Biden's soft-spoken but impassioned sincerity is more effective than other candidates' raised voices

[highplainsdem]

and I think it's an especially effective contrast to Trump's ranting.

Biden can lay out arguments and describe important situations in a quiet tone that's both very personal and very compelling, making his case as if persuading every listener individually.

He's also very good when he raises his voice at particular moments, for emphasis. I saw one article refer those tones as "thunderous."

But it's the soft-spoken tone that I feel will most sway voters.

Getting them to listen. Getting them to think.

Reasoning with them, not ranting at them.

I'm not saying the other Democratic primary candidates aren't good speakers. They are.

But Biden's a past master at this, as his Human Rights Campaign speech today reminded me.

And it couldn't be a stronger contrast to Trump.

[Honeycombe8]

1. Ummm...Biden raises his voice in that video. Mayor Pete doesn't raise his voice.

So I guess you're thinking of Warren? Maybe Harris? Sanders?

[Demsrule86]

2. Mayor Pete while impressive does not have the experience to be president.

[saidsimplesimon]

30. Being VP does

not mean your are ready for the top job. Pence is nothing more than a placeholder. I voted for President Barack Obama the first time he ran.

[Demsrule86]

40. Yes actually Biden was a very active vice president so he could do the job on day one...and with

the mess Trump has made abroad, we need experience to reverse the damage. He was also in the Senate. Mayor Pete was the mayor of a small very blue city in red Indiana...he brings us no states and does not have the experience needed to be president...also we have to ask can a gay person win the presidency in 20? I don't think so. My daughter is gay and I have seen the shit she has endured...red states are making laws that Gay people can be denied housing and even life saving medical treatment... I do believe he is very talented and has a future in this party...but not in Indiana...he can't run for Senator or Governor...maybe for the House in a blue district (they have a few still).

[wellst0nev0ter]

54. "Being gay is a liability"

Do you think Joe the Biden thinks that?

[Demsrule86]

57. I dont know but given my daughters experience , it imakes things difficult. Look at the rollback

Of rights. It is going to be a battle to win equality and we must must win. In order to do that we need to win in 20. Mayor Pete is impressive. But he has no foreign policy experience, he ran a small state so he has ted limited executive experiencel

[Celerity]

50. yes he does

8 years as an politician at executive level overseeing a larger group of employees and staff and a larger budget than any Senator or Representative does. South Bend has a strong mayor system so the buck really did stop with him. He also had massive interfacing with the Federal and State governments as well, plus dealt with multivariate social, economic and public relations issues. He also has had a truly superb and varied tertiary education including an Oxford 'First' (extremely rare) in their hyper-rigorous Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) programme, which is tailor-made for an executive-level career in politics. He also has combat military experience in Afghanistan so truly knows what it means to send American troops into harm's way.
'
Pete can scale it up just fine, and the POTUS also has a truly overwhelming amount of support staff, so it is the big picture that matters when the rubber meets the road (he is also a policy wonk as well, so is the best of both worlds), and Buttigieg is utterly superb in the big picture department.

[onetexan]

51. +1 -K&R

[highplainsdem]

4. I said very clearly in the OP that he raises his voice at times for emphasis. But most of the time

he's soft-spoken.

[Honeycombe8]

7. It's poli-talk. They are all political-talking.

He lowers his voice intentionally to sound earnest, then he raises his voice on certain points to sound almost angry. They all do it. For all election.

Trump's shouting is poli-talk, too. He doesn't talk that way in normal conversations, at least according to interviews over the years.

I was just addressing your point..that walking softly is more effective. By that standard, Mayor Pete wins, hands down.

Obama didn't have the experience, either, BTW. But there was something about Obama.... And there may be something about Pete.... Remains to be seen.

[Skya Rhen]

16. Pete might be intelligent (like countless others) but he does not effectively hold the attention

of a typical listener - perhaps his die-hard supporters - but definitely not the average person who he would need to captivate.

His voice is consistently monotone and lackluster but I am sure that this can improve with time and experience.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. Yes, Bernie, Warren, Mayor Pete, and Harris are VERY even-keeled.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Honeycombe8]

8. Bernie most definitely speaks in a loud, fast, angry way.

Warren, too. Harris to a less extent. Mayor Pete is fairly calm in all his speaking, that I've seen.

Whatever their personalities are, however speaking works for them, is what they do. It's all political talk. It's planned and rehearsed. Except for maybe Pete, because he hasn't had handlers and time in Congress and such. He's just who he is, at this point. It works for him.

[katmondoo]

41. Bernie did nothing for 30 years, why is he so wonderful??????

[George II]

9. An expansion of a classic Meat Loaf song, "three out of four ain't bad".....

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

10. Okay George, that was actually funny... untrue, but, still funny!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

12. George Costanza had a take on that, but whatever..........

[thewhollytoast]

37. I met meatloaf. I liked Meatlaof. You are no Meatloaf.

Send my regards to Mitt,

Toast

[George II]

42. I'm about 150 pounds lighter than Meat Loaf.

[highplainsdem]

11. Bernie's loud and tends to seem cranky. Warren sounds sincere but also often comes across

as scolding. Mayor Pete sounds very nice and reasonable but doesn't have the same persuasive tone of quiet intensity Biden's mastered. And Harris is coolly reasonable and can also be very likable, but again, she doesn't seem to have that compelling, quiet intensity that's so effective for Biden.

Biden draws people in.

[pnwmom]

18. "Scolding" is a word typically used to describe women more than men. You're on shaky ground here. nt

[highplainsdem]

19. Sigh. If you check Google, you'll see it's a word that's often used to describe how she sounds at

times, even when it's clear reporters sympathized more with her than with whomever she was scolding.

[pnwmom]

39. Yes, sexism is a societal problem and the noun "scold" is an ancient sexist slur.

It's best not to use any form of the word to describe successful, caring women like Elizabeth unless you're trying to be offensive.


https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scold



Definition of scold (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : one who scolds habitually or persistently
b dated, now sometimes offensive : a woman who disturbs the public peace by noisy and quarrelsome or abusive behavior


http://time.com/4268325/history-calling-women-shrill/

In a 1926 survey about talk radio, a ratio of 100 to 1 respondents preferred male hosts to female hosts. Women, these respondents complained, sounded “shrill” and conveyed “too much” personality. Ninety years later, and the battle rages on, word for word. Many unapologetically vociferous male politicians and pundits have lately said that Hillary Clinton’s raised voice during speeches somehow registers as, yes, “shrill” and simply “too much.”

There’s a long history of men telling women to avoid rhetorical excess and to use their indoor voices.

In ancient Greece, public female vocality often bore associations with prostitution, madness, witchcraft and androgyny.

In late medieval England, an outspoken woman would often be dubbed a “scold,” someone who “could not keep her negative, or worse, insubordinate, words to herself.”

[highplainsdem]

49. Don't twist my words. I didn't call Warren "a scold." I stand by what I said about her

sometimes coming across as scolding. It IS a word I've seen applied to her (articles saying she scolded someone, for instance, and the word was used even when it was clear there was no sympathy in the article for the person she was scolding).

I don't recall seeing the word used in articles about Harris or Klobuchar.

For that matter, I don't recall seeing it used to describe Hillary Clinton, whom I supported in both 2008 and 2016.

I'm a feminist. I've been a feminist since the 1960s. I've done my share of lecturing people for using language considered offensive to women.

I reserve the right to point out that Warren sometimes comes across as scolding people when the language is accurate.

And try reading more carefully. I said she SOMETIMES comes across as scolding.

Look at the definition of the noun "scold" that you posted. That uses the words "habitually" and "persistently."

[emmaverybo]

52. That is because "scolding," an old-fashioned word, has been associated traditionally with

chiding misbehaving children. Traditionally, it was women who would admonish children as traditionally women did the bigger part of child rearing. So the word remains one used to describe
women’s tone of voice more than men’s.
My mother scolded me. I can’t say my father did.
Warren is in the same generation as I am. Her mother may well have “scolded” her gently. Also, she was a teacher. I was told by friends that I had adopted the finger wagging mannerism after I started teaching. Probably got from my mom.
Women public speakers can overcome traditional descriptions of their speaking behaviors by tweaking them. These often have to do with vocalization.
In Beto’s case, he would do well to lose the pumping arm, which he uses in a traditionally masculine way, as gesturing that signals willingness to fight.
Am I being sexist to point that out?

[Honeycombe8]

43. Warren's biggest problem is a lack of a sense of humor.

She's like the lead female character, Katie, in the movie The Way We Were. Remember how serious and lecturing the character was all the time? That's Warren. The Robert Redford character told her, "You should've laughed," when a public joke was played on her. Humor is important, esp the ability to laugh at yourself. Trump can't laugh at himself; he has mental issues. Obama not only could laugh at himself, he cracked jokes at his own expense.

Biden does have a sense of humor, I'll give him that.

Bernie definitely does NOT, that I've seen. There's nothing in the world that's a laughing matter, as far as Bernie is concerned. Life is NOT a cabaret to Bernie!

I don't follow Harris closely enough to know if she has a sense of humor. She smiles a lot, so I would guess she does.

Mayor Pete does. He will make a funny occasionally.

[pnwmom]

44. If you'd seen Warren telling her Stormy Daniels joke, complete with comic timing,

you wouldn't have said that.

[Honeycombe8]

45. Yes, I would have. But I'm glad for her that she's trying to address that issue.

I saw it mentioned on tv recently...someone (it'll come to me later who it was) mentioned her lack of sense of humor. It's her thing...her passionate earnestness, her zeal, her seriousness and urgency. That's a great thing. But it doesn't include a sense of humor. She doesn't smile much. She doesn't have to be a comedian to smile.

Notice the difference with most Democratic candidate winners. Obama, Bill Clinton, Carter...hard to find them not smiling.

[pnwmom]

46. Oh, right. Warren needs to smile more.

Why do women face criticism for not smiling enough? Do you realize how pervasive it is in our culture for women to be told they need to smile more?

The truth is that women don't smile less than men, they smile MORE. Even Elizabeth Warren. But men's smiles get more noticed, because their default look is supposed to be serious.

https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/10/what-its-like-when-a-coworker-tells-you-to-smile/505493/

Ugh, indeed. And yet, it’s complicated: While pressure to smile at work is usually less overt and less frightening than street harassment, it can also carry greater repercussions. The need to preserve a good relationship with coworkers and clients means that responding angrily to frustrating requests isn’t really an option. And the subtle, unconscious biases that influence things like promotions and evaluations make the office one place where women sometimes really do “have” to smile to succeed.

Take teaching: There’s an ever-growing body of evidence that female professors are rated more harshly than their male peers on things like classroom demeanor, which means the stakes of “not smiling enough” or appearing “too outspoken” can become very high. As reader Michelle explains:

For years I’ve been an adjunct instructor. I get exhausted smiling, always being cheerful and pleasing. I know that fewer smiles would mean lower student evaluations, less enrollment in my classes, no work. I genuinely love teaching and care about my students. The extra emotional energy that goes into always being sure I’m pleasing would be better spent on real professional concerns and authentic emotional expression. With a paycheck on the line, I have to let this slide.

SNIP

https://code.likeagirl.io/why-dont-you-smile-more-assertive-women-in-the-workforce-53adfc01ffc3

We are women in tech. We are marketers. We are designers. We are UX analysts. We are Python developers. We are front-end developers. We are CTIOs. We are content marketers. We are CEOs. We are copywriters. We are project managers. We are leaders. We are many, many things.

However, women cannot be everything to everyone. We cannot exist in both the assertive/dominant space, and the sensitive/passive space in perpetuity.
Do you know how friggin’ exhausting it is displaying performative male-centric confidence and then having to provide a matronly smile so male coworkers don’t call you condescending, difficult, or bitchy

?

[Honeycombe8]

47. A thick skin is helpful in politics.

Warren is not perfect. Biden is not perfect. Hillary was not perfect. Obama was not perfect. Pete is not perfect. No one is perfect.

I am a female feminist. I am HARDLY pulling a sexist thing on Warren. It's a mere easily recognizable trait of hers: she doesn't smile much, and she is lacking as good a sense of humor as some of the others. That doesn't make her a bad candidate. And my observation would be the same if she were male.

Sanders also doesn't smile often and doesn't have a good sense of humor.

They all have faults, or maybe traits that some people don't like. What matters is how important those traits are in the election.

[Cha]

3. I noticed that when he was speaking

to the HRC group.

Very effective.. speaking from his heart and soul about Human Rights, and raising his voice emphatically when he wants to emphasize an important point.

[highplainsdem]

13. Exactly, Cha -- "speaking from his heart and soul." You nailed it.

[Turin_C3PO]

5. Won't it be nice to have a real President again?

The Orange Menace will be eaten alive by Biden at the debates.

[highplainsdem]

14. +1,000,000

[Thekaspervote]

32. Yes yes +1,000,000

[aikoaiko]

15. this was, more or less, HRC's strategy against Trump and it didn't work enough.

Essentially, its the "look Presidential" strategy and think its not what will carry the day in 2020, IMO.

I'd really see thunderous Joe more.

[pnwmom]

17. Most of the candidates, including Biden, raise their voices at rallies,

and lower it in other venues.

There is nothing unique in how he uses his voice.

[highplainsdem]

20. Yes, there is, but I wouldn't expect someone who never misses a chance to snipe at Biden

to be willing to recognize it.

[pnwmom]

21. Prove it. I think your favoritism toward Biden is affecting your perceptions. n/t

[highplainsdem]

24. No, it isn't. But since you aren't open to hearing it yourself, here's a column by a

communications expert on Biden's 2016 speech at the Democratic convention:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2016/07/28/the-joe-biden-speech-passion-and-presence/#4938017e6f3d

When it comes to inspiration, I often say that passion is everything. A leader simply cannot persuade without it. I write articles offering specific techniques to help you package your ideas more clearly and persuasively, but I can’t teach passion. When you have passion it’s magic and Vice President Joe Biden had it Wednesday night.

I'll put the YouTube link to that speech below.

Biden did raise his voice much more often during that speech than during his HRC speech today.

But he still varied his tone to deliver especially effective quieter passages.

And the passion came through in those moments as well.

Today's speech was an especially good example of how effective Biden's quieter tone is, but the 2016 speech was a great one:

[pnwmom]

25. That's my point. He raised his voice and lowered it effectively -- as all good speakers do.

And almost all of the top tier Democratic candidates ALSO have this ability. That's part of why they've gotten this far.

[highplainsdem]

26. The other candidates don't do it as well. And it's most obvious when Biden is speaking softly but

still communicating with that passionate intensity.

Editing to add something I already mentioned in my OP -- that these quieter parts of speeches are what will sway voters. Get them to listen. Get them to think. Draw them in.

[saidsimplesimon]

29. pnwmom, I agree.

Your response is better than the one I just deleted, and your message would pass the "Mom" review (just wanted to acknowledge the men also).

[Cha]

27. Thank you for that stunning example

of Biden's inspiring speech at the DNC!

He certainly had passion at the HRC event today.

[Skya Rhen]

23. #BidenEnvy, dontcha know...

[Cha]

48. Exactly.

[Skya Rhen]

22. No one, currently running, does it like Joe - this has always been a gift of his and not everyone

has that gift (which is why it is a gift)...

[emmaverybo]

55. Agree 100 percent. It is not bias to point out that Biden is a gifted public speaker. He combines

highly effective use of physicality with ability to connect emotionally with audience. It’s very difficult for most public speakers to manage to use the personal dynamic, that is, their own natural-seeming personality, in front of large audiences while maintaining the needed amplification of delivery.
Bill Clinton was quite good; Obama at his best, one of the best in decades.
He had oratorical power and the speeches themselves were often lyrical, eloquent, profound.
Although public speaking mastery and talent is not a qualification for the presidency, it helps
I was also impressed with Julian Castro’s abilities when he gave the Democratic convention key-note speech in 2012. His manner less oratorical than Obama’s, but powerful and sincere. I felt he was one to watch.

[AlexSFCA]

28. this was incredible

sincere, to the point, not scripted. It’s impossible not to like him. I like Mayor Pete but I must admit Pete often repeats same rehearsed phrases which come out too perfect, not as personal as Biden. I think Biden has improved his speeches even though he is getting older. It truly feels he speaks from the heart but with some very detailed knowledge of the subject. This is a very different style from everyone else in dem primary. I can listen to him for a long time, he is an engaging speaker with great stories. I really feel he could easily connect to conservative/independent voters the way Hillary could never do. I feel more confident now that he can beat trump if nominated.

[pnwmom]

31. Hillary won 2.9 million more votes than Trump, and only 70K fewer votes than 2012 Obama,

DESPITE the new suppression of millions of votes, which SCOTUS allowed when it dismantled the 1965 Voting Rights Act a year after Obama was re-elected. And despite the Comey letter and Russian interference.

I'm sick of hearing people say that she didn't connect with voters. I knew many women who were passionate about her, so it starts to feel sexist when men say things like this. Maybe you couldn't personally connect with her. But many millions did.

[JI7]

34. because they dismiss minority voters

even against Obama Hillary won non black minority voters. and she held that support when she ran again 8 years later.

the ones people claim can connect lost those votes. they lost to hillary by millions .

[Thekaspervote]

35. Oh boy... me too!!

[JI7]

33. the ones Biden would appeal to that others can't are White men and it's not because he can speak

softly or whatever that will be the reason he is able to appeal to them and not others.

Hillary got millions more votes . she can't connect to some because mainly because of their bigotry. how is she going to connect to someone who doesn't like the idea of a women being president and in other powerful positions ?

[emmaverybo]

36. He's consistently one of the best political public speakers. He makes an essential emotional

connection with his audience and he also uses his voice and body language effectively. The latter can be coached, but coming across as authentic and getting folks to feelyour message is
the part that has to come from the heart, as other posters here mention.
He is a much under-rated communicator either because of unscripted gaffes or the fact that people haven’t actually heard him speak or debate.
He has an engaging, unaffected manner few can match. He looks comfortable in his own skin.
Honestly, I think he is, perhaps one of the graces age confers, but perhaps he was just born with
inner confidence.
A wonderful wife with gifts in her own right helps too.

[Maru Kitteh]

53. A hundred recs.

[ecstatic]

56. I can't disagree. He's definitely mastered the voice game. nt