she presented to an account, I got rave reviews about how cute she was but got no sales. She was not taken seriously.

I'm not implying the same with Governor Palin. She is professional looking; my comments relate strictly to her body language and mannerisms.

There is one minor aspect of body language that my trainee used as does Sarah Palin. She tilts her head to the side, wrinkles her brow, smiles coquettishly and then responds--just as little girls, myself included, were taught to do as young girls to get our way with our parents, "Please, please, please, Daddy, can I have . . .?" At every body-language seminar I teach, I emphasize to the females in the group--don't tilt your head and look cutsey; it takes away from your believability, and you will never see a male do this.

As I watched Governor Palin, I remembered my trainee whom I worked with until she could be taken seriously and could garner sales.

First, in a professional debate for the second highest position in the United States, it is expected that each debater show respect by addressing one another by his or her title and  name, even though Palin, on live microphone, asked if she could call Senator Biden by his first name before they took to the podium.

Question: Is it okay that we overlook this aspect of professional presenting? Only you can answer.

Are colloquialisms okay with you, e.g., "you bettca" and "gonna" among others? Shouldn't our leaders be role models? You can see the ridicule Leno and Letterman heap on our current president every night of the week because of grammar and style--again, ignoring substance.

Is "winking" at the camera a mark of professionalism? Is referencing the viewers as "Joe SixPack" and "hockey moms" okay with you? Do you fit into one of those categories? What about those of us who don't?

Is it okay for one of the two debaters to announce to the hostess, the other debater, and to the vast viewing audience that she may not answer questions in the way that is expected? In other words, if she doesn't like the question, she will provide the verbiage she prefers. Isn't this what Wall Street has done to get us in the mess we're in as a nation?

Being a "heartbeat" away from the presidency does scare me. Will Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, and Vladimir Putin take Sarah Palin seriously if she is ever in the position of negotiating nuclear activity in their regions?

Watching Senator Biden's debating style, I found no areas where professionalism was lacking. He walked a narrow path in responding to his opponent's attacks. If he responded in a negative manner to her, he would have lost--picking on the poor newcomer. Instead, he constantly brought the discussion back to the person at the top of the ticket, Senator McCain. He was, indeed, a role model for debaters.