Wait a second. Isn't the rap on Hillary that she succeeds despite her weak communication skills? That she's substance over a decided lack of style?
But GMA managed this morning to find two body language and communication experts to declare that Hillary is particularly gifted in non-verbal communication.
In a segment beginning at 7:40 A.M. EDT today, ABC's Claire Shipman first interviewed body-language expert Janine Driver.
Shipman rolled tape of Hillary giving her classic head nod.
View video here
ABC CORRESPONDENT CLAIRE SHIPMAN: What's the nodding?
BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT JANINE DRIVER: It's a non-verbal clue that says "I'm listening, I'm paying attention."
I don't know about you, but I find Hillary's nodding artificial, condescending, even creepy. Couple that with her stilted, North Korean parlimentarian-style hand-clapping, and she strikes me as anything but a body-language natural.
SHIPMAN: Clinton gets a thumbs-up for body language. And one unique element?
DRIVER: That's a male gesture.
SHIPMAN: It's called steepling. It's definitely a powerful gesture, it's saying "I've got a plan." It says "I can play with the big boys."
Later, Shipman rolled a clip of Professor Roderick Hart [Dean of the College of Communication at the University of Texas-Austin].
SHIPMAN: [Hart] has devised a computer program to study political speeches from the last 40 years. The winning formula? Speak in ordinary terms and be upbeat. Clinton, he says, does that very well.
Cut to a clip of Hillary, affirming "I am convinced. We are up to meeting [the challenges]. We are Americans."
What? Hillary, upbeat and optimistic? If there's anyone in modern political life associated with shrill speech and an accusatory tone, surely it's Hillary Clinton. Her "sick and tired" shriek has to be the single most unlistenable moment in recent political memory. Listen here, if you dare.
But no matter: ABC's got her back, and declares Hillary the body-language queen.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
And don't forget another
August 3, 2007 - 13:31 ET by dahliatraversAnd don't forget another "upbeat" maneuver, my favorite, picked up by Motherbelt: pointing to an imaginary person in the crowd with a surprised, smiling look on her face as though to say, "You're here! I'm so happy!"
Doesn't consistency count for anything when judging body language? Or are they just picking out a few instances when she did it right as a reason to say something positive about her?
Thank you, dahlia....she is
August 3, 2007 - 14:18 ET by motherbeltThank you, dahlia....she is just SO phony...everything, EVERYTHING she does and says is planned. The only thing this proves is that she has mastered the "body language" thing...she has learned the "appropriate" motions to project the desired effect. She can nod seriously one moment, become a cheerleder the next. Kind of like her husband laughing as he left Ron Brown's funeral, and switching to tears and wiping his eyes in the space of 2 steps when he saw the camera on him.
PHONYPHONYPHONY!!!! I simply do NOT understand why every person in the country cannot see through her!!!!
Many people do see through
August 3, 2007 - 14:34 ET by PeskyDaneMany people do see through her. They're just on her side regardless.
Cantstandja Hillary
August 3, 2007 - 15:49 ET by River CityDitto PeskyDane! Not only do they see it and don't care. They like her politics in spite of it and keep the end game in mind. The phoniness is part of the game.
“You don’t understand. I am a queen, and I demand to be treated like a queen.” Representative Sheila Jackson Lee D-TX
give it time
August 4, 2007 - 10:25 ET by CatherwoodI simply do NOT understand why every person in the country cannot see through her!!!!
Dear Mother,
I've heard that one of the reasons some dims fear her nomination is that eventually everyone WILL see through her and be alienated by what they see. The revealing of the real Hillary will come during the presidential debates when she has to stand there without the immediate aid of handlers and answer questions about her past which is repleat with some of the greatest lies ever told. The real Hillary will not be a pleasant things to see or even think about. These revelations about her true self may be the only thing that keeps us from having 'the worst president in the history of the country'. If elected she will be a total disaster. Half the country will not even recognize that we have a president. We'll only have a political whore who has turned the ultimate trick.
Or are they just picking
August 3, 2007 - 14:20 ET by PeskyDaneOr are they just picking out a few instances when she did it right as a reason to say something positive about her?
umm... yes.
What does
August 3, 2007 - 16:30 ET by PAPA LA PROUD AMERICAN
What does the cleavage bit got to do with body language? Just wondering. Oh well I guess she is a master or would that be mistress of body language?
Or is she one hell of an other phoney actress? OOOOh my head hurts?
Anything dealing with
August 3, 2007 - 13:32 ET by Airforce_5_OAnything dealing with Hillary and Body makes me ill...I'm outa uh-oh.............
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Natural body language my Aunt Fanny!
August 3, 2007 - 13:42 ET by Scout FinchHillary has spent many hours practicing in front of a mirror with a personal trainer to perfect her 'natural' body language. Like everything about her, it's deliberate, phony, and hackneyed.
I swear!
August 3, 2007 - 14:01 ET by drillanwrIf this woman farted the MSM would hum along ...
I got some non-verbal
August 3, 2007 - 14:03 ET by Dad GummitI got some non-verbal communication for her.
"If you don't read a newspaper, you are uninformed. If you do read a newspaper, you are mis-informed."-Mark Twain
Hillary ready for the old folks home
August 3, 2007 - 15:00 ET by Lame CherryIf liberals view Hillary's body as that of a winner, her face looks like contented senility of gram ready for the old folks home.
I was watching daddy Bill in Africa on an ABC commercial for Clintons called Nightline. Bill even looks like gramps with Parkinsons starting as his head bobs now.
These 2 do not look like winners to me they look like 2 old duffers who burned the candle at both ends and are paying for it. No one has yet listed the "aging factor" as Bill is probably a man in reality in his 80's and Hillary is in reality a female in her 70's. Neither one got much pep to them anymore and no matter the propaganda pictures do not lie. These 2 are coggers now and not the heathen yuppie couple of the 90's.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
I agree her body language
August 3, 2007 - 15:02 ET by midnight cowboyI agree her body language is quite effective at her communicating her message.
The way I read her body language it says,
"Back off, I'm one wicked b*tch so don't get me going. You get in my way and I will grind your testciles into hamburger meat. You owe me this damn presidency. Now I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper."
Excuse me, but to speak
August 3, 2007 - 16:42 ET by Right2thePointExcuse me, but to speak body language you have to have a body.
If you think THAT is a body, you have issues and I support you going to counseling real fast.
From viewing the video the
August 3, 2007 - 16:46 ET by Right2thePointFrom viewing the video the EXPERT has a WHOLE LOT of experience with body.
Once de body under control
August 3, 2007 - 17:33 ET by RackieOnce de body under control dat she-devil gotta master dat butt-ugly mug she got. Please Lawd, least 'til Jesus come, don't make me look at dat mug face no mo.
Her body language looks
August 3, 2007 - 18:59 ET by Chris NormanHer body language looks artificial because there isn't a genuine bone in her body. She's like a bad actress trying to essay a difficult role (her southern black woman character is really bad and her "outraged woman" routine makes her sound like a shrew gone insane). If she was a professional actress, she'd be booed off the stage...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
As I've said before ...
August 3, 2007 - 19:27 ET by drillanwrHillary is a "shape-shifter".
Quite drill, But as Chris
August 3, 2007 - 19:31 ET by BlondeQuite drill,
But as Chris mentioned, she's such a bad actress that everyone sees her shifting.
She's pathetically inept at it, too.
"Karma Chameleon"
August 3, 2007 - 19:55 ET by drillanwrWell, I guess we'll all know she's completely lost it if next time she shows up in the South or in Harlem like this:
http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Mptv/1296/0534_0127.jpg
http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Mptv/1206/0534_0124.jpg
She's not far from it ...
Access denied...guess I
August 3, 2007 - 19:57 ET by BlondeAccess denied...guess I need an account there, or somesuch.
AH! Sorry ... it's
August 3, 2007 - 20:00 ET by drillanwrAH! Sorry ... it's AOL.
http://www.subvulture.com/archive/white_xmas_al_jolson.jpg
Any luck?
Oh yeah! There she
August 3, 2007 - 20:03 ET by BlondeOh yeah! There she is.
Working on that accent again, donch'all know?
Heh-heh-heh!
August 3, 2007 - 20:05 ET by drillanwrHeh-heh-heh!
Don't Talk to Me
August 4, 2007 - 03:01 ET by Barker......and Hillary's cleavage screams cover-up...............
To me, Hillary always
August 4, 2007 - 04:10 ET by fitzfongTo me, Hillary always resembled a talent scout. Passionate about the game, yet not talented enough to make it in the big leagues, she makes her living by locating those more talented than she. Then she hitches her trailer to that talent in order to get into the majors through the back door. Has yet to accomplish a damn thing on her own...in fact an embarrassing failure the one time she was in charge of something. I think she's going to have problems once she's in a debate with her Republican opponent...her goons and handlers like Wolfson and Lewis won't be on stage to protect her from herself. I predict a meltdown.
master of deceit
August 4, 2007 - 10:11 ET by CatherwoodThe only thing Hillary is master of is deceit. She's a born liar who lies with ease and conviction. She hides from the real questions and only answers the ones she wants to answer. Hillary is a packaged product on sale for 99.99, a political prostitute with no conscience driven by blind ambition. She's the most dangerous woman in the world. I truly wonder if America and Americans can survive her presidency which is just as surely coming as the night follows the day.
Body Language: A Science?
August 4, 2007 - 11:23 ET by Bill W.Not hardly. Hand gestures, facial expressions, body language = parlor games. Nothing scientific here.
So, how else can anyone assess the potential behavior of people? http://www.ireadfaces.com/sptanlys/spot10.htm It's just the "good" stuff...