Shockah: Obama can't speak without his teleprompter (Wizbang)

In the most unsurprising news of the day, we find out that even now as President, Obama never goes anywhere without his teleprompter:

President Barack Obama doesn't go anywhere without his TelePrompter.
The textbook-sized panes of glass holding the president's prepared remarks follow him wherever he speaks.

Resting on top of a tall, narrow pole, they flank his podium during speeches in the White House's stately parlors. They stood next to him on the floor of a manufacturing plant in Indiana as he pitched his economic stimulus plan. They traveled to the Department of Transportation this week and were in the Capitol Rotunda last month when he paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln in six-minute prepared remarks.

Obama's reliance on the teleprompter is unusual -- not only because he is famous for his oratory, but because no other president has used one so consistently and at so many events, large and small.

After the teleprompter malfunctioned a few times last summer and Obama delivered some less-than-soaring speeches, reports surfaced that he was training to wean himself off of the device while on vacation in Hawaii. But no such luck.

... "It's just something presidents haven't done," said Martha Joynt Kumar, a presidential historian who has held court in the White House since December 1975. "It's jarring to the eye. In a way, it stands in the middle between the audience and the president because his eye is on the teleprompter."

Just how much of a crutch the teleprompter has become for Obama was on sharp display during his latest commerce secretary announcement. The president spoke from a teleprompter in the ornate Indian Treaty Room for a few minutes. Then Gov. Gary Locke stepped to the podium and pulled out a piece of paper for reference.

... Obama has relied on a teleprompter through even the shortest announcements and when repeating the same lines on his economic stimulus plan that he's been saying for months -- whereas past presidents have mostly worked off of notes on the podium except during major speeches, such as the State of the Union.

It's funny, because Obama's got this reputation for being such a great orator. If he really was such a great public speaker, then he wouldn't need his teleprompters every time he makes a public statement, does he?

Of course, I don't entirely blame him for wanting to make sure he always speaks perfectly. Maybe other Presidents spoke more informally and off the cuff to citizens without a pre-planned speech on a teleprompter every time they speak, but Obama's got too much of a reputation now. He was elected on nothing more than pretty words and false promises, and if he wants his approval ratings to stay high, then he'll need to keep on saying those pretty words.

And, as we saw numerous times during the campaign last year, without his teleprompter he's about as gaffetastic as Joe Biden is. One would think that Obama could simply memorize speeches ahead of time like regular people do, but he doesn't -- he uses his teleprompter for every speech. Is it because he's too lazy to memorize speeches or because he's got some kind of problem where he can't? Either way, Obama gaffed so much on the campaign trail last year whenever his teleprompter was absent that it's amazing he got such a reputation for being such a good public speaker.

Being a great public speaker requires more than being able to read aloud well. If Obama can't speak directly to the American people without the use of a teleprompter, then that's saying a lot. It shows us that Obama is useless without having a script to constantly follow. It makes me curious as to what Obama would say if he were just to speak honestly.

It also makes me curious what would happen if someone pulled a Ron Burgundy on Obama and typed in something ridiculously stupid and offensive. Somehow, I think we'd see similar results.

Hat Tips: Ace of Spades and Hot Air

Comments (38)

I said in an earlier coment... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Andrew X | March 6, 2009 10:39 AM | Score: 14 (14 votes cast)

Andrew X:

I said in an earlier coment that "one day this will blow up on him". I too have wondered about the Ron Burgundy thing, or if he just got halfway through a speech and the thing crapped out, and suddenly the world was treated to a with / without comparison.

Either way, it is part of the package of people in huge numbers waking up to realze they have been scammed in the biggest way possible. Consider how many voted with their heart, to "prove" that they and their country were not racist (as if wil require proving and re-proving ad infinitum). He seemed like a decent guy, and ALL those nice salesmen on TV said he was.....

New bumper sticker: Did you vote for this?

Posted on March 6, 2009 10:39

The problem I have with thi... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Jonnybconservative | March 6, 2009 10:41 AM | Score: 15 (15 votes cast)

Jonnybconservative:

The problem I have with this is that it is constantly updated by someone on his staff when he speaks. So who is really running this country? Him or some schmuck on his staff. It gives you a lot of confidence about our great "leader". Can you say Manchurian Candidate?

Posted on March 6, 2009 10:41

Spokesmodel.... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by davidt | March 6, 2009 10:45 AM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)

davidt:

Spokesmodel.

Posted on March 6, 2009 10:45

We already knew this from h... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by apb | March 6, 2009 10:48 AM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)

apb:

We already knew this from his town hall meetings - it's amazing that the Obamabots continue to confuse reading with oratory.

For the forgetful, here's the jug-eared douche off-prompter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1s6ld271Dk

Posted on March 6, 2009 10:48

Obama's teleprompter died<b... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by retired military | March 6, 2009 10:57 AM | Score: 12 (14 votes cast)

retired military:

Obama's teleprompter died
Democrats cried.

Posted on March 6, 2009 10:57

It's racist to hold Uh-Bama... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Emerson | March 6, 2009 11:01 AM | Score: 10 (12 votes cast)

Emerson:

It's racist to hold Uh-Bama to any standard of any kind.

Posted on March 6, 2009 11:01

He is not a leader. He has... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by moseby | March 6, 2009 11:11 AM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

moseby:

He is not a leader. He has no ability to think on his feet. His one-term presidency, like his campaign, will be entirely scripted. I am just worried about who is holding the strings or has his/her hand up his back...

Posted on March 6, 2009 11:11

What really scares me about... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by TOhio | March 6, 2009 11:12 AM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

TOhio:

What really scares me about this is that we don't know who is the real power controlling the teleprompter. Who is really running the country? Who is Obama the front man for?

Posted on March 6, 2009 11:12

Its how his keepers keep hi... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by epador | March 6, 2009 11:13 AM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

epador:

Its how his keepers keep him.

Posted on March 6, 2009 11:13

All of this attention on th... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Master Shake | March 6, 2009 11:38 AM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)

Master Shake:

All of this attention on the TelePrompter is merely a distraction to keep us from learning that Obamuhhh can't actually read and is being fed his lines through an earpiece.

Posted on March 6, 2009 11:38

Well, of course, he cannot.... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by Franklin's Locke | March 6, 2009 11:51 AM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)

Franklin's Locke:

Well, of course, he cannot. He is just an empty suit. He cannot think on his own. This a pathetic excuse for the leader of the free world.

http://franklinslocke.blogspot.com/

Posted on March 6, 2009 11:51

I am always leary of a pers... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by mag | March 6, 2009 11:52 AM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)

mag:

I am always leary of a person who is "good talker". It usually means they have some to hide, or they are covering up a lack of other qualities, or they are trying to pull the wool over your eyes.
But most people will fall for it.
Actually he not a good talker in the sense he can pull it off from the top of his head....he is an actor pretending to be an American for one, and a President for another.
I am not critizing republicans, democrats, liberal, conservatives, etc. everybody has their own thoughts and opinions....but when all is said and done obama has NO business being in the White House. I have NO respect for him.

Posted on March 6, 2009 11:52

Rush nailed it last week wh... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by DSL | March 6, 2009 12:01 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

DSL:

Rush nailed it last week when he spoke about Mr.Teleprompter. Speeches should come from the heart!

Posted on March 6, 2009 12:01

Obama: style without substa... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Jason | March 6, 2009 12:11 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

Jason:

Obama: style without substance...a reader, not a speaker.
http://www.rightklik.net/

Posted on March 6, 2009 12:11

"I am just worried about... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by JLawson | March 6, 2009 12:28 PM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

JLawson:

"I am just worried about who is holding the strings or has his/her hand up his back..."

Sock puppets don't have hands up their BACK, Moseby! Don't be ridiculous!

Posted on March 6, 2009 12:28

Aw isnt that cute. He needs... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by 914 | March 6, 2009 12:33 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

914:

Aw isnt that cute. He needs His widdle teletubbie prompter with so He doesnt get all scared in the big bad world.

Posted on March 6, 2009 12:33

ODS... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by max | March 6, 2009 1:12 PM | Score: -11 (11 votes cast)

max:

ODS

Posted on March 6, 2009 13:12

If he really was such a ... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by mantis | March 6, 2009 1:21 PM | Score: -8 (12 votes cast)

mantis:

<>f h rll ws sch grt pblc spkr, thn h wldn't nd hs tlprmptrs vr tm h mks pblc sttmnt, ds h?

Crtcsm f bm's spkng mght b bt mr ffctv f th crtc wr bl t wrt chrntl hrslf.

Grg W. Bsh rd spchs frm tlprmptr rnt crds. Brck bm rds spchs frm tlprmptr. ZMG, h's th wrst prsdnt vh! Pls bm wrts mst f hs wn spchs.

<>n wld thnk tht bm cld smpl mmrz spchs hd f tm lk rglr ppl d, bt h dsn't -- h ss hs tlprmptr fr vr spch.

nd Grg W. Bsh sd tlprmptr r crds, dpndng n th lngth f th spch. S wnt th prsdnt t spnd mr tm mmrzng hs spchs, vn thgh ths s nt smthng pst prsdnts dd? Dn't thnk prsdnts r bt bs fr tht?

<>t mks m crs s t wht bm wld s f h wr jst t spk hnstl.

G, cld jst wtch n f th mn ntrvws wth th mn. Bt tht wld b t s, nd bng fll f sht s w mr fn, rght Css?
No she's not, and you're tiresome.

Posted on March 6, 2009 13:21

Aw, come on, Max!T... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by JLawson | March 6, 2009 1:24 PM | Score: 10 (12 votes cast)

Aw, come on, Max!

The stock market's in the shitter, our 401ks are getting raped, our foriegn policy's in the hands of someone who thinks overseas is across the Mississipi river and appropriate gifts for heads of states are things you could get on sale at Wal-Mart - so why NOT laugh!

It's either that, or break out the tar and feathers. Which might just happen after tea!

Posted on March 6, 2009 13:24

And the DOW is down another... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by retired military | March 6, 2009 2:07 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

And the DOW is down another 60+ points right now.

Obama lied
The DOW JONES Died.

Posted on March 6, 2009 14:07

all you schmucks forget tha... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by xan | March 6, 2009 4:04 PM | Score: -7 (7 votes cast)

xan:

all you schmucks forget that just because other presidents didnt have a teleprompter, doesnt mean they didnt have notes or someone else writing the speech.

smack on it all you want but at least he doesnt hide it

Posted on March 6, 2009 16:04

smack on it all you want... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by cirby | March 6, 2009 4:30 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

cirby:

That's the thing, though...

When we pointed this out in the early days of the campaign, we were told is was no big deal, and that he really didn't need it.

All Obama turned out to be is a guy who can read a TelePrompter. Someone else is writing the words.

So it turns out that you guys voted for the guy who really wrote the words.

Who is that, incidentally? Who was your Cyrano?

Posted on March 6, 2009 16:30

So it turns out th... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by mantis | March 6, 2009 4:39 PM | Score: -4 (8 votes cast)

So it turns out that you guys voted for the guy who really wrote the words.
Who is that, incidentally?

It's Obama, dumbass.

Posted on March 6, 2009 16:39

Don't worry, Lawson, I get ... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by max | March 6, 2009 4:48 PM | Score: -3 (3 votes cast)

Dn't wrr, Lwsn, gt plnt f chckls vr tm cm t Wzbng.

t's jst s s t dsmss th ppstn b cllng thm drngd. cn s wh Bshs lk DJ rl s hvl n t.
Take your derision of Wizbang elsewhere. Buh bye

Posted on March 6, 2009 16:48

Obama does not write the wo... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by 914 | March 6, 2009 5:00 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Obama does not write the words...They come staight from Mussolinis memoirs. He just has a puppeteer pulling His marxist strings..Probably Rahm the unEmmanuel jerkster.

Posted on March 6, 2009 17:00

My concern is not that he u... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by Margee | March 6, 2009 5:08 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Margee:

My concern is not that he uses a TelePrompter for public addresses, but that he is so BAD at ANYTHING without one. 98% of the real work of a President is done behind closed doors without TelePrompters. If he is so bad in public without one, how did he do with Prime Minister Brown? How will he do with ambassadors and leaders of other nations?

Posted on March 6, 2009 17:08

27. Posted by Margee | March 6, 2009 5:17 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Jon Favreau is Obama's chief speech writer. With judgement like that...

Posted on March 6, 2009 17:17

It was alll a big misquote.... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by Korla Pundit | March 6, 2009 6:30 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Korla Pundit:

It was alll a big misquote.

By "He's a great speaker," somebody said "He'd make a great dictator."

That's the root of the confusion. He's not a great speaker at all. He's just ... awful.

Posted on March 6, 2009 18:30

It's Obama, dumbass.... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by cirby | March 6, 2009 6:56 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

No.

If Obama was the genius who wrote all of those wonderful words while he was campaigning, he'd be able to come close to that sort of brilliance while speaking off the cuff.

As Margee said above, the actual person you voted for is the guy who got caught fondling a life-sized cardboard Hilary.

Sounds about right.

Posted on March 6, 2009 18:56

"So it turns out that you g... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by retired military | March 6, 2009 7:45 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)

"So it turns out that you guys voted for the guy who really wrote the words.
Who is that, incidentally?"

"It's Obama, dumbass."
"

Well Mantis, if that is true than someone should tell him not to put the same word in his speeches 5 times in a row.

Uhhh..uhhh..uhhh...uhhh...uhhh.

Posted on March 6, 2009 19:45

Not being able to speak wit... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Carol | March 6, 2009 10:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Carol:

Not being able to speak without a teleprompter (code words: speaking honestly) should disqualify you from being president of the United States. He is a total joke.

Posted on March 6, 2009 22:25

Shut the hell up. Could you... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by Phylicia | March 7, 2009 12:06 AM | Score: -6 (6 votes cast)

Phylicia:

Shut the hell up. Could you people run the country and memorize a speech? Lets be realistic, this man has alot of speeches to do, so what if he wants to use a teleprompter? Quit being so damn critical and judgmental!!

Posted on March 7, 2009 00:06

If I had a teleprompter for... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by BlueNight | March 7, 2009 12:27 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

BlueNight:

If I had a teleprompter for my Toastmasters speeches, I'd win the ribbon for "Best Speech" each meeting.

Posted on March 7, 2009 00:27

Shut the hell up. ... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by LaMedusa | March 7, 2009 12:30 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

LaMedusa:

Shut the hell up. Could you people run the country and memorize a speech?

Well, Obama doesn't do either, so why even ask this question? He's a talking head, Phylicia, nothing more. You'd think he would at least memorize a damn speech and do what he's paid to do, while Rahm and the rest of the cfr "run the country" into the ground and destroy our economy.

Posted on March 7, 2009 00:30

Shut the hell up. Could ... (Below threshold)

35. Posted by cirby | March 7, 2009 10:54 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Better than Obama, from the evidence we've seen.

Posted on March 7, 2009 10:54

"Shut the hell up. Could yo... (Below threshold)

36. Posted by retired military | March 7, 2009 3:23 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

"Shut the hell up. Could you people run the country and memorize a speech?"

Now for 8 years Bush has been accused of everything from colluding with Martians to destory the earth to being the mastermind behind the great plague during the middle ages.

Yet Obama supporters get frustrated over Obama being criticized for his speeches. Heaven forbid someone say something against his policies.

Posted on March 7, 2009 15:23

Retired Military, thanks ve... (Below threshold)

37. Posted by WildWillie | March 7, 2009 3:42 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

WildWillie:

Retired Military, thanks very much for the chuckle. Good comeback to the uber sensitive liberal who seems to have a lapse of memory concerning GW Bush. ww

Posted on March 7, 2009 15:42

...this man has a lot... (Below threshold)

38. Posted by John S | March 8, 2009 1:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

John S:

...this man has a lot of speeches to do...

I was going to bring that up. Does this man ever STFU? We don't need a speech a day. It's time to stop the campaigning and do the job.

Posted on March 8, 2009 13:02