Biden won the Vice Presidential Debates with Ryan by
Using Bully Body Language. Body Language Expert's insights on the debates:
Vice President Biden
won the debate with Ryan by using bully body language. Biden’s strong, low baritone voice made him
appear authoritative. His large and often downward sweeping gestures as well as his use of
fist and holding a weapon like pen in his hand made him look like he was beating Congressman Ryan
down. In addition his looks of derision, disrespect sneering, smiling and
shaking his head and rolling his eyes up , and later in the debate open
hostility as he responded to Ryan’s
answers, as well as Biden’s lack of eye contact with Ryan made him look
like he was stronger and energetic. If you look at my blog on what I was
looking for I was interested to see how Biden would deal with the age
difference. Energy and fierceness were his techniques. Democrats
were eager for Biden to show the spark of energy and passion the president
lacked, he did so.
Though many times he was rude, disrespectful and
interrupted. The way he looked at Ryan with disbelief of his
foolishness. Romney won the last debate
being stronger, louder and longer,
interrupting and more passionate.
Biden is winning so far using Romney’s technique.
Ryan’s answers were steady and fact filled. His pulled back body language may appeal to the conservative right. I
did like Ryan’s verbal response later in the debate to all the interruptions
“I know you’re under a lot of duress to make up for lost ground, but I think
people would be better served if we don’t interrupt each other,” But, nonverbally
Ryan should have said this earlier (timing is nonverbal communicator) and perhaps if he had said it earlier and a bit
more playfully it could have worked. But Biden was roaring by then so Ryan
ended up sounding and looking like he was the nerd that was getting beat
up by the bully standing with a bloody nose and trying to appeal to the bully's
logic. We did feel sorry for Ryan we saw
him as by far the nicer person, but he was rolled over by Biden.
Here are my rough notes from the beginning
Ryan walked toward Biden and did the politician handshake.
Ryan took a sip of water to start.
Biden on first question flat suppressed he was smiling
before the question.
Biden had a strong opening and said, "We will find whoever did this.. "while pointing holding pen.
President my highest priority is to get Bin Laden.
Terrorist points again.
Steady hand and clear visions.
Ryan’s voice (paralanguage) is higher, squeaky and less
“presidential” so when he said, “we mourn
the loss of …” sounded less powerful.
As he said, ‘We owe a great debt of gratitude to our
veterans” Ryan had great vocal emphasis
on the word great. His paralanguage and facial expression were in synch the statement was
warm wonderful and powerful.
Ryan’s downward pinch gesture not strong enough when
talking about deaths at embassy.
Biden’s Response,
“That’s a bunch of Malarkey.” Great vocal power, deep baritone. Sounds
like the ALPHA. He gestures again with
the pointed finger and pen. I think this was a coached gesture to make him
look more forceful and unapologetic.
Biden had strong, downward sweeping gestures. As he rebutted on security.
Very strong.
Ryan’s response to question about soldiers burning and
urinating - He hesitated vocally and did not answer strongly and forcefully. His
body didn’t go forward nor did he gesture strongly enough. I think the word
urinate affected his ability to repeat the question. (a technique to respond
in debates to give him time.)
Ryan, now he is stronger on watered down sanctions.
Biden is interesting
he his look of incredulous Think this technique of looking and speaking in
response to Ryan’s answer is
Great hands together as he talks about the inability to
create nuclear weapon.
Biden gave strong downward striking gesture, What the Iatola
sees. We will not allow the
They don’t have a weapon to put it in. Great gestures so
certain and sharp.
Jobs,
Ryan is looking at Biden with interest he is taking notes (
or faking notes)
Ohhh cool gesture of Biden
He is leaning forward Biden is moving. He is more forward
and certain in his response to question about Jobs.
Ryan does not respond well to Bidens interruption of his
comment about jobs. Ryan pulls his head
back, mouth goes puckered and nose wrinkles and sniffs. His pinched point down gesture again is not
powerful enough.
Biden is very strong, He sounds credible because his
gestures and movement and expressions are feel show say. The expansive gestures and movement. and
loudness of his voice, movement and face make him look and sound more
passionate than Ryan. Actually passionate rather than Ryan's clipped speech and
quick little movements are more left brain and logical. Biden sounds and looks like someone who will get
things done. How many of his gestures
strike downward after each of Ryan’s responses. Remember debates are a battle and Biden's symbolic fighting gestures are working. They make us feel he is successfully beating Ryan down.
Ryan is doing the same pointed gesture. It fits him but it
is not strong enough to us visually.
Biden as he says, “Any senior out there" Biden looks directly at the
camera and reaches out and gestures to them. (places the grey hair to dark hair
in debaters)
Also plays to camera using his favorite phrase, “Folks
listen.”
“Mr. Vice President, Mr. Vice President", Ryan looked directly
at Biden, his eyebrows furrowed in anger, he gestured in attack, but his voice
was not strong enough. Ryan’s gesture
and forward movement was not strong enough.
He actually honored and respected Biden, just a bit too much. How
interesting.
Again. Biden looks with
disrespect giving a tongue thrust (quick sticking out of tongue) at Ryan.
Tax cuts –
Ryan is now doing well in his response. He is really comfortable with this topic. His
controlled gestures here work. He uses
different gestures and they are larger and come down and up farther and more
confidently and his body lifts up in confidence. ( We move up when we feel
positive and or strongly about something.) He is sweeping out his hand a bit,
using his pen like Biden did. His voice
is calm. His nonverbal sounds reasonable.
When Ryan tries to take on Biden directly talking Kennedy
here he does not win.
By the way the moderator is doing a really great job here.
Love how strong she looks. She leans in and raises her voice.
Defense.
Ryan does a good job here initially as he answers
the question. But look at his hands when Biden responds and disagrees with him.
Ryan pulls inward and gets smaller. Look as he goes still he holds his hands in
a formal hands resting pointed towards each other on the table. That is a
centering formal hand position. Again probably coached, but I would have
coached him to spread his hands slightly so he looks centered but stronger. Not looking “smaller” compared to Biden. Ryan is again being respectful. He has to
walk a fine line. This makes his job harder.
Ohh finally Ryan is looking at Biden as he talks but now his
expression has changed. He frowns and brings his head down slightly in a freeze
frame of head shake now.
Taliban,
Biden does his first raised arms up and folds his hands
together. This move shows he feels the need to pull back on his internal desire
to attack. But interesting as he raises his arms and folds he strikes
momentarily at Martha the moderator.
Fighting Season, Warm months.
One of the big if not the biggest moment in the debate, the
Big moment, that will be in the headlines tomorrow when anyone discusses the
vice presidential debate. Big battle about Afghan troops replacing our troops.
Most real anger if you look at micro facial cues (I see when I look at video
you see Biden snarl and bar his teeth as seen in any political debate.)
I am noticing that I am disconnected. I want to stop paying
attention when Ryan gives his long answers without enough vocal variation and
not enough movement.
Faith, Abortion. Ryan delivers the Bean (his first baby)
story very well. He gets to smile he gets to look warm and emotional as he
talks about his daughter.
Biden, “My religion defines who I am.” First time he gets
choked up for the first time. We hear the stress in his voice. His voice goes into a stage whisper.
Ryan abortion.
Catholic church. When Biden interrupts him Ryan thrust out his tongue,
straight out and full. His head moves
after. He is ruffled. Ryan does not hold his ground nonverbally.
Biden, “ We only have one true sacred obligation…”
Biden’s only really big smile(in derision) that I have
noticed thus far in the debate is as he discusses the “scurrilous..” big money
doing scurrilous things in the campaign. Interesting.
Ryan at 10:00 is giving a really strong close. He is finally
making intense focused eye contact with the Moderator. I would like him to give
to the camera.
Biden’s near close showing voice strain and face and body
shows exhaustion gestures getting smaller. Body gets smaller and more still.
Ryan’s response to question to How you would as a human
being is
We believe you grow the country with the middle class he
does a fantastic illustrator gesture as he says. “Middle out top down.”
That’s what this is about great
Ryan, as he closes.
Does great as he begins, looking at the camera as he says, “We face a really
big choice. “ But watch his mouth he is not sure of himself his mouth He gives
this odd forced tight smile as he ends a sentence. Most obviously on his last
line. Looked weak and insincere. If you were just listening not watching his
body language it would have seemed strong.
I would love to give you insight on the wives but was busy
looking at Biden and Ryan.
Interesting, Biden
wanted to end the family time and say goodbye to Ryan. Biden shoulders are down
his movements are slower he looks tired and we can look and compare that with
the activity and energy around Ryan.
Ryan is leaning over to warmly engage family. Ryan is finally getting to
smile in a more sincere way. The smile is longer and goes “up to his eyes.”
Ryan, like Romney at the end of the Presidential debate has more energy and
love around him. He has so many family members around saying goodbye to him. Biden goes to say
goodbye, but Ryan’s back is to him.
Another big video slice that will be
discussed in the news.
One small thing. Ryan’s little boy not going up out of
the chair when Ryan pulls him. Ryan’s
son not quickly looking at his father as he approached. Instead staying
hunkered down in the chair and smiling to the cameras, makes Ryan look less
powerful than his little boy. I am
appalled at this behavior in his son. I think viewers might ask what is this?
How can a child being so attention
seeking and disrespectful. Obama’s
daughter did this at the Democratic convention, now this. If a president and a
vice presidential candidate can’t get respect and attention from their
children what hope do we have in their abllity to lead us or hold or gain
our respect.
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
