He Looked Presidential, She Looked Mayoral

Assessment Of Body Language Expert Joe Navarro On Veep Debate; He Says Both Did Well

(CBS)  Not everything Joe Biden and Sarah Palin said during the vice presidential debate was conveyed in words. Body language counts, too.

On The Early Show Thursday, body language and political imagery expert Joe Navarro, author of "What Every Body Is Saying" and a former FBI criminal profiler, offered his observations of the candidates' non-verbal communications during their face-off.

"I thought they did really well," Navarro told co-anchor Harry Smith, "you know, so much different than the presidential debate we just saw, where you saw a lot of tension, you saw a lot of distancing between the major players. Here ... they shook hands very closely. They deliberated for quite a bit of time. And there was a significant difference in how they cease addressed each other: They faced each other.

Asked by Smith if Palin seemed more aggressive in terms of how she addressed Biden, Navarro responded, "I think she had an agenda of things she had to get out verbally. And so, you know, she was trying to get that message out. Aggression? I don't think she was as aggressive as some people thought she might be."

Biden, said Navarro, "looked very confident. He looked very attentive to details. He was -- it was a great performance. We've seen him before Congress before and he's always very dynamic, and he held to very short statements, so it was -- somebody got a hold of him! But we listened time to him, because he changed his (sometimes longwinded) manner."

"On the other side of the coin," Smith remarked, "there was a very low bar for Sarah Palin to get over. There was a lot of curiosity how she would do. She didn't so well in some of these interviews the last week or two. What'd she do last night?"

"She did remarkably well," Navarro replied, "and I'll tell you why. Because there was a national/international audience. There was so much pressure on her. Joe Biden is a tough person to go up against and she held up extremely well."

"There was a lot of sort of nervous smiling last night," Smith said.

What did Biden's smile tell Navarro?

"We use that nervous smile to shield us when we're under a little bit of stress and so forth. Everybody does it, and some people hold it longer than others, but it's very useful for that."

Smith said, "The pundits graded it as a draw. But on the overnight polling, it tended to favor Biden by a significant margin. Why would that have been?"

"One of the things we look for is comfort and discomfort," Navarro explained. "He made us feel comfortable. He looked presidential. She looked mayoral."

[drlisao]

Speak for yourself. He did not make this we feel comfortable. He looks old school, she looks fresh. He looks experienced and familiar with facts, she looks a little green. He does not look presidential to me. She does not look (demoted from GovnR to Mayor) mayoral. Your bias is flying when you write that.

[sung9]

I do not want a president or VP I can drink beer with, who winks at me and thinks I am "joe 6 pack". I want a sophisticated president or VP, who can look any world leader in the eye and hold his/her own. The difference between Hillary Clinton (intelligence, confidence) and Sarah Palin (fumbling, anxious to please) is enormous. Palin, as a woman of power, does not make me proud. She has a long way to go to become a leader of this country. So, yes, I agree that Biden was presidential and Palin mayoral.

[ericmiami]

Biden didn''t like, have an infant clingin'' to his shoulder like Palin did. Betcha he lost points for that!

[gwinginit]

They both looked Political to me, That is Their lips were moving and the lies and half truths just keep on coming. I think we should have a test rather than an election, The test should determine whether the candidate would embrace the constitution as the founding fathers wrote it not the spin merchants. The test should be whether they would act on what is right and wrong and not what the polls say is right and wrong. both of them gave me the impressiont that as their lips moved they lied. Biden more that Palin but not enough that I would want her as President. I am tired of hearing Yo Mama whine. and which way is the wind blowing Mc Cain scares me almost as much as Yo Moma. Not quite. Which one is the least scary is no way to determine the President of the USA. Can we go back to the drawing board.

[julesvernes]

Fair enough. He looked like a president and she did better than expected. When he talked I felt like relaxed and informed. When she did, it was a like a verbal soup. I least she completed her sentences this time. She talks in a robotic way, a parrot could learn a speech if you train her. Sarah would make a great neighbor who would bring a six pack of Corona beer to a BBQ picnic, whereas Biden looks polished, intelligent, warm yet firm and tough. I want a serious person to manage my bank account not a folksy sassy soccer mom.

[solsenz]

The McCain camp must consider everyone to be stupid. I think ANYONE could show up with their Own questions, and answer them in general terms. Especially, if you have a background as a beauty queen where generalities are given in speeches. The Republicans talked about her "Performance," and I would consider them correct-it was a PERFORMANCE. There was no substance and she did not answer the questions given. As far as G.W. being the in the past, last time I checked, he was still our President, making decisions and influencing policy, which is still affecting us as citizens. Past? As far as I''m concerned, George Bush is very much in the present and if you can''t distinguish him from McCain policy, there''s a problem!

[lamontee33]

I completely agree with the last sentence - "He looked presidential. She looked mayoral." Palin did much better than was expected but her responses were very limited. She was stuck in a loop of the same few answers, while Biden showed that he has a real grasp of the issues. Palin did not answer many of the questions. Biden answered them all. Palin''s winking and goofy folkisms were insulting to intelligent americans. I don''t think we need hockey mom Joe six pack to get this country out of the mess we''re in, I think we need smart, sober, and meaningful leadership which Biden and Obama have.

[jkjive]

I love how right-wingers think any news reporting that doesn''t agree with their perspective is bias. Overall, during the debate in terms of body language both displayed confidence, but Biden was more genuine. Palin''s folksy little winks, and cutesy little comments that some news commentators thought "connected" her to the people was annoying. She was condescending towards Biden and showed how empty and hollow she is as a person after his emotional expression about his family - when he said the American people need help I knew he was speaking from the heart and that he is committed to helping us - for Palin this is just another contest. In the end who do you want working out deals in Washington and working with foreign leaders - someone with kindness, knowledge, substance or someone who will wink at them and try to charm them with her put-on, completely fake folksy "style." REALLY?!? I would like to have people in the White House I can respect.

[htaft-2009]

Who did Biden''s facelift? Wow...terrible job!! What a phoney!

[my_view_08]

Do we really want a V.P. to talk to world leaders, sounding like Yee Haw or the Beverly Hillbillies? She speaks at the age level of a 16 year old girl at the beach. Now is not the time to put another C- student in the White House. Mc Cain graduated 5th from the bottom of his class of 899 and she is simply a doll with the McCain camps hand up her rear. Doggun-it, Ya''ll dew understand me right. Please understand this, if the republicans who had control of the WH and both the Senate and The House of Reps in congress would have done the things that they preach about (conservative values) over the first term of Bush and the first half of his second term the Democrats would not have been voted in to congress in 2006. The Republicans had 6 years where they could not be challenged, whatever they wanted they got and here we are as a nation. Look we all know you don%u2019t%u2019 vote out a good thing.

[diane42997]

If Palin gets elected after doing her "maverick", "Joe 6-pack", "hockey mom" etc.
cutesy stuff, we''ll be the laughing stock of the world.

[ladyraestewa]

If people are not questioning McCain''s judgment by now, there is no hope for them at all. Palin isn''t qualified by a long shot and even she knows it. Shame on her for accepting and shame on McCain for offering but more shame upon anyone who supports her in that role. You are just as delusional and out of touch as McCain.

[noloyalisti]

It doesn''t matter who won the debate, Rove and his merry men WILL steal the election again. This time, millions must go out in the streets. We MUST be ready for the day after the election theft so that we are ready to act. We must not let the fascist GOP coup occur.

[hihawaii1]

Absolutely, great headline. But the town should have less than 7,000 population.

[hhowards1]

Oh-h-h-h, say it ain''t so, Joe!

What does "mayoral" look like? For that matter, define for us your understanding of the "presidential look". Is it that they could walk upright or have the right coiffe? So how do you describe the middle class "look"?

She got out alive ... that''s the best that can be said ... I''m not sure even that wasn''t a courtesy move by Biden.

That''s the trouble with "Nights in White Satin" men when they are debating "Psycho" series women.

[oknfl]

She said the taliban, (or Talabani in Palinese) were working with us in Iraq.

[gopvomit]

HERE IS MY QUESTION: How does the Republican Party "Ministry of Truth" plan to hijack the November election voting results and cheat their way into the White House this time? AND...what measures are the Democrats taking to see that doesn''t happen again?
They corrupted the results in Florida, they tampered with them in Ohio. What''s next?

[billo1409]

I think the last sentence sums up my thoughts exactly.Sarah Palin looks capable of being the mayor of a small town and Joe Biden clearly showed that he is capable of being president.

[pastdue1]

McCain , today, is cheerleading for Palin while he is stumping, and believe me, he neither looks presidential nor sounds presidential. His performance causes a perplexed look ~ the look that says "is he for real?"

[stevex47]

The picture above really does sum up the story''s headline !

[stevex47]

Just looking at the pic above, which one "looks" like they could converse with a putin or kim il joong?

Easy.

[dnsallday]

The debates really don''t matter. The 2008 election has already been stolen. Millions of registered voters are being erased right now in many, many states. When people go to vote they will discover they are no longer on the registered rolls. If they insist they will be given a temporary ballot supposed ly to be verified later. Most of them will go straight into the trash if you are in a heavy democratic area.
Just as they did in 2004, they will take a number of the voting machines and lock them into a warehouse, so that in the heavily democratic areas people will have to wait in lines for as much as 10-11 hours. Of course most of these people are having their pay docked or they are paying babysitters, so many are forced to give up after waiting a few hours and go to work of to tend their children.
Of course, everybody is familiar with the caging, where in predominately black areas, people are intimidated, given wrong information about which polling place they should be at, etc.

It is all documented and entire books have been written. It is painful, but we really can''t keep our heads in the sand.

It doesn''t really matter what your political persuasion is, we Americans should not put up with this vicious destruction of our Democracy.

[aceshigh333-2009]

Navarro was a interigator for the FBI, A human lie detector. He got a book out on telling if a player is bluffing or not at poker. He''s good except for the "He looked presidential. She looked mayoral". Navarro tight lips,and nod after the phrase meant that he wasn''t comfortable, but he got his agenda across. Changed of his breathing pattern during the phrase means he was lying. His body language at the end says -I''m in the tank with B.O. and the main stream news media.

[aceshigh333-2009]

With Obama4s program 95 percent of all American families would get a tax cut. He offers three times more tax relief for the middle class than McCain does. This fact will be decisive in the election.

Posted by sbNilsson

The middle class will end up paying for taxes raise on the small business "trickle down". States with high income tax also have the highest unemployment rate. 7 out of the 10 lowest unemployment states are controlled by GOP, 2 by dems, 1 split dem/Gop....

[jesuit12]

Biden sounded like he was on downers. He is either like Howrad Dean and completely out of control or he like he was for most of the debate last night. You could almost compare him to Al Gore.

[bsb53]

remember they are running for vp not prez

[jab232]

After Sarah Palin winked at me a few times, I began to think she was a brilliant debater.

[daffy64]

I hope Americans don''t vote in another President based on their "folksy charm" and one that "they''d rather have a beer with" AGAIN.

You tried that for the last two elections.

[atpay1]

It never ceases to amaze me that anyone could possibly think that Sarah Palin could be president if McCain died! Do ya think she could do it? Well we''d be darned if she did...wink, wink!! We need an intelligent, intellectual nerd to run our country!!

[rcreed4]

There is nothing at this point that makes me happier than to see someone push politics into a different direction. What happens if politicians can%u2019t talk in circles b/c they might actually have to face consequences? What happens if the media can''t brainwash all those who believe what they hear and not what is spoken?

Come on America, only we can make change stick. %u201CWe the people%u201D...not the government, nor the media.

Laughing is healthy and usually we do it when we are happy or sometimes nervous. It is also a natural reaction to fear. I laugh sometimes when my kids get caught in a fib but not the individual that 50% or so of you think can lead our country.

It is also typical for those who want to believe something so bad or get their way to create a reality that is false. "Draw"??

Unless we stand up and change our tolerance and expectations of politics, change will not last or be effective no matter who is elected.

[carlylaine]

What the libs are so upet about is Sarah''cuda''s beauty. They are envious and jealous of her beauty because look at some of the offerings they''ve had over the years. Bela Abzug, Hillary Clinton, Elinore Roosevelt...thems were and are not too attractive. They just don''t know how to act when a pretty woman with brains wants to be in publlic office..She''s their SIREN.

[carlylaine]

With Obama4s program 95 percent of all American families would get a tax cut. He offers three times more tax relief for the middle class than McCain does. This fact will be decisive in the election.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by sbNilsson at 04:59 PM : Oct 03, 2008
**********************
This is a campaign common..hasn''t yet be proven as a fact. You guys just don''t get it.

[wl7bzh]

She looked Mayoral?

Appearance is in the eye of the partisan.

[jab232]

Is Sarah Palin truly qualified to step in as President of the United States? You betcha! And if you believe that, there are all kinds of people who have bridges they''d like to sell you.

[jab232]

Is Sarah Palin truly qualified to step in as President of the United States? You betcha! And if you believe that, there are all kinds of people who have bridges they''d like to sell you.

[jsalern3]

CarlyLaine: We get it. Your problem is that you don''t speak English or understand numbers. Those of us that learned our numbers in school can figure it out. Calm down and drink some nice hot tea. Those bad Republican were''t really your friends, but they will be gone son.

[loudyk]

Palin IS mayoral(of a town only, not a city) and she''ll never be anything more. When she gets back to Alaska, she''ll probably just finish out her term and not be re-elected. The folks up there are probably feeling pretty snookered right now....yea, you betcha! wink*wink.

[redsongia]

I love Joe Biden ;)

[dibs977]

Golly gee---but she is a maverick--you getcha. What a creep Palin is. And she did not say, "May I call you Jo?"---she said, "Can I call you Jo?" Poor grammar. It seemed like she was trying to intimidate him or somthing---right off the bat. But the move lacked dignity and respect for the situation and her motive seemed cheap. Please--Stop the insanity. How anyone can vote for that woman is beyond me---and folks, there are many women who are much prettier than her, everywhere---I just don''t get it that some people keep talking about her looks. If she was not a governor, no one would even think twice about her looks. Nothing special.

[dibs977]

And all during the debate with Biden, Palin''s bangs were caught on the eye lashes of her left eye---very distracting---like a lot of high school girls do---keep their bangs long and in their eyes---please please---get that woman out of office forever. Golly gee but she is a hateful, stupid, power hungry mess.

[kopana]

Carly---

If it is beauty you seek in a potential leader...then you are just another one of the stupid masses that send their children off to war that has no known purpose, gets to pay more taxes than the rich or super rich, has trouble affording education for your offspring, has no real health care in the event you are ever really sick...You are one sorry individual, if you think Ms. Palin really gives any intellectual thought about our nation and it''s people...she is power hungry,(one to expand constutional powers to VP position, stupid in her ready assessment of the BUSH and MCSame position that US Troops may never see an end date to the WAR....THE mission there has been a dismal failure we have managed to destroy a country and their culture(ie., the IRAQ Museum was destory after thousands of years that its treasures were intact by the Iraq people. Please get more informed about the issues and do not be brainwashed about the Ms. Palin and her supposed beauty. (First, please be for real.... she is a 40ies year old women of five kids for gods sake....)I would rather have Ms. Clinton who is far superior in experience, intellect, and wisdom) VOTE SMARTER, OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[LFforMcCain]

The American people need to know what socialist & radical views Mr. Obama may be harboring beneath his fine teleprompter speeches. Sean Hannity on Fox News Channel did a wonderful piece on Obama & his radical friends tonight. Please explain why no one in Obama-medialand is willing to do the same! John McCain & Sarah Palin have every right to help us see the light & put down the kool-aide before it is too late for our country! The information on Obama is all too clear & easily found. Why do you spend more time trying to knock McCain out instead of protecting the American people from the radical left!? You%u2019re supposed to report the news, not sway the election.

[david393071]

As a foreigner told me, ""U" Stupid of America, means USA." I almost shot him. I thought he was an insurgent. I had my pistol to his head. Panicked he explained. He was right.

All of you are going to elect a President and Vice President based on appearance. Not on Performance (record). Not what they say, not what they look like, but what they have done.

So now you want to elect another President and Vice President based on appearance, like the President Bush (both of them). Yes, "U" Stupid of America.

Look at who owns the Politicians, Lawmakers, Justice Department, US Military, etc.. Corporations Incorporated at Delaware protected by the Court Of Chancery.

Especially, who owns the two corporate lawyers. What are lawyers trained to do? Twist the facts to match what they want the facts to be. Trained in oration.

[lolosalazar]

Do you really think Obama is ready to be President? Come on people, he is no more qualified than Palin, yet you question her abilities? What a laugh! And how childish to make fun of soemone''s choice of words...then again, that seems to be the LIBERAL way!

[june4x4]

I would hope that the people could see what is in front of them. Obama/Biden and Osama Bin Ladin, I mean what is the difference? Our Government put Saddam Hussain into office, and now we are going to put Obama in office. I should hope not. As far as our economy is concerned, it is not going to matter who gets into office. Our Government will make all final decissions, the President''s are just puppets following along with what our Government tells them.