Head Scratcher (4)

On Friday, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin resurfaced in Arizona for a rally supporting Senator John McCain's re-election bid. Then she traveled to a "Tea Party" rally to oppose the re-election of Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

So far, so good.

It is hard, however, when listening to the sound bites on television and radio, to overlook Governor Palin's really unattractive style of speaking. In fact, her speaking style is so abysmal that her message, if there is one, is entirely lost. She speaks too quickly and her attempts to project her voice result only in rapid fire screeches and shrieks. In this, she strongly resembles then Senator Hilary Clinton during her campaign for the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination.

Former Governor Palin shares a problem common to almost all modern politicians: shouting at us rather than speaking to us. As a result, we become irritated and ignore the message. Even President Obama has taken to yelling although, during his Presidential campaign, he most successfully communicated his message when he seemed to be having a civilized adult conversation with his audience.

There is another problem that afflicts female speakers. That is, the tuning of most microphones and amplifiers (note the 'bass boost' button on many low range stereos and mid-range clock radios) favors the deeper male voice. The resulting echoes, screeches, and preferential amplification of the higher tones, are unflattering to women speakers. Doubly so when they shout at us.

The art of public speaking is, after blackmail, the second most important political tool available to any politician. President Lyndon Johnson knew where the bodies were buried and was a master practitioner of the first: Prime Minister Winston Churchill together with Presidents Roosevelt (FDR), Kennedy and Reagan understood the essential strategy that a message, while necessary, is not sufficient unless it is communicated effectively.

Assuming that the politician has a high quality speech writer, there are two simple solutions. First, all politicians should attend a basic elocution course and, second, the advance staff for all female politicians should insist on microphones and amplifiers that are properly tuned for the female voice.

It is a true head scratcher that any politician should neglect such a critical tool as his or her speaking voice.

Perhaps the reason is that they are just incompetent!