From Monday's broadcast network evening newscasts: CBS and NBC found hypocrisy in Sarah Palin scolding President Obama's incessant use of a Teleprompter while she had “crib notes” written on her hand during her Saturday Tea Party convention appearance, CBS followed by giving Obama two-straight minutes to explain why the public will come around to “connect” with him again and, meanwhile, ABC devoted a full story to “whether Republicans want action or are just the 'Party of No'?”
CBS's Nancy Cordes reported, over a helpful graphic showing the words written on Palin's hand, that while Palin “dismissed the President Saturday night as a 'charismatic guy with a Teleprompter,' she may have been relying on some crib notes of her own.” Cordes concluded: “Her supporters called it an endearing sign that Palin's a real person, while detractors argue it's proof she doesn't know her facts.” On NBC, Brian Williams led the Palin story with how “it happened after a speech where she criticized the President for relying too much on a Teleprompter.”
Next on CBS, Katie Couric highlighted how, in her pre-SuperBowl sit-down with Obama, she had raised with him that “people are not sure who he is or what he stands for.” Viewers were then treated to a two-minute long answer from Obama, ending with his insistance that when the economy improves “we'll do just fine and everybody will be saying what a connection President Obama has with the American people. Which is what they were saying a year ago.” (“They” being journalists?)
ABC's Diane Sawyer relayed the White House spin:
Now we turn to politics and President Obama on the offensive. He has challenged Republicans to a kind of political truth or dare, a meeting February 25th broadcast on TV to discuss health care reform so the country can decide whether Republicans want action or are just the “Party of No”?
From Capitol Hill, Jonathan Karl began his piece: “Democrats up here are saying that these days Republicans are even saying no to their own ideas. Just look at the last few weeks. Senate Republicans reversed course dramatically on how to reduce the deficit...”
From the Monday, February 8 CBS Evening News:
NANCY CORDES: ...While the former Alaska Governor dismissed the President Saturday night as a-SARAH PALIN: Charismatic guy with a Teleprompter.
CORDES: She may have been relying on some crib notes of her own. Cameras captured the words “energy,” “tax cuts” and “lift American spirits” scribbled on her hand, which she appeared to refer to in the q & a directly following her speech.
PALIN, LOOKING DOWN: We've got to start reigning in the spending, we have got to jump start these energy projects.
CORDES: Her supporters called it an endearing sign that Palin's a real person, while detractors argue it's proof she doesn't know her facts.
The very next story:
COURIC: Though he's been in office just over a year, President Obama has given more than 160 interviews and taken questions at 26 town meetings. In my interview with him yesterday, I asked him about the criticism he gets from some political analysts that in spite of all that exposure, people are not sure who he is or what he stands for.OBAMA: ...So if we work hard and stay focused on what matters to people in their day to day lives and make some occasionally tough decisions, and the economy improves and people's lives improve, then I think we'll do just fine and everybody will be saying what a connection President Obama has with the American people. Which is what they were saying a year ago.
NBC Nightly News:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Sarah Palin's defenders went into overdrive today after yesterday's discovery she had notes written on her hand, the answers to a question that hadn't been asked yet on stage. It happened after a speech where she criticized the President for relying too much on a Teleprompter and then some. Our report on all of it tonight from NBC's Andrea Mitchell....ANDREA MITCHELL: At the Tea Party convention, she lacerated President Obama.
SARAH PALIN: I've got to ask supporters of all that, how's that hopey stuff work out for you? This is about the people and it's bigger than any king or queen of a Tea Party and it's a lot bigger than any charismatic guy with a Teleprompter.
MITCHELL: Palin wasn't beyond using a handy crib sheet herself, just in case she was asked her top priorities.
PALIN: We've got to start reigning in the spending, we have got to jump start these energy projects.
MITCHELL: A Palin campaign would certainly be different: Appearing before friendly crowds, using Facebook and Twitter to control the message, not answering tough questions....
From ABC's World News:
DIANE SAWYER: Now we turn to politics and President Obama on the offensive. He has challenged Republicans to a kind of political truth or dare, a meeting February 25th broadcast on TV to discuss health care reform so the country can decide whether Republicans want action or are just the “Party of No”? Jon Karl at Capitol Hill, we want to bring you in. What's the GOP answer?JONATHAN KARL: Well, when it comes to attending that meeting, all indications are the Republicans will say yes. But if it's a matter of resuscitating the President's health care bill, they've already given their answer and that's a firm no.
SAWYER: And what about the administration indictment that the Republicans are really looking for ways to say no?
KARL: Well, in fact, Democrats up here are saying that these days Republicans are even saying no to their own ideas. Just look at the last few weeks. Senate Republicans reversed course dramatically on how to reduce the deficit...
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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Comments Policy
I want to sell cars to liberals
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:20 ET by jaydeee007Really.
First you explain to them that there is NO difference between a Volkswagon Beetle and a Porche 924. (They really are the same, 4 tires, rear engine, steering wheel) Absolutly NO difference. Just the same. And then you can make them pay the Porche 924 price for the Beetle.
Because if they see bullet points written on someone's had as the same as a Teleprompter, they'll buy the Beetle as a Porshce line.
Never Forget: Climate Change is what you call Global Warming when your Global Warming Summit/Conference/Protest is Snowed Out!
Don't send these absolute
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:25 ET by FirmwormDon't send these absolute morons shopping for fruit either. 'Let me see is this an apple or an orange? I can't tell the difference'.
amazing
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 13:49 ET by Patriot IITheir dum bass hero oblahma can't say good morning without a monitor, but they slam Sarah Palin for having notes.....you hypocritical lowlife bas---ds!!!!!!!
I find it funny
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 08:14 ET by MichaelPaladinI find it funny they give Sarah Palin a hard time for 7 words on her palm, and "The One" can not put together 7 comprehensible words without a telepromter.
HANDS
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:48 ET by cvgbuckeyeMe as well as a large group of friends have written "RUN SARAH RUN" on the palms of both of our hands and we have been holding them up in the air in very public places. I hear that it is really starting to catch on and a lot of people are talking about it.
I heard that some group is looking for some hobby shop or something that would be willing to print a huge number of them and sell them for $1 a piece, donating the proceeds to the Tea Party Movement OR to Sarah's political campaign.
This is the very way that we should react to every cheap shot that the MSM takes at Sarah OR the Tea Party Movement, to turn it around on them and use it to our advantage.
I must mention that one rascal, in my opinion, has gone a little over the top with an obscene image of "Old Andrea" depicted in a very compromising way on a "Palm Image". Not the way we want to go but I must admit that it was quite humerous! Just use your imaginations.
Brilliant Strategy
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:25 ET by BarkerI think Sarah Palin purposely has her detractors right where she wanted them: In the palm of her hand.
That reminds me of what
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:32 ET by FirmwormThat reminds me of what someone told me several years ago regarding a story of subliminal advertising with sexual innuendo.
The old Dirt Devil hand held vacuum cleaner slogan was,
'The power of an upright in the palm of your hand'.
Wow! They're really running
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:31 ET by antWow! They're really running with this "party of no" thing. Again I must say there is nothing wrong with saying no to bad ideas.
NEWS FLASH TO THE MSM: Crib
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:32 ET by marpelNEWS FLASH TO THE MSM: Crib notes does not a teleprompter make! Another example that the main stream media think the American people are brain-dead dopes. We all know the difference between using a teleprompter to speak to 6th graders and bullet points written on your hand in order to make a key note address.
I wonder if ol' BO could have made the speech of the caliber that Sarah made from just 3 lines written on his hand....NOT!
"...corPsman...." Geez!
I have to differ
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:17 ET by jaydeee007Elloquence is not the reason for the Teleprompter.
Obozo needs his teleprompter for reasons of consistancy. You see you need a photographic memory to be a good liar. Obozo runs the risk of telling the truth when he doesn't have his teleprompter teling him what to say. We saw that in Baltimore.
So when the same fools who cant tell the difference between bullet points and teleprompters crow about the Big O's elloquence without a teleprompter, they carefully neglect that he accidently told the truth when he pointed out that the Health Care Bills weren't in keeping with his Pledges.
Never Forget: Climate Change is what you call Global Warming when your Global Warming Summit/Conference/Protest is Snowed Out!
And that UPS and FEDEX put
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:42 ET by MrSnugglesAnd that UPS and FEDEX put the USPS to shame.
Sneaky
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:15 ET by miss911ninjaYup, he slipped up and told the truth when he admitted that things had been "snuck in" to the health care bill.
Plus, he might start talking
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:38 ET by mattmPlus, he might start talking about breathalyzers being mandatory in all 57 states.
Corpseman...nuf said.
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:58 ET by d1carterCorpseman...nuf said.
Who are they speaking to....?
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:34 ET by NeoKongBesides themselves. Are they seriously trying to equate a few words written on Sarah Palin's hand with a teleprompter that has a two thousand word speech scrolling in front of the President. Let's see Barack Obama give a thirty minute speech using only the palm of his hand to rely on. This just shows a sense of desperation in the left and their media today. They cannot talk about the content of her speech so they try to ridicule her over a non issue. The left has been resorting to these personal attacks for a whole year now and all they got out of it was Waterloo and Teddy K's seat going red. CNN's rating are in the tank and so are MSNBC's. CBS is laying people off and slashing Katies salary. So sad.
Obama's poll numbers are consistently below fifty but yet he wants to double down on the same unilateral go it alone Chicago cowboy strategy that he accused G. Bush of doing. If this was a Texas Holdem' game then the lefties have stood up and pushed their chair back. They are all in. This media will follow Obama straight over the cliff if they have to. Why should they care if their networks tank....? They are already millionaires.
I find it interesting
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:14 ET by treehoodI find it interesting that each commentator that I have seen dissing Palin about refering to her palm was reading the criticism from a teleprompter.
That made me laugh!
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:59 ET by goldboughThat made me laugh!
Couric:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:15 ET by Teamcheeser"...in spite of all that exposure, people are not sure who he is or what he stands for."
No, Katie, we know EXACTLY who he is and what he stands for.
The More I Think About It
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:17 ET by sic721The more I start to think this is all just an msm-baiting set-up.
Seriously, does anyone truly believe Sarah needs to write "energy, tax cuts, and lift American spirits" on her hand as a reminder of what to talk about? These are her core values, people. She doesn't need crib notes for this.
This, along with the, for lack of a better word, bait-and-switch Focus On the Family pulled on the msm and liberals getting them to show their true colors with the Tebow ad has an almost Breitbart-like feel to it.
And I like it.
→ Mene Tekel Upharsin
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:18 ET by Cool ArrowMene Tekel Upharsin
Nero Obama woke up to find these words tattooed into his hand.
Wise Democrats from throughout the realm have been summoned to explain to Nero the meaning of the message.
Perhaps Nero should send for Joseph (Lieberman) whom the Democrats have cast into exile these many months.
I love it when a story comes together.
now we can hope
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:22 ET by BKeysernow we can hope
→ O corpseman My corpseman
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:26 ET by Cool ArrowHave ye any healing salve to erase this message from my palm?
Barack Ѡbama - Nero on the Potomac
Wait a minute, aren't all these desk dummies reading off
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:21 ET by lsudolemiteteleprompters themselves on their own shows? I'll make you a deal, I'll shut up about Obama's telemprompter addiction when you morons start reporting the news unassisted yourselves. Because everyone knows that writing a few key words on your hand for a talk is totally the same thing as reading an entire speech off a machine <sarc>
This is so good for Sarah--
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:32 ET by carolina09--that I wonder if she did it on purpose.
Everyone out there listening to this who has any sense will be taken aback by the absurd comparison of Obama's tele-crutch and a few thematic words written on a palm.
Those words are like a Table of Contents that the media, given their ideology, are giving great play.
Name 3 Things Written on Obama's Palm:
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:36 ET by Barker1. Raise Taxes
2. Destroy America
3. Smoke Cigarette
4. To be placed over heart
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:06 ET by Jer4. To be placed over heart during playing of National Anthem.
Jer
lol
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:20 ET by well99Big time.
I see, well99...
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:29 ET by Jerso NOW you think I'm funny. I'll take it.
:-)
Jer
Jer
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:50 ET by well99I was worried about the Minnesota election board jumping in on it.
Be careful. I have them
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:59 ET by JerBe careful. I have them on speed dial.
Jer
Jer
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:28 ET by well99Yes Sir.More donuts Sir?
Krispy-Kreme...a dozen,
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:30 ET by JerKrispy-Kreme...a dozen, fresh from the oven.
Jer
Jer
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:39 ET by well99Check your email.They should be there soon.
Can you say
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:41 ET by hbnolikeeeTOTUS
Andrea Mitchell, Ace Reporter
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:57 ET by Meredith1966"...not answering tough questions...", sayeth Andrea Mitchell.
Sayeth I--what are ya' complaining about, Andrea? President Obama never answers tough questions, either. You know why? 'Cause you never ask any!! If you're going to whine about Palin you'd better start asking the Prez some toughies, too, otherwise people like me of limited intelligence will continue to see right through your charade of objectivity.
In the words of the Russian painter, Dubov, from "Gilligan's Island"--phooey on you!
"The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately." - Calvin Coolidge
I guess this is good
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:57 ET by goldboughThis story just shows that the MSM has no arguments with what Palin actually says. If writing on her hand is the worst they can come up with from the speech, then the speech must be right on! Remember when MSNBC played an entire 3-minute interview but focusing on the slaughter in the background? Couldn't argue with her points, so they showed something else.
She's not saying anything
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:08 ET by balboaShe's not saying anything new, so what's to argue with?
Palin Palm-Pilot Update
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:04 ET by carolina09I wrote earlier that I thought this writing-on-the-hand thing just might have been on purpose.
She gave a speech in CA to those with logging ties--her hand said, "Loggers rock!" And in Texas, stumping for Perry, her hand said "Hi, Mom!"
Now it will be part of her trademark, and everyone will ask, "What's on her hand?"
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
carolina09
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 00:26 ET by BarkerI think you're right in saying that this was a calculated move on Palin's part. She's definitely got something up her sleeve.
I really have to hand it to her.
Sarah Did Without
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:45 ET by miss911ninjaIf this is true, let's give her a hand!
Someone at the top of the thread said that comparing the teleprompter to a few words written on the hand was like comparing apples to oranges. Fair enough. But I think it's more like a difference between low tech and high tech. Bells and whistles or no bells and whistles. BHO needs all the bells and whistles to do what Sarah did without any.
Create T-Shirt with Palins's hand!
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:23 ET by celatorSomeone is going to make big bucks by creating a T-Shirt with the close-up pic of Palin's hand and words. I'll buy one and wear it proudly.
TALK TO THE HAND!
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:29 ET by BlondeThat is soooo funny, on so many different levels.
I hope he fails, too.
Yes! Talk to the hand!.
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:54 ET by celatorYes! Talk to the hand!. didn't see this until this morning. Perfect! Made me laugh out loud. T-Shirts, billboards, tv ads....lol. Everywhere.
A t-shirt would be great
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 08:13 ET by ekslibObama should read Sarah's palm instead of his teleprompter.
Sarah's got good ideas that would grow the economy, reduce unemployment and return money to Americans to buy their own health insurance.
Lower taxes; drill here, drill now.
Meanwhile, Obama uses his hands to pick our pockets and "palm" our money.
This gives me an idea
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:48 ET by jon_torlinWish I had time to do this, but maybe BK could show a picture of Odumbo looking at the teleprompter and it has a picture of Sarah's hand? There's a picture like that seen on Rush Limbaugh's site.
-Jon
→ Talk to the hand
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:51 ET by Cool ArrowI think Celator and Blonde nailed it.
A T-shirt with the heading "Talk to the hand" with Sarah's hand and the scribbled notes.
She's got more sense in the palm of her hand than Obama has in his whole brain.
Barack Ѡbama - O corpse man, My corpse man
I'll buy it!
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:53 ET by jon_torlinSign me up! Though if I wore it at work, it'll upset the liberals. I'll save it for casual friday. >:-)
-Jon
Charisma?
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:40 ET by Two DogsDammit, I knew if Palin kept talking she would finally say something that made her look dumb. She thinks that Barry Obama is a "charismatic guy?" Does she not know the definition of "charismatic?" Good Lord, that guy is as dull as a marble and as interesting as The View.
"1. Energy 2. Tax Cut 3.
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 01:39 ET by shannon76"1. Energy 2. Tax Cut 3. Lift American Spirits...."
You know what? I like that. I like her thought process. Thank you Lamestream for showing me what it said on her palm. It shows me she has a concept of where she wants to take America; and it's a direction I approve of.
I remember when I was in high school and college and I'd have to give speeches, or do a debate, or perform a skit in German (my foreign language). It was always best when I had a few bullet points and concepts to remind me where I wanted to go and to speak extemporaneously. It was so much better than having my whole speech written on a sheet and just reading off of it (like some TOTUS-addicts).
The TOTUS is such a crutch for Obama.He won't go away from it even to disprove us, his critics. I know the feeling: he doesn't want to screw up one word. And it means the same thing for him as it did for me: he's lazy and he has no real confidence in what he's saying.
For examples of authentically great stories in speechmaking history, refer to Rush Limbaugh at CPAP last year giving a riveting speech for over an hour (no tele or notes as far as I could see), or Bill Clinton's famous SOTU where, supposedly, the teleprompter broke and he went off memory. (If that's true)
teleprompter
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 10:45 ET by m1xramI see the difference.. It takes a telepromter to get everything wrong. That's so comforting.
He has already failed... his country.
This is the MSM at
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 11:42 ET by jessieHThis is the MSM at it's worst. Maybe they need a corpsman to tell obama how to pronounce corpsman. Is he going to blame the teleprompter? Or will he just keep blaming Bush?
Party of Know
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 13:03 ET by ReefdiverThis is a thought I had concerning the “Party of No” moniker being applied to Republicans specifically and to anyone generally who doesn’t agree with progressive ideology. The left does a superb job of co-opting words, why don't we turn it back on them for once.
The Party of Know
I am a proud member of the Party of Know. We Know and believe in the Bill of rights. We Know and trust the ideals presented in our Constitution. We Know and appreciate the meaning of the Declaration of independence. We Know and understand many of lessons taught by history. We Know and accept the burden of American exceptionalism. We Know and support the free market. We Know that without freedom of speech there can be no freedom. We Know that Carl Marx was not a founding father. Etc.
So in the picture above,
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 16:54 ET by stage9is that what was really written on her hand? Anyone?
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge