CNN: Palin's Crib Notes Same As Obama's Teleprompter

In a perfect example of how the mainstream media often channels liberal blogosphere hysteria, what is destined to be called "Handgate" -- Sarah Palin's use of crib notes at Saturday's National Tea Party convention -- was all the rage on CNN Monday.

The network's political editor was even wheeled out to discuss the matter -- as if somehow threatening to national security! -- informing viewers how absurd it was for the former Alaska governor to mock President Obama's use of a teleprompter when she is "using the same kind of aids."

Yep. A teleprompter with EVERY WORD one is going to say in front of a group written on it -- even when speaking at an elementary school!!! -- is the same as having a few words written on your hand (video embedded below the fold with partial transcript and commentary):

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: I've reached out to her spokeswoman just to ask these questions: Did she write on her hand; if she did, why did she do so? Look, the fact that she wrote on her hand isn't really that big of a deal. We all work off of notes certainly in television. But the fact that she was critical of President Obama, and called him, "That charismatic guy with the teleprompter," and as you just saw, I looked down at my notes to give that direct quote. It's very hard to be critical of one person when you yourself are using the same kind of aids when you're speaking.  

Amazing hypocrisy, wouldn't you say?

After all, they first bashed Palin for having these notes, then bashed her for mocking Obama's teleprompter. Yet, Preston, after admitting that he needed to look at his notes to accurately quote SIX WORDS, concluded you shouldn't "be critical of one person when you yourself are using the same kind of aids when you're speaking."

Maybe he should take his own advice.

For the record, CNN addressed Palin's notes every hour Monday morning between 6:00 and 9:00. Transcripts are not yet available for later hours.

As such, it's fairly clear the network has decided this is a pivotal story, and the goal is to attack Palin while diminishing the significance of Obama's dependence on his teleprompter.

And people think there's a liberal bias in the media.