Comments on: Ted Strickland and saying things better left unsaid

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 23:07:00 +0000

Jason - sorry - this is really weird. Your comment is the first one, but it only arrived in my inbox within the last hour? Bizarre. But that's blogger.

No - not the accent. The old man shakiness. God - I can't believe you made me say it! I hate myself now. Ugh. I sound mean - how could you do this to me?

Ok - drama queen dialed down.

Yeah, you know, I just remember, you know, it was just an impression thing, during the debate, that he just kind of sounded old in a way that made me hear him as hesitant, less certain, which I didn't think was the case because I could see him and was there for the whole thing.

But man, Jason, when the news folks edit into sound bites, like I heard this morning, eek.

I'm just saying - I mean, what do I know, right?

Anyway - voice coaching, I would think, is a mandatory for the long haul of a race, unless of course the candidates, like Blackwell, really don't expect to be talking to anyone.

Ted, on the other hand, I believe is going to be out and about a lot. Maintaining his voice is a pretty high priority no? And making him sound, as in how his voice is heard, would also be a high priorty, no?

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:55:00 +0000

Muffett, I should make you add that I did not pay you to write that comment. Thanks. You can tell, I really wanted to be gentle with this, but exactly what you said: coaching can make such a difference and perceptions are so important. Who knows – maybe we’ll start to see some strengthening in this area. It certainly couldn’t hurt.

By: Muffet

Muffet — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:52:00 +0000

I agree some voice coaching and speech coaching is in order. Dr. Victoria Wulsin, who is running in the second district, my home, against Mean Jean, obviously had coaching after the primary. She is doing remarkably well now. She really took the coaching to heart. I am so proud that she took the suggestion from someone and then did it. She hasn't said anything publicly. It's just noticeable. Perception, based on what people see, is so very important. Wulsin almost seems like a different candidate now. I think Ted could use some fine tuning, too.

Of course, he and Frances are pretty down home folks. Nothing wrong with that.

As a trial lawyer, I was very glad I had a speech and drama background in high school and college and summer at Northwestern's School of Speech and Drama. It has helped a lot. We are on stage, so to speak.

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 15:39:00 +0000

I’m certain you’re right. And I think of Bob Shamansky and how well he is doing and what a great presence I think he has. Nevertheless, when I saw the picture of Blackwell shaking hands with Strickland at the debate, I mean – Blackwell is huge. Strickland’s no little guy, and he is trim compared to Blackwell’s paunch. Still, maybe it’s just the latent lawyer in me, but I’d love to know that someone in the back is working with Ted. I should also confess: my older brother (who lives in Seattle and DESPISES Blackwell) is a speech pathologist who, years ago, devised computer programs to work with kids in schools and he also did work in hospitals with people who had injuries that affected their speech. So, I kind of notice these things.

By: JollyRoger

JollyRoger — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 15:32:00 +0000

Blackwell also has a serious hobble in this department-he comes off as an elitist who thinks he’s smarter than anyone else. He’s been that way since he was in Cincinnati, playing at being a moderate.

My guess is that Ohioans are far more likely to respond to the grandfather.

By: redhorse

redhorse — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 15:23:00 +0000

I’m not sure what your issue is.

If you’re getting at his accent…again, I don’t understand the issue. It’s there. As you’ve said, it comes and goes. zippy.

from what I heard during the broadcast, neither candidate was particularly smoooth yesterday.