Obama's Safety Net

Stentor · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 06:38 PM

It looks like the great orator--Obama--needs a bit of a crutch when speaking (it appears he's not capable of providing a clear and cogent message without a teleprompter--which suggests he might be a bit of a lightweight).

Excerpt from article:

President Barack Obama doesn’t go anywhere without his teleprompter.

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.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19663.html

392cobra · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 06:46 PM

He is a empty suit.

cobra de capell · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009, 09:39 AM

I'm thinking that Obama is using a teleprompter, in part, so that he can concentrate on the delivery versus the words. In other words, the delivery – hesitations, look, etc is even more important (to him) than the message. Of course, the message is just more BS.

392cobra · #4 (**permalink**) 11-19-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stentor

It looks like the great orator--Obama--needs a bit of a crutch when speaking (it appears he's not capable of providing a clear and cogent message without a teleprompter--which suggests he might be a bit of a lightweight).

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.

Looks like he is still in training........
http://www.theonion.com/content/vide...rce=videoembed

Dan40 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 10:47 AM

Since day one of the campaign, he has been, and always will be an empty suit. An articulate and melodious empty suit, but an empty suit nonetheless.
What really scares me is not knowing who really controls this wooden headed ventriloquist dummy.

Art Burtt · #6 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 11:44 AM

Are you tired or is it just me.
Of seeing his face on the TV?
Ranting and raving with Bible thumping flair,
As long as hie teleprompter, is in good repair.
The adoring press all doth say.
He has an eloquent speaking way.
But, when his semons at last are over,
I often wonder,"what the hell did he just say"?

Ron61 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 11:52 AM

Very good Art. But did Ernie give his approval?

Ron

69boss429 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 02:43 PM

I'm sorry,but with or without a teleprompter Obama has yet to give a speech that I would give any high marks for oratory skills.
He sounds like nothing but a lot of short clips never streaming together in a sentence that answers a question let alone flows in what one might term a speech.

Excaliber · #9 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 03:34 PM

There is little question Obama is one the great orators of our time, and ranks up there with the best in historic times as well. For the most part he even writes his own speeches, rather unprecedented in recent decades. Just the facts, regardless of whether you like the guy or not, he makes a helluva speech. Teleprompter? Name one President that HASN'T used notes while making a speech in the last 100 years? Paper or electronic, principle is the same.

Myself, I prefer "Notepad" in Windows over sticky notes, but both have their place.

I approve this message...

Ernie

69boss429 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

There is little question Obama is one the great orators of our time, and ranks up there with the best in historic times as well. For the most part he even writes his own speeches, rather unprecedented in recent decades. Just the facts, regardless of whether you like the guy or not, he makes a helluva speech. Teleprompter? Name one President that HASN'T used notes while making a speech in the last 100 years? Paper or electronic, principle is the same.

Myself, I prefer "Notepad" in Windows over sticky notes, but both have their place.

I approve this message...

Ernie

How's that koolaid taste!!

Stentor · #11 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Teleprompter? Name one President that HASN'T used notes while making a speech in the last 100 years? Paper or electronic, principle is the same.

Myself, I prefer "Notepad" in Windows over sticky notes, but both have their place.
Ernie

Ernie,

I think you are missing key points from the original article to which the link was posted. Yes, other Presidents used notes or teleprompters for big speeches (e.g., State of Union). What makes BHO an outlier is his extreme reliance on the teleprompter--everywhere he goes.

The link still works; here are some excerpts you might find of interest:

President Barack Obama doesn’t go anywhere without his TelePrompter.

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.

“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.”

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.

He's charismatic and a good presenter when he has a teleprompter in front of him. Take away the teleprompter and things can get ugly pretty quickly.

Excaliber · #12 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 04:04 PM

Facts are facts, koolaid or not. Obama is universally recognized by scholars, pundits, news media types, most anyone with an "education" as a great speaker/orator. That fact doesn't change just because you may or may not like someone. History is filled with great orators, regardless of their political affiliation, Obama is one of them.

69boss429 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Facts are facts, koolaid or not. Obama is universally recognized by scholars, pundits, news media types, most anyone with an "education" as a great speaker/orator. That fact doesn't change just because you may or may not like someone. History is filled with great orators, regardless of their political affiliation, Obama is one of them.

Man,what are you smoking!
Weather I like him or not is irrelevant,and if you choose to follow the crowd that believes BO to be a great orator I suspect you believe he also speaks the truth.
The only thing his speeches have shown me is how much he is in love with himself and how much he seems to dispise America.

Dan40 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Facts are facts, koolaid or not. Obama is universally recognized by scholars, pundits, news media types, most anyone with an "education" as a great speaker/orator. That fact doesn't change just because you may or may not like someone. History is filled with great orators, regardless of their political affiliation, Obama is one of them.

So a list of addled brained liberals like him. All the more proof he's is a wooden headed dummy!

Here is an obummer speech without the Teleprompter.
Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh, Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh, Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh, Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh, Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh, Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh,..........................
80 minutes later
Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh,
Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh,
Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh,
Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh,
Ahhh, unh, Ahh, unh,

Excaliber · #15 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 04:35 PM

Let me clarify the smiley here, I'm laughing AT you guys, not with you!

Of course you guys are right and the rest of the educated journalists, professors, speech writers and intellectuals are all stupid for even suggesting that Obama has any worth of note as an orator. Right, uh huh, sure, and pigs fly.

A speech, truth or lies, elequently put, is still a great speech. Obama is a silver tongued devil, or angel, determined by your point of view.

392cobra · #16 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 04:51 PM

Maybe Obama is only a great reader but Jimmy doesn't care.

Excaliber · #17 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 09:57 PM

I think Obama is also the first President to insist on retaining his black berry device as well. Technology marches on, some embrace it more readily than others. Trying to stop it is like standing in front of a train and expecting it to stop in time. Good luck with that.

Stentor · #18 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

I think Obama is also the first President to insist on retaining his black berry device as well. Technology marches on, some embrace it more readily than others. Trying to stop it is like standing in front of a train and expecting it to stop in time. Good luck with that.

Duck and weave, and sidestep the issue. You're acting like Robert Gibbs.

The points made in the article have NOTHING to do with embracing technology. It's talking about Obama's over-reliance on teleprompters, not his love of the BlackBerry.

Ralphy · #19 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 10:21 PM

It has nothing to do with embracing tech. When you accept The Office Of Presidency. You can have no secrets everything you do must be able to be traced by the USA. Remember Nixons tapes?

Excaliber · #20 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 10:47 PM

Can you imagine the vast quantities of information that must be logged these days for the POTUS? For his staff? Far in excess of the simple Nixon tape days.

Down right mind boggling when you think about it. Historians in the future will be inundated with information so vast it will take decades to sort it out, while the mountain of information continues to grow.