Howard Dean to Obama: "Avoid being irritable" during debates.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

"The key to a debate, if you want to see how it moves the American people, is to turn off the sound, watch the mannerisms," Dean said. "It's not what they say. I mean, there may be a zinger and that could change things, but -- it's not what they say. It is their mannerisms. It's how they come across."

VIDEO
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/30/howard-dean-obama-debates_n_1927385.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012

Must be easier said than done.

[SoapBox]

1. I agree...

...like how my employer likes to harass people...

"Well...it's not what you said, that was correct BUT...it was your demeanor that offended the customer."

[JI7]

2. i think this is the problem with Romney , it's the way he comes off

he might have zingers or whatever but it doesn't mean much if he comes off badly while using them.

[Scootaloo]

3. I think Obama's got that down.

Teflon wishes it were half as smooth as our president.

[lunatica]

12. It doesn't worry me in the least

He and Michelle have been the target of some of the most racist, hateful vitriol to be spewed that I've seen in my life. Yet they act as if they don't ever hear any of it. They're a lesson in classiness for the rest of us.

[gkhouston]

4. Based on past history, which candidate is far more likely to "be irritable"?? n/t

[Sunlei]

5. President Obama will will be great

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[quaker bill]

6. There is nothing Mitt can do

President Obama has endured being called a liar at his SOTU address. He has been constantly verbally assaulted and insulted at every turn for often little or no excuse for 4 years running. The notion that Rmoney will come up with some new snappy one liner that will throw the President off his game is just silly. The President understands that it is game on and the best way to defeat that cr*p is to be completely unflapped and unaffected by it.

Rmoney can go to that well once or twice, but if he gets nothing from it, if he was smart he would know he needs to stop, or he will just seem like an idiot. My bet is that Rmoney comes out like a fighter, badly behind on points in the 12th round, swinging wildly, and catching little but air. My dollar would be on Rmoney seeming like an idiot, because he won't notice that he is missing the target. He will think he is landing damaging blows and will just keep swinging, long after the point where it makes any sense at all.

That is my pick, we will soon see.

[gkhouston]

7. Is this really advice to Obama, or is it setting expectations that Mitt will also be judged by? n/t

[CitizenPatriot]

28. Bingo

and I am loving it. It's a joy to watch this president and his surrogates work the media and win for once.

If anyone looks nasty in debates, it's Rmoney, who can't stop pointing his fingers at people and snarling. I'm sure Dean hasn't forgotten Gore v Bush either. Hard lessons. Sometimes being dumb helps you appear nicer.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. I'm irritable at how all these people are telling the president how to act and what to say...

I think the president has proven, time and time again, that he's cool under pressure. The man knows what he's doing.

[tjdee]

10. Me too--Dean lost the primary.

Obama is a winner kthx, he doesn't need help from the peanut gallery. In matters like this, IMO, Bill Clinton is the only one he needs to take advice from.

[lunatica]

13. Dean was probably asked the question

And he probably prefaced his answer with a comment about how the President doesn't need anyone's advice about how to handle Romney.

[treestar]

17. Exactly

I've never seen President Obama "irritable." is up with this "advice" coming from the screamer?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. Exactly! In other words, don't come across as The Angry Black Man.

I love Howard Dean and appreciate all that he has done for the Democratic Party. But really...

I am over people telling the president what he should do, what he should not do. What he should say, what he should not say. UGH!!!

This president knows what he's doing. He doesn't need backseat drivers!!

[Myrina]

25. Your irritability is showing ...

Leave Dr. Dean alone, or at least take a moment to check the context of the entire quote before you toss him under the Cheerleader bus.

[treestar]

29. He's already been under the Cheerleader Bus

For quite some time now. Time to back up and roll over him again.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

30. My impression of Dean's intention

was that Willard is an irritating dolt and the President should be
cognizant through out the debate that Willard will be attempting
to bait him. The President is cool and collected but sometimes
suble mannerisms can speak volumes, a twitch, nervous blinking,
shifting weight etc.

The only thing Obama does during his time at the podium that
I find distracting is hitting the podium with his left had for emphasis.
I have complete confidence Obama will be completly in control and
Willard who has a tendency to sweat will be drenched.

[fugop]

9. Did Obama ever seem irritated at a debate ?

I know much was made of the "You're likeable enough, Hillary," but I didn't think he came across as nasty or irritated. I don't know. I guess I didn't see all the debates, but of those I saw, he always seemed a cool customer (altho I did find myself urging him to shorten answers for the general audience).

[lunatica]

14. The answer is no. He doesn't give anyone the satisfaction

of seeing him irritated or even a tiny bit out of control or angry.

[ailsagirl]

16. He's one cool cat--I've never seen him 'irritated'

So why Dean would suggest the President might become 'irritable' is pointless, methinks

[WI_DEM]

11. does the president ever act irritable?

[lunatica]

15. I've never seen him act irritable

When he does zingers he always does it with humor, which must be devastating to the zingees, like Donald Trump at the Correspondent's dinner. To be used as a laughter punching bag must be far worse and humiliating than to be used as an anger punching bag.

[polichick]

23. Some people thought that comment about Clinton being likeable enough...

...showed some irritation - I didn't take it that way.

[JustAnotherGen]

18. Different take

Mr. President - We know your good, we know your cool as ice, and we know you are brilliant. Just don't be too irritated that you have to stand there with the second coming of the village idiot du jour. Yep - I personally think he's beneath you - but go along to get along, be your awesome self - and play nice with the little boy in the navy blue suit.

[Grammy23]

19. Obama doesn't need advice on how to act during the debate---

His demeanor is well known and I have yet to see this man with his feathers ruffled. In fact, one of his more endearing charms is that he is cool under fire and just doesn't get rattled easily.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, is the one with an image problem. He appears stiff and uncomfortable in public and on stage. They may be stuffing him full of "zingers" that he can pull out as needed, but he is going up against a guy who has been insulted publicly ( YOU LIE!!) and has been the subject of countless taunts and slurs. Obama's detractors have hounded him since before his election in 2008 to the present. Mitt's hopes of getting under this man's skin seem pretty far fetched.

The possibility of Mitt showing his feelings through body language and facial expressions will be a big drawing card for me, personally. I want to see this pathetic man try to get the sitting President with "zingers" since we know Obama is not apt to be wounded by anything that "quick wit Mitt" could say to him. In fact, what I would predict is a flash of that famous Obama smile, followed by a chuckle that puts Mitt in his place.

NO question in my mind who is going to come out OK after Wednesday night. Not saying that Obama is going to mop the floor with Mitt, but to suggest that Mitt has a chance of taking Obama down a peg or two is simply not plausible. (Oh, and by the way, he'd have to take him down MORE than a peg or two since the polls are showing Obama pulling way ahead in this race, especially in the important Swing States.)

[MatthewStLouis]

20. The President doesn't need alot of help but here's a few things I'd like him to touch on:

-don't defend the 47% without making it clear that we know that most of that 47% have jobs, are hard working, and they do pay their share in payroll taxes.

-confront Rmoney on his lying welfare ads. I have heard too many people complain about "Obama and welfare", yet none of them know the truth of the story: the work requirements were not dropped, they were waived to give states more control (states rights, anyone?).

-it's ok to remind people that the economy was falling off a cliff in 2008 and the obstructionist congress has been no help.

-and, of course, ask Rmoney about his tax returns, what is he hiding?

The President has one big thing going for him: the truth is on his side. It's much harder to defend and explain lies (Poor poor Rmoney).

[louis-t]

27. I agree especially on the welfare question.

" Are you willing to admit that the work requirement has NOT been dropped?"
Loaded question, no matter what mitt's response is, he loses.

[theKed]

22. IMO

This is as much about commentary on what President Obama should do as it is shining a light on what Romney cannot do - act calm, comfortable, and capable. It's priming the audience to be aware of demeanor and body language, something we all know is a weakness.

[Drunken Irishman]

24. All you have to do is watch the third presidential debate in '08 to see Obama under pressure...

In that debate, McCain hit him on everything, including Ayers. It was just one hit after another and Obama was able to defuse each attack because he was relaxed the entire time. This was with McCain sitting right next to him, which probably made it harder than if the candidates are at podiums. My guess is Romney comes out hitting like McCain did in that debate and Obama just smiles at the attacks and calmly refutes each and every one.

[brewens]

26. I'd throw in a "spit take" at some point, Obama timely choking on his water, spewing it

out over the podium and making a big show of cracking up at some ridiculous Romney statement! That would be awesome!