Mainstream media journalists delighted in joining left-wing bloggers in mocking President George W. Bush over his penchant for verbal miscues, often when speaking off-the-cuff. Of course, President Bush wasn't too prickly on this point and on occasion made self-deprecating jokes about his penchant for mangling the English language.
Yet when it comes to right-of-center bloggers playfully mocking President Barack Obama's dependence on the teleprompter, don't expect most journalists to yuk it up with conservatives.
Witness Time magazine reporter Michael Scherer's March 25 blog post with some thoughts on the president's second prime-time news conference:
I don't really get all this gabbing about Obama and his teleprompter. Does anyone really doubt Obama's ability to speak cogently and in detail without notes, after winning three presidential debates and slaying just about every press availability he gets? So he likes reading from a screen and not a piece of paper. But this whole line of attack, promoted widely by conservative blogs, sort of baffles me.
But isn't "slaying just about every press availability" an easy task when reporters are prone to swooning a-la Chris Matthews in his presence?
To be fair, Scherer did go on to link to the Web page for "Barack Obama's Teleprompter's Blog" and the Twitter page so readers could taste a sample of conservative humor about the president's autocue addiction.
Unlike Scherer, however, Newsweek "The Gaggle" blogger Holly Bailey pronounced it "strange, especially for a statement so short" to have a teleprompter at a press conference. After all, it "shows how worried Obama is about getting his words exactly right."
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Here we Go Again!
March 25, 2009 - 13:10 ET by GeneralAlHere we go again! Bash Bush, Ogle Obama! Persecute Bush, Praise Obama! Denounce Bush, Delight Obama! I thought this Messiah was so articulate? Only his teleprompter knows for sure! Bush bungled words but they were his words and at least they made sense! This guy gives a boring speech for a one word answer, courtesy of his teleprompter! Bush has two degrees, Obama has one! Bush takles the hits from the press, Obama takes their kisses! These kiss-ups make me sick!
I didn't know that Obama
March 25, 2009 - 13:32 ET by MANstreammediaI didn't know that Obama saying what the media wanted to hear counted as a debate win. Anyone but Mccain would have ripped Obama a new one, but if you actually listened tot he debates there was really no winner, just two men (for the most part) making absurd statements.
Obama's Degrees
March 25, 2009 - 13:41 ET by ChuchulainnIt is my understanding the Obama has two degrees: a B.A. in political science 1983, and a Juris Doctor (J.D) magna cum laude from Harvard 1991. I believe both of these are considered college degrees.
Then...
March 25, 2009 - 14:06 ET by ontheright...it would stand to reason that he would be very well read and should be able to speak coherently without any props (nothing wrong with notes).
Or, am I missing the jist of your argument?
He's not making an argument
March 25, 2009 - 14:34 ET by SickofLibsHe's not making an argument - he's pointing out something irrelevant that has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic of this post - reliance on teleprompters.
I'm trying to figure out
March 25, 2009 - 15:54 ET by kgI'm trying to figure out what he's trying to say too.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Re Degrees
March 25, 2009 - 14:13 ET by slickwillie2001Agreed he has these pieces of paper, but like every accomplishment claimed in Obammy's life, there's a big asterisk: Affirmative Action. He was admitted to Occidental, and Columbia, and Harvard on the basis of affirmative action. Every grade he received at those schools was awarded on the basis of affirmative action. Every degree has was awarded was therefore awarded on the basis of affirmative action.
His assignment to be President of the Harvard Law Review we know was AA, this has been admitted by HLRJ. The complete pass that he has been given his entire life by the old media is based on affirmative action.
Any unbiased measure of his intellect has been buried deep. Unlike any other Presidential candidate, we have never heard a word on SAT scores, LSAT scores, IQ tests, even bar exam results. The blackout on this information tells me he has something to hide. I see zero evidence that his intelligence is above average, and zero evidence that his degrees were earned.
I wonder how great his
March 25, 2009 - 14:28 ET by MANstreammediaI wonder how great his publications and law practice experience were after his graduation?
Re I wonder
March 25, 2009 - 15:31 ET by slickwillie2001In the Lazy-Barack file, there is record of others that worked in the Chicago law firm that Obammy worked at, complaining that he spent much of his time with his feet up on his desk working on one of 'his' books. No record of any articles or writings other than 'his' books.
Ref: Is Obama Lazy: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/03/
You are correct in
March 25, 2009 - 14:30 ET by SickofLibsYou are correct in describing this as an "understanding", as every single shred of Barrky's academic (and legislative) record is under lock and key in some underground vault.
Along with other key documents.
Wow
March 25, 2009 - 18:00 ET by justathotThen he should be able to at least read from a teleprompter. After hearing this, someone should send him 'Hooked on Phonics'.
MANstreammedia I
March 25, 2009 - 13:41 ET by snaggletoothieMANstreammedia
I don't think you'dever be allowed in the White House press room with your attitude.
Me neither. I remember the
March 25, 2009 - 14:26 ET by MANstreammediaMe neither. I remember the average public high school/undergrad college student (not Ivy League mind you) being able to deliver a decent to good extemporaneous speech with minimal speaking aids (i.e. note cards with a broad outline to glace at if needed). If someone is good at reading cue cards, they should really pursue a Hollywood career rather than a political one.
scherer
March 25, 2009 - 13:45 ET by east tennessee johnIf true believer Scherer .is soooo confident about Sgt. Schultz, why doesn't Comrade O take on overweight, uneducated formerly drug addicted,(oops can't say that Barry was on blow), Rush in a debate, no teleprompters? I bet Barry couldn't even answer question 1 on the basics of market economics. He beat JOe Biden in a debate!!!!! Wow, that's a major accomplishment, isn't it?
Does anyone really doubt
March 25, 2009 - 14:04 ET by motherbeltDoes anyone really doubt Obama's ability to speak cogently and in detail without notes....
UH.....YEAH!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Obama didn't win all three
March 25, 2009 - 14:07 ET by suzycreamcheeseObama didn't win all three debates. And I do doubt Obama's ability to speak cogently and in detail without notes. He is not a natural orator. He stutters and flubs lines just like any human does; but we expect more from him because the left and the media built him up to be a great speaker.
It must bite to be a Dem
March 25, 2009 - 14:10 ET by katiejanethey won the presidential election, they've got majorities in both houses of Congress, they've got an infinite number of braindead who think the One can do no wrong BUT they just don't have a sense of humor.
Even the most devoted of the Obama shills should be able to see the humor in the silly teleprompter stuff.
Come on now, anyone that
March 25, 2009 - 14:18 ET by nadadhimmiCome on now, anyone that criticises Dear Leader must by defiition be mentally unbalanced and a prime candidate for forced admission to the mental health system. If that expedient is ineffective, the re-education camps may be required to re-establish the socialist norm.
POTUS Would be Toast Without TOTUS
March 25, 2009 - 15:55 ET by nofate"Does anyone really doubt Obama's ability to speak cogently and in detail without notes..."
Yes, several million of us. Without the Teleprompter of the United States, Obama couldn't speak three words without an "Ugh, ugh, ugh." Here's a great video of someone speaking truth to power. Where are the pols on our side willing to speak truth to Obama?
A little off topic, but I just watched this video at American Thinker, "If Republicans Had Any Guts", of Daniel Hannan, a conservative member of Parliament that our pols all need to watch. Where are the conservative members of our House or Senate that would stand up and say this to Obama and his henchmen? Instead our Republican so-called conservatives use Rush, Hannity, and Levin for cover so they don't have to appear to nakedly against Obama. Do you want Obama to succeed or not??? Where's your balls??? Shriveled up inside, it looks like. Kudos to Mr. Hannan.
The pols are still leaving it up to the talkers with the targets on their backs, taking every opportunity to run the opposite direction and not cover their backs ala the "fairness doctrine". Read Mark Levin's new book. If the pols can't grow a set, the voters are going to have to.
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com
The difference is that no
March 25, 2009 - 17:08 ET by RR GOPThe difference is that no one painted Bush as some kind of demigod, went on and on about how brilliant he was and what a fantastic orator he was.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Hacking
March 25, 2009 - 18:41 ET by DirjjWouldn't it be a gas if someone could hack into The Teleproptor in Chief's . . . Telepromptor and have him say a bunch of absurd things. Or have him play the Cat Game ala Supertroopers.
ab
"We need to meow save and invest.."
March 25, 2009 - 22:20 ET by Sergeant ROCK"I want to extend a meow hand to Iran."
"The economy is meow the worst economy since the meow Depression."
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason