Feminine voters who watched the CBS Information Vice Presidential Debate on Tuesday could have considered Ohio Sen. JD Vance’s beard as an indication of poisonous masculinity, based on one physique language skilled.
Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, confronted off towards Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on the Tuesday evening debate, sparring for 90 minutes on a variety of points together with immigration, the economic system and abortion.
Former FBI agent and physique language skilled Joe Navarro analyzed every candidate’s physique language on the occasion for Politico Journal, giving his opinion about how they offered themselves on stage.Â
The very first thing Navarro seen was Vance’s facial hair. He claimed the “masculine” trait might flip off feminine voters.Â
VANCE OOZED CONFIDENCE COMPARED TO JITTERY WALZ, BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT SAYS: ‘CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP’
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks in the course of the vice-presidential debate at CBS Studios on October 1, 2024, in New York, N.Y. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Submit by way of Getty Pictures)
“As POLITICO Journal has famous earlier than, Vance is the primary White Home wannabe to put on facial hair in 80 years. Our look is key to our physique language, and analysis signifies that voters see beards as (shock, shock) extra masculine,” Navarro wrote. “That may be optimistic to some, studying as energy and competence. However to others, particularly girls, it may be unfavourable, conveying aggression and opposition to feminist beliefs.”
Navarro is not the one media commentator to affiliate the Republican ticket with unfavourable perceptions of masculinity. Because the Harris-Walz ticket emerged, a number of journalists, together with MSNBC contributor Katty Kay, have argued that Republicans enchantment to males with a extra “macho,” what they contemplate, outdated model of masculinity.
MSNBC host Jen Psaki and The Washington Submit’s Catherine Rampell have additionally made the case that the Democratic ticket appeals to males who’re extra “supportive” of girls.Â
Whereas critiquing Vance’s beard, Navarro praised Walz for his bugged-eyed expression all through the controversy, saying it “confirmed his ardour” on the problems.
“When Walz felt particularly keen about one thing, he’d open his eyes large as saucers. Eye-popping can generally be an indication of shock, however for Walz, it merely revealed his emotional depth,” Navarro wrote. “Early people would have made such facial gestures to speak sturdy feelings, like ‘hazard is shut.’ For Walz, it gave further weight to his emotions and held our gaze.”Â
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JD Vance’s and Tim Walz’s physique language was contrasted on the debate. (CBS Information)
The physique language skilled spoke positively about how Vance used his arms to convey emotion and management in the course of the debate, however claimed a “little frown” by the Republican at one level confirmed the place his “weaknesses lie.”
“When Walz introduced up Venture 2025, Vance exhibited a bit inform that carried a giant message: a slight squinting of the eyes and a small frown. Clearly, this was a sore topic,” Navarro wrote.
“We have now to protect towards such behaviors in high-stakes interchanges like negotiations or, say, vice-presidential debates — they disclose to your opponent what subjects you need to keep away from and the place your weaknesses lie,” he wrote.
On the identical time, Navarro gave credit score to Walz for frowning to indicate his disapproval whereas Vance was talking.
“Throughout a disagreement over democracy, he furrowed his glabella forcefully at what Vance was saying. Then he held his eyebrows like that, in stress, for a while. Whereas Vance had the ground, this was a approach for Walz to silently say, ‘No approach, that’s not proper, and I’m going to problem you on this,’” he wrote.
Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, speaks throughout a debate on the CBS Broadcast Middle on October 1, 2024 in New York Metropolis. ((Picture by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures))
The one unfavourable evaluation of Walz was about his finger-wagging on the digicam.
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“[H]e pointed on the digicam along with his index finger, like Uncle Sam in these outdated ‘I Need You’ posters. It was a daring, virtually accusatory gesture — which made it nice for the poster, however can come throughout as virtually hostile. Our brains instantly understand a degree as ‘calling us out’ — in different phrases, as threatening. Walz needed our consideration there, and he definitely received it,” Navarro wrote.
Each candidates displayed “Midwestern politeness” by tilting their heads and turning their our bodies towards the opposite whereas talking, the skilled mentioned.
