Please hire a debate coach!

[amonasro]

Not to change the subject but I am reviewing the debate and it appears that John King needs a debate coach as well. While the candidates were answering questions he constantly stuttered and mumbled as to try to hurry their response or stop them. Towards the end of the debate I felt like my brain was going to explode from his constant rambling. Did anyone else become bothered by this? CNN did a terrible job on this debate. They tried to do too many things. Keep It Simple Stupids!

King did a fine job. Yeah his uh uh yea yea were annoying but you have to admit he gave all the candidates equal speaking time. And he's an incredibly fast, clear speaker. Ron did ok and will benefit from Wead's advice. He got his points across and stood out as a serious candidate with ideas rather than a smiley pandering fool like the others. And he wore that suit again. Size down Dr. Paul!!

 

[PaleoForPaul]

I think he'd do a lot better if he shorted his answers up and polished them, but like trey says, it is what it is, he isn't going to change.

I'm happy that he's been occasionally sneaking in the fact that malinvestments must be liquidated to end a bubble. It's a sneaky little piece of truth that everyone else is avoiding.

 

[RonPaul101.com]

Correct

Its tough to critique, but I could see some things that Paul can improve upon:

1) Pacing. Too many times he stumbled his words, had long strings of um, uhs, and pauses, and he rushed when he did find his talking point.

2) Active listening. Mitt always gets his face plastered next to whichever candidate is actually answering because he is looking at that person and responding with head-bobs and facial expression. This is partly media selection, but its also about Ron looking like someone the media wants to show. Ron was constantly looking down, or passively turning his head or body to the speaker without appearing interested.

3) Does Ron have a top-notch tailor? Its been brought up on the forums before, but it still looks like he is swimming in his jacket. He didn't look sharp.

4) Who is he working for? Ron is great about coming back to the refrain that "Freedom Works", but he doesn't acknowledge that it will work for the audience. Voters respond to hearing what they get out of questioning the fed, ending wars, or legalizing peaceful competition among small and large businesses.

That being said, Ron did have some great responses that portrayed himself as a leader and distinguished him from the status quo. Its clear that he's the best candidate if you care about peace and prosperity. If only the voters could see that these values are more in their self-interest than entitlements, protectionism, and imperialism, Paul would have 90% of the vote.

Excellent points. +Rep

 

[PaulConventionWV]

I generally agree that sharpening up on his talking skills would be a good idea, but I also don't think we should or can pressure Ron to do anything. If he doesn't want it, he doesn't want it, and we should not read too much into it and just go along with it. He's 75 years old, so I don't think there's much room for change right now. It could end up just looking very awkward.

Another thing is that we underestimate the intelligence of the "sheeple" voters. Ron doesn't think they're stupid, and he knows that the main objective of this campaign is to get them to come to our side by understanding these issues and realizing he is right. Like it or not, that's the only option we have and any attempt to dumb things down would fail miserably in my opinion because Ron is supposed to stand out among the field. We can't blend him in and say that's progress. We are in this to win it and the only way to do that is to help people understand the seriousness of our situation as well as the fact that everyone else represents the status quo. We have a lot of options and a good bit of time. Let's stop wasting our time by bickering about Ron's style and get to work.

This is a R3volution, not a beauty contest!

 

[WVLiberty]

This is a R3volution, not a beauty contest!

When the headlines read "Romney, Bachmann dominate gracious GOP debate", it is a beauty contest! My wife and I were very turned off by Bachmann's attempt to have it both ways on many issues. It seems she had conflicting answers to everything she said.

 

[WVLiberty]

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful and respectful comments on this subject.

I think I am speaking for everyone here when I say that we all support Ron Paul 100% and strongly want (and need) him as our next President. My only point is one for future improvement in debates. Clearly the mainstream is shifting his way on many issues. I was SHOCKED when CNN was discussing Keynesian economics vs Austrian economics on the Sunday show.

 

[Devastation]

Excellent points. +Rep

Ron Paul is doing what he does best and that is being himself. The way Ron Paul is going to win this election is if we as his supporters become Ron Paul ourselves...

 

[mpdsapuser]

Guys, we also have to remember that this is the early stages of the campaign. A lot of these candidates are going to drop out because they don't have grass root support and in turn, the ability to keep funding their campaign. The more that drop out, the more focus and time can be given to Ron Paul's views.

 

[pmbug]

You can invent or build the greatest widget ever seen, but if you don't market it properly, your business will fail. The better mouse trap does not always win in the free market.

 

[libertybrewcity]

he just kind of blurts out stuff about the federal reserve and sound money. he needs a better presentation. I was really pissed last night. he needs a debate coach.

 

[Travlyr]

You can invent or build the greatest widget ever seen, but if you don't market it properly, your business will fail. The better mouse trap does not always win in the free market.

While this is true, we don't have the free market. The people in charge don't want Ron Paul to spoil their privileged power.

Imagine for a moment that the media was impartial... that their intention was to paint everyone in equal light and inform people of the happenings of the day. Ron Paul would own the contest hands down.

If only the mainstream media was honest, if only.

 

[pmbug]

Ron was onstage live. He was totally in charge of the marketing for his message during the debate. Opportunity semi-wasted IMO.

 

[libertygrl]

Its tough to critique, but I could see some things that Paul can improve upon:

3) Does Ron have a top-notch tailor? Its been brought up on the forums before, but it still looks like he is swimming in his jacket. He didn't look sharp.

I agree. I hate to say this but how a candidate is physically perceived by the viewing public also plays a big part into whether they view you as "presidential material." WE know what a great man Ron is, but we also have to realize (unfortunately), that a candidate is like a brand. We exist in such a consumer oriented society that we've become accustomed to being presented things in pretty shiny packages to entice us in.

As much as I was happy to see them finally put Ron Paul out front in a debate, I now think maybe it was better to have him off on the side! Having him sandwiched between Romney and (I think Pawlenty), actually made him come off looking quite puny and frail.

The age factor is really going to be difficult to overcome. While all of us here sees beyond Ron's appearance because of the substance of his message, I fear that most of the dumbed down masses will not. He's such a humble and principled elder statesman that he feels the message should be the primary focus and not image. In a perfect world he would be right. But today I think you need both.

 

[Tarzan]

You can invent or build the greatest widget ever seen, but if you don't market it properly, your business will fail. The better mouse trap does not always win in the free market.

ABSOLUTELY!!! RPs message has GOT to be distilled into short, memorable statements that directly impact voters. He has to speak to the needs and want of the view. This is absolutely CRITICAL during debates because of the time constraints. It is also important during time limited media interviews.

Lengthy explanation about the fed, taxes, foreign wars may be good in a protracted interview (and he has had some)... but even these need to be capped with a memorable line that strikes at the heart of the issue... and the mind of the voter. Protracted, circular explanations of how these problems are interrelated are LOST on most viewers and they tune out.

Whether we like it or not (any many here do not like it) style can win over substance. RP has the substance... we need his staff to simplify the message and have RP start using easy to understand lines. Some guy actually won an election with promises of 'hope and change'... difficult to believe, but it worked. We have to remember the target audience (voters) and do what it takes to win their vote.

If not... we lose (again). This is SO terribly important.

Suggestion: Please, please, please create easily understandable speeches for RP... create simple, one line points that RP can use everywhere during the campaign... and get RP to use them.

 

[acptulsa]

Well, this forum has been posting sound bites for the man for four years. I know, I started a thread myself about then. But, you know, I haven't heard any of them used yet. I even fed him one on the Diane Rehm Show, and haven't heard him repeat it. So, I don't know. But he has hired Doug Wead, and Wead used to do this very thing. 'Read my lips, no new taxes' appears to be one of his, so I know he has the right stuff. We'll just have to wait and see if the old dog can learn new tag lines, I guess.