Obama using teleprompter at press conferences: Where are the comedy routines?
Could you imagine if Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush had used a teleprompter to answer questions during a press conference? The late night joke writers wouldn't let this go until the president gave in to the merciless ridicule that he would face. The president would be painted as an idiot who couldn't tie his shoes without being feed instructions on how to do it.
While people who watched Obama's first national press conference noticed Obama's use of a teleprompter to give his initial presentation as well as in answering questions, the media and late night joke writers have completely ignored it. The American Spectator notes in many events: "down to many of the questions and the answers to those questions. Teleprompter screens at the events scrolled not only his opening remarks, but also statistics and information he could use to answer questions." Apparently, Obama is looking into installing a computer screen into the podium so that according to one Obama advisor: "It would make it easier for the comms guys to pass along information without being obvious about it." Obama's aids would put together answers to a large number of possible questions so as soon as a reporter asks a particular question the computer screen would flash talking points to remind Obama how he is supposed to respond to that question.
While people who watched Obama's first national press conference noticed Obama's use of a teleprompter to give his initial presentation as well as in answering questions, the media and late night joke writers have completely ignored it. The American Spectator notes in many events: "down to many of the questions and the answers to those questions. Teleprompter screens at the events scrolled not only his opening remarks, but also statistics and information he could use to answer questions." Apparently, Obama is looking into installing a computer screen into the podium so that according to one Obama advisor: "It would make it easier for the comms guys to pass along information without being obvious about it." Obama's aids would put together answers to a large number of possible questions so as soon as a reporter asks a particular question the computer screen would flash talking points to remind Obama how he is supposed to respond to that question.
Labels: ObamaAdministration, ObamaMisstatement, teleprompter
posted by John Lott at 1:01 PM
13 Comments:
Say Kids, what time is it?
It's Howdy Bama time!
So... Who's the puppeteer?
It is not the lack of comedy that disturbs me here, it is the tradgedy that BHO cannot(?) speak without someone pulling the strings...
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Talk about a Manchurian candidate.
Holy smokes. That's just creepy.
> While people who watched Obama's first national press conference
> noticed Obama's use of a teleprompter...
Followed the link, no mention of a teleprompter. Curious. Was the link edited?
Cheers...
To: A great Metaphrast.
I would say that yes, the 'link', as you put it, had been edited.
BHO webwashed his own site, the White House website, and as far as the site that Dr. Lott linked to, I would say that it also has been edited.
Here's my very small piece of proof...
"lulu8:14AMFeb 10th 2009
The press conference was truly embarrassing. Obama rarely glanced at the camera, was glued to his teleprompter, and gave the most inarticulate, rambling answers to the preprepared questions asked by these so-called entertainment journalists.
I truly fear for our country...the presidency is wwwwaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy above Obama's pay grade, and he proved that last night."
The above is a cut and paste from the comments section.
Yes, it is only one comment, but I lack the time to read every darn one.
If this one person noticed BHO's use of the teleprompter others noticed as well.
To clean up the story is one thing. To annoy many by redacting or removing their comments completely is dangerous.
Perhaps I am wrong, but did not Dr. Lott point out in a previous blog something about BHO having a teleprompter in the future so he (BHO) can be spoonfed answers to questions?
Spoonfed is my term, and my opinion. Please be so kind as to not confuse my words with Dr. Lott's.
Having access to all the relevant stats and whathaveyou can't be a bad thing, no matter the president.
Anyway, your initial point seems to be directed at the lack of comedians making light of this. I have to ask you again, John. What's the point? Do you want your comedy to be fair and balanced? Are you just trying to say most comedians are liberals? If they are mostly liberals, then so what? Do you favor imposing regulations that force conservative comedians to get equal time? It can't be, though, John! That would be impeding on the free and open market with too many rules and regulations. So if that isn't it, John, then what in the hell is your point?
Dear forthesakenscience:
The point was simple. How do you think the press would have treated a Republican who had the answers being feed to him through a teleprompter? Also, what is left of the press conference if the answers are feed to the president? Why have the president there to make the presentation if he is just reading someone else's words?
I doubt these are answers that just come from some random person. While it would be plausible that many answers would have come from the VP from the last administration, that does not mean that the president - regardless of party - is just a puppet. Whether or not that's why you're saying, it sounds like what you're implying.
What's actually happening is Obama is not a moron, nor are his people. They know the general jist of the questions to come. Having notes ahead of time is not a bad thing.
I'm sure little has been made of all the politicians who bring index cards to their press conferences. Obama just updated the process.
"I doubt these are answers that just come from some random person."
They are not random folks, that's for sure.
"While it would be plausible that many answers would have come from the VP from the last administration, that does not mean that the president - regardless of party - is just a puppet."
So... You are saying that formner Vice President Cheney is being plagerized by BHO, or his staff? Or is he the Wizard behing the teleprompter?
"Whether or not that's why you're saying, it sounds like what you're implying."
Why, or what? Oh, I get it now, Dr. Lott is implying that VP Cheney is behind this mess.
"What's actually happening is Obama is not a moron, nor are his people. They know the general jist of the questions to come. Having notes ahead of time is not a bad thing."
Notes for what?
"I'm sure little has been made of all the politicians who bring index cards to their press conferences. Obama just updated the process."
Having notes to keep on the subject of a speech is one thing, but having notes to answer questions that in theory should not be known in advance?
Ok, so Helen Thomas is gonna ask me this question, and here's my answer.
Ahhhh, yes, here's my Barbara Walters card. I made a deal with her backstage so all is good.
So... You are saying that formner Vice President Cheney is being plagerized by BHO, or his staff? Or is he the Wizard behing the teleprompter?
Re-read what I said. You're making an issue out of almost nothing. I took a jab at the fact that Dick Cheney had so much power and influence. My overall point, however, was that the points being raised on the teleprompter are not just from the minds of some people. They are things the president believes - and I would stand by that regardless of who held office.
Why, or what? Oh, I get it now, Dr. Lott is implying that VP Cheney is behind this mess.
No, you just have a tremendous ability to misunderstand what is said. I made the note that John is implying that Obama is a puppet.
Notes for what?
The press conference. Stay with us.
Having notes to keep on the subject of a speech is one thing, but having notes to answer questions that in theory should not be known in advance?
Ok, so Helen Thomas is gonna ask me this question, and here's my answer.
Ahhhh, yes, here's my Barbara Walters card. I made a deal with her backstage so all is good.
You raise two issues. I doubt you realize the first: the press may not ask the best questions. This is probably true. However, it is also true that when the president is pushing through his first major bill that most of the questions are going to focus on that. Having the ability to get quick facts about the stimulus bill is not a bad thing. Things can be misstated, forgotten, or simply be unknown. Having electronic 'notes' helps ease such issues.
The second issue you raised is that of collboration. Apparently, you're insinuating that certain reporters tell the president their questions ahead of time. You'll need more evidence than the citation of a known liberal reporter and another former reporter/primary host that doesn't even have a press pass for the White house.
Not having to think (or actually not being able to) helps ease such issues.
John Lott, thank you for your wonderful books, and this website.
Outstanding.
Please see my related website:
http://barackobamaisms.blogspot.com
I own the No BozObama caricature, which I designed and paid an artist to draw.
"forthesakeofscience" shows considerable anger in asking "What in the hell is your point?"
For the sake of simplicity, let me explain.
"forthesakeofscience" is obviously a hard left-winger. I would wager dinner that "forthesakeofscience" has never challenged a comment made to disparage or ridicule President Bush. No, when Bush has been called "a chimp" or "stupid" or a "draft dodger" or "the world's Number 1 Terrorist," leftists like "forthesakeofscience" can be counted on to nod their heads and laugh in agreement. But let someone respond to their boy in kind and all "hell" breaks loose.
The hypocrisy of the left is despicable. It is anything but "scientific."
As the old saying goes, payback is a Hillary.
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