Newsweek: Hillary may take speaking lessons, Bill is fighting his 'addiction'

[Herman Munster]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16238556/site/newsweek/

And what about Bill? The 42nd president is clearly a major plus for Hillary as long as he does nothing to embarrass his wife. One close friend of the family, who requested anonymity for obvious reasons, says the two now have a "loving marriage" and that his intense desire to see Hillary as president is helping him fight his longstanding "addiction": "He so wants her to get recognized for her fabulousness that he could live without a lot of things you wouldn't think he could live without."

But the voters' fear of an unwelcome blast from the past remains. "It's a subliminal thing," says another friend, also insisting that he not be named. "People don't want to be dragged back into their marriage when we're in a major crisis. People believe the right wing is loading up the cannons in anticipation, and even if what they have is not true, it will be printed, rebutted and will distract."

The former president will campaign separately from his wife across the country, almost as if he's a vice presidential candidate. This will multiply their impact, but it also avoids the direct side-by-side comparison that hurts Hillary, as it did when both spoke at the funeral of Coretta Scott King. Friends predict she will take speaking lessons (as he did some years ago) so that her speeches are less like policy-wonk laundry lists. They also believe she needs to show her sense of humor more in public, but in a way that's self-deprecating, not the sometimes sarcastic wit she wields in private.

[SoCalDem]

1. All she needs to do is to let the microphone do its job

1. quit yelling
2. speak slower
3. speak conversationally about the things she knows about (can the note cards)
4. pause for breaths
5. start at a lower octave so that it does not get shrill

[keopeli]

2. Frankly, I think she would need steroids to talk any lower than she does.

I've seldom heard a public figure whose speech has lowered as significantly as Hillary's. To my ear, she has made an overly zealous attempt to speak in a "lower octave". It's almost painful for me to listen to.

I would recommend she simply learn to enjoy the microphone and speak much more softly. She has the "stern" part down pat.

Peace.

[Tellurian]

12. Hillary is a virtual encyclopedia of facts..

She embodies a photographic memory, much like Bill, but has never spent time developing her people skills because she's never had the need to, until now. If she learns to generate warmth during her speeches, using Bill as her (guinea pig) audience, her voice will naturally be more relaxed broadcasting a pleasing tone more receptive to her audience.

If you notice, Bill determines his tone of voice and speech patterns according to the audience in front of him. He doesn't speak the same way to people, say in SC, as he would to a head of state or the UN. He does this without thinking. Merely out of habit more than a deliberate, methodical calculation. Because he's found this to be the best way to communicate his message to the audience he is speaking to. It's an easy formula for Hillary to duplicate because it's nothing more than common sense.

I believe Hillary is a genuine, caring person who is accustomed to using the left side of her brain exclusively because her career choice motivates being fluent in accurate facts. She readily admits she doesn't bake cookies etc. But those are just the things she needs to do to achieve the right innate balance when she addresses her audience.

Hillary, for homework you must:

1. decorate your own Christmas tree. (yes, you are allowed help, but will receive higher marks if you go solo.)

2. wrap your own Christmas gifts. (ditto above)

3. take a secret, evening, sleigh ride with Bill. In cognito if necessary.. (caveat, no campaigning)

4. go Christmas shopping with Chelsea with lunch afterwards.. ( without time constraints )

I promise, if you do these simple, little things, you will feel differently innately and finding it unnecessary to go to a speech coach.

My suggestions are more fun anyway...spending time with family and appreciating them (for putting up with you) will be felt as a rewarding experience generating warmth on both parts. The funny thing is, what you've been searching for has been right in front of you all along. The LOVE of your family.

[Clark2008]

23. Hah - without knowing it, you've just hit on something I've been

afraid of in my own life.

I'm pregnant and I'm fearful it will be a girl. Why? Because, even though I'm female, I don't like doing "traditionally" female things - like shopping and doing lunch and playing with makeup and all that sort of thing. I grew up with a Mom who rode horses in rodeos and a Dad who worked on cars and small engines as a hobby. I HATE shopping, particularly Christmas shopping (I do all of mine BEFORE Thanksgiving so I don't have to step foot in a store when the crowds are horrid).

This is extremely off-topic, but it just hit me like a ton of bricks when you said, "go Christmas shopping with Chelsea with lunch afterwards...". I have been extremely insecure about having a daughter (and we DON'T know what my fetus is, yet, I could have another son for all I know), but I think I've figured out why in just an off-handed post by another DUer.

[Captain Hilts]

26. You must be a lesbian. You just don't know it.

Women who aren't passive, obsessed with their appearances and actually want to take an active role in their own lives are always accused of being lesbians.

It's not 'normal' to not be interested in make-up, to want to do something other than teach or be a nurse.

[Clark2008]

36. I think you've forgotten your sarcasm smilie.

However, my point is that if I have a girl and if she's interested in those things, I'll have a hard time being interested in those things along with her.

[Tellurian]

40. More than the sarcasm notation..

manners are abundantly absent.

[Tellurian]

27. haha...great..

I am the mother of 4 sons..Sons naturally gravitate to the alpha males in the family as mentors.

My own mother is much like Hillary, diligent, dedicated and determined which is not a bad thing.

So speaking as the daughter of a similar parent, I know the little attributes that can be meaningful
life changing experiences, moreso than assuming a symbiotic relationship between parent and child.

My daughter-in-law is pregnant with twins, a boy and girl. We Love them already. We say these words constantly to her.
The glow on her face is immeasurable as she looks forward to her due date.

LOVE is the most powerful emotion we possess and the emotion we are most careful to give.
What is the old saying..."Love isn't LOVE until it's given away."

I'm wishing the very best for you and your new baby, whether it be a boy or girl.
He/she is your destiny and you theirs.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

[hlthe2b]

28. Kids will decide what THEY like to do.. expose them to lots...

and be open to doing whatever they gravitate to--with them.... My unsolicited advice on this subject, but what the hey, I only have doggies (and God Children) at this point! LOL

[Clark2008]

37. I know - and I do that with my son.

But, he likes, guess what, horses and cars. LOL. I can easily identify with those things. :)

[Tellurian]

39. I saw Hillary on the TODAY SHOW this am..

I dunno, I think she may have read my post and implemented my suggestions..
At least, she sounded relaxed and her tone of voice was perfect.

I know she was thinking of Chelsea during the interview. TS posted a beautiful
pic of Chelsea & Hillary while Meredith Viera posed her questions. Hillary's
response came across as genuine and caring. The hard edges magically vanished from
her tone of voice. ( She may have had a few voice coaching lessons ) But overall,
the cumulative effect was superb.

I'm hoping she has a chance to review that tape, making note of the dramatic
difference little nuances make. Ultimately changing the public's perception of her,
as softened and warm, yet maintaining control.

[Captain Hilts]

41. Her speaking skills really vary. Sometimes she's stiff, others she's great. nt

[Tellurian]

43. Now that she's aware...she is cognizant a chance is beneficial nm

[Clark2008]

20. Her octave level isn't what bothers me about her speaking voice.

She sounds flat to my ear. Flat vowels, particuarly her "a's" and "o's."

I know some of that is traditionally mid-Western, but Obama grew up in the Chicago area and he doesn't sound that way.

[Captain Hilts]

29. She actually sounds authentic, he doesn't. nt

[liberalpragmatist]

31. Obama grew up in Hawaii

And modifies his speech depending on who he's talking to; before predominantly black audiences or young audiences, he slips into something similar to a Black preacher; before white and suburban audiences he talks in a Kansas accent he picked up from his Kansas grandparents.

[Sparkly]

9. "shrill"

Why does that word pop up so frequently when discussing women politicians? :shrug:

What does it mean? Can men be shrill, too? I've never heard it applied to a man.

[Captain Hilts]

11. No, only women can be 'shrill' or 'strident'. nt

[Sparkly]

13. And if they're not, they're "weak," "indecisive," and/or "unsure of themselves." nt

[hlthe2b]

14. Unfortunately, this is one of the hardest & often subconscious

issues of gender prejudice out there.....I have worked with very high level, multi-disciplinary, racial, ethnicity, and mixed gender groups in the past on joint planning efforts. It never seems to fail that when 6-8 break out into groups, women's voices are so often drowned out and their points are "cut off" in mid-point. This then causes the women to "up the octave" a bit to try to be heard and does sometimes make for a more shrill sound.

Increasingly, I see men making an effort to be inclusive and not to do so, but unfortunately sometimes women are our own worst enemies. I often see women managerial level types (often of a certain age cohort, but not always) who defer to the men in the group, while simultaneously through their body language and interruption patterns, isolating the other women from the discussions. Ironically, if a man were the victim of such treatment, he would publically call out the offender and demand they "knock it out." When one of the women does so, she is perceived as "defensive," or "abrasive," or "not a team player...."


Having observed this over and over, I wonder how many of these "enlightened" and "so-called feminist" women will actually vote for Hillary (or other woman candidate). The percentage may actually be no higher than among men...:shrug:

[Sparkly]

17. Women's voices are higher than men's

Definition of "shrill" from M-W, as an adjective:

1 a : having or emitting a sharp high-pitched tone or sound : PIERCING b : accompanied by sharp high-pitched sounds or cries <shrill gaiety>
2 : having a sharp or vivid effect on the senses <shrill light>
3 : STRIDENT, INTEMPERATE <shrill anger> <shrill criticism>

I agree that our higher voices are far, far more frequently interrupted (watch the discussions on Tweety's show, for example!). But when men speak louder, is there any parallel adjective for their vocal sound? Do people find it a more pleasant sound in any way? If so, WHY?

I think there is a long, long, longstanding issue in our culture around "the silent woman." I can't site the study now, but I've read that following conversations, women were perceived as having spoken more when in fact they spoke less than men. There are running jokes about talkative, nagging, won't-shut-up women and their silent, long-suffering husbands saying, "Yes, dear..." What's that about?!

And of course, to be assertive is to be "bitchy."...

I'm generalizing, of course. But I will NEVER forget Geraldine Ferraro's efforts to surmount stereotypes about women -- it was absolutely impossible. And I don't think we've come very far since then -- in fact, we may have regressed.

[Captain Hilts]

22. FYI...

Hillary gets more votes than polling points. Kind of the opposite of what happens to black candidates/officials.

Check out Deborah Tannen's "You Just Don't Understand" or Robin Lakoff's "Language War."

[hlthe2b]

24. She gets more votes (than polling points) in NY...

I don't think NY is at all indicative of the country as a whole, but we may see...:shrug:


I'm disturbed by the continuing use of gender-specific attributes as a subtle, but very effective form of gender attack-- with its blatant underlying misogyny. Thanks for the two book referrals. Is Robin wife to (or otherwise related to) George Lakoff?

[Captain Hilts]

25. Yes about NY...

I can't help but think the shadow vote for HC might actually be greater in other, less liberal parts of the country - where the social costs of admitting you're considering voting for her are higher.

Look at the mysogynistic language that is acceptable on DU. People here actually think it's a compliment to say a woman has "balls." Guess they think it's a compliment to blacks to say "that's awfully white of you!"

I've wondered about Robin and George. Anyone know the answer?

[izzie]

3. Save us from any more Bush's and Clinton's. I have had enough

New blood please. And I am going to put Yale in the loop also. Maybe add Harvard. They are getting like cookie cutter people.

[Captain Hilts]

4. You have to be a good speaker to be president? Live and learn....nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Well you definitely don't have to be literate

[pretzel4gore]

5. 'the people said no, but congress says yes'

(to war against iraq) now newsweek says hillary is the dem candidate after years of its lying about the democratic party and wrecking efforts to stop the bush war on america/the world ....too bad newsweek couldn't be consigned to the bushpile with the rest of the mediawhores

[Oleladylib]

6. So much bull-//// that she needs to show more self deprecating

humor in public..Only in this culture controlled by macho-////heads would that be the case..What absolute garbage...ELECT A FEMALE..ANY FEMALE...my new motto..It can't get any worse than it is..fellas ..y'all had your chance..repub..or dem..

[Captain Hilts]

10. People like women better when they are deferential or show 'vulnerability'.

Remember, HC's highest approval ratings while in the WH were during/after Monica. She's more palatable as a victim.

[Oleladylib]

15. That's pretty sad, isn't it?

[Sparkly]

18. They may like them better, but not respect them as leaders.

Can't win!

[hlthe2b]

19. Margaret Thatcher: nicknamed the "Iron Lady..."

So apparently Conservative Authoritarianism is the issue?


This perception is (I fear) what has caused Hillary to become such a friggin unrepentant War Hawk...

[Catchawave]

8. Hmmm...could Bill be picked for VP ?

I know there's term limits for Prez, but can it be so......?

A Clinton/Clinton ticket?

[Patsy Stone]

16. The "Mars Attacks" delivery must go.

One thing her husband learned is that if you speak softly, people will try harder to listen to you.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. The selling of a president. PR rules. Break out the handlers.

"Democracy" in action.

[yurbud]

30. "dragged back into their marriage?" who did that? Clinton's or right wing press and lazy sycophant

MSM?

In addition to getting her speaking STYLE polished, she might also work on content. She seems to religiously be following the DLC script of saying nothing offensive to corporate America and therefore nothing that gives voters a reason to expect her to defend them.

Essentially, the DLC conundrum is they are like a judge in a rape case trying to come up with a verdict that makes both the victim and rapist happy. The results will either be vague beyond concrete application or incoherent.

[yurbud]

32. Here's a thought: take right wing spin of her as a bitch and ball-buster and turn it to her

advantage:

"They say I'm a tough bitch that makes conservative men cower and wet themselves. You know what? They are goddamn right,and they aint seen nothing yet, cuz this tough bitch is going to bitch slap health insurance companies, big pharma, and oil companies until they stop screwing the American people. And as you saw when they went after me and my husband when he was president, I won't run away, hide, cry, and apologize when the far right sics their attack dogs on me like Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, and Coulter. In fact, I welcome their attacks. The more they go after my personal life, the more it's proof that I am fighting for you against big money interests in Washington. They call me a castrating bitch, but they better watch out, cuz I'm taking the sheep shears to White House, and I'm going snip the ball sacks off of those bastards and make cookies out of them. Thank you and God bless America."

[JVS]

33. Addiction?

[Rosemary2205]

34. I call bullshit on this one.

Bill's "addiction"??

"people don't want to be dragged into the marriage" -- come on -- who doesn't own a remote??

Newsweek is full of horsefeathers on this.

[Herman Munster]

35. well i don't think bill has much to worry about with his addiction

he's coming to the age when "li' bill" doesn't work so good anymore and I imagine the doctors poo-poo viagra with his heart condition.

[undeterred]

38. I got to shake Clinton's hand at a Dem rally in October

and I couldn't believe how crazy the women in the crowd were at being in his presence. Women LOVE Clinton, no matter how old he is.

[Tatiana]

42. This sounds more like something out of the National Enquirer. n/t