On Monday, the UK's Evening Standard, at its "This Is London" site, matter-of-factly noted the following in the final sentence of its report about President Obama's upcoming European trip (bold is mine):
Accompanying the party will be a total of 500 officials including kitchen staff, 35 vehicles in all, four speech writers and 12 teleprompters.
This more than vindicates yours truly's "President 'Prompter" appellation.
It is beyond me how comedians can still claim, as many apparently did after the election, that they have little raw material to work with for poking fun at this guy.
They could even tell good jokes and break news at the same time. As has so often been the case with Obama's gaffes and myriad foibles, the US media establishment has been nearly unanimous in ignoring the Standard's teleprompter tidbit.
A Google News Search on "12 teleprompters" (not in quotes) from March 30 - April 5 came back with all of 15 results (Google's total results returned claim of 24 at the link is incorrect).
A Scripps Howard News Service editorial makes up half of the results other than the original from the Evening Standard. That editorial wryly notes that "For sure, our president is not going to be at a loss for words." It also makes a more serious point about the size of Dear Leader's entourage, a point that I believe would have been widely touted had President Bush ever gone overseas with "with 500 staff in tow, including 200 Secret Service agents, a team of six doctors, the White House chef and kitchen staff with the president's own food and water":
The president is entitled to all the security, communications and support he feels necessary to do his job but surely, when we're trying to project a more restrained, humble image to the world, the president's huge retinue could be scaled back to something less than the triumphal march from "Aida."
I also did a Google News search on "twelve teleprompters" (in quotes) for the same date range and got one result, a First Read Blog item at MSNBC. There was no 'prompter reference in the post. The only reason it appeared in the search was because of a reader's comment.
To prove the obvious, I searched on "teleprompters" at the New York Times. Of course, there was no reference to the procession of 'prompters. But the first result has a knee-slapper from writer Peter Baker:
Mr. Obama can be an exceptionally careful public speaker, to the point that he uses teleprompters more often than past presidents have ....
Oh stop it, Peter, you're killin' me.
Here is why he uses them, Peter, straight from John Crace at the UK Guardian (of all places; HT to NewsBuster commenter motherbelt). Crace whimsically probed Obama's mind as he delivered a nails-on-the-blackboard response to a softball question from the BBC's Nick Robinson.
Read the whole uproariously funny thing. It proves that there's more than enough grist for the humor mill. The problem is a clear lack of willingness to swim against the PC tide on the part of the comedic wing of the supposed "truth to power" crowd.
Cross-posted at Bizzyblog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
For those who have not seen
April 5, 2009 - 12:38 ET by MassConservativeFor those who have not seen it this has become my 2nd internet stop ofthe day after Newsbusters...
http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/
"There are scandals that need to be addressed. Republicans address them, Democrats re-elect them." - Tom Delay
So True, MassC
April 5, 2009 - 13:13 ET by BlondeI've put it in my favorites as well.
Tell me, does BOTUS remind you a bit of Hillary? Not quite as important TOTUS, but the little Blackberry that almost made it? In other words, an attention ho?
I hope he fails, too.
I love the apellation "totus"
April 5, 2009 - 18:10 ET by RESTLESS 1I've taken to using the term "telprompter in chief" (tic, as in I'm developing a nervous one with the 0 in charge), in emails to my liberal, ahem, buddies.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Could be?
April 5, 2009 - 12:40 ET by AZTech2020I wonder if he uses one when he's talking to his wife, RuPaul........oooops, I mean Michelle!
Secret Service Detail?
April 5, 2009 - 12:40 ET by slickwillie2001Given the Bamster's total reliance on Teleprompter for his illusion of brilliance, I have to assume that Teleprompter has its own Secret Service detail. I wonder what Teleprompter's SS codename is? Is the Teleprompter team split in two, so they all can't travel on one plane? While in DC, is one Teleprompter team kept in an 'undisclosed location'? Have there been any plots against Teleprompter?
You didn't get this from me though...
April 5, 2009 - 12:50 ET by SeftonI wonder what Teleprompter's SS codename is?
Latest leak is that Rahm's is "Puppetmaster"
TOTUS is "I.V."
TOTUS' SS nickname is (or
April 5, 2009 - 13:03 ET by motherbeltTeleprompter's SS nickname is"Lifeline."
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
GMTA, Tom! I threw out a
April 5, 2009 - 13:00 ET by motherbeltGMTA, Tom! I threw out a link to that Guardian piece yesterday in another thread. It is hilarious.
BTW, if Bush had travelled with all those teleprompters, they would be having a field day! There would be jokes, not only about SS protection, as have been made here, but snippets about a separate plane for them, shielded from EM pulses etc....
My guess is that, if called on it, the media will say that The Obama needs teleprompters because his thoughts are so profound and complicated that he needs help simplifying them for the Great Unwashed.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Glad you did that because I wanted to do a HT ....
April 5, 2009 - 13:44 ET by Tom Blumer.... and didn't remember who made the reference.
That has been remedied.
yes the american comics
April 5, 2009 - 14:40 ET by katainkentneed to take notes. The dry Brit humor has made serious hay with Obama's gaffes. I saw the guardian piece yesterday (?) too. I tried reading it to my husband but I was laughing so hard I had tears and couldn't continue.
"THIS IS GOING TO GO DOWN LIKE A CROCK OF S**T BACK HOME. HELP"
LMAO
You're really being unfair
April 5, 2009 - 13:12 ET by snaggletoothieYou're really being unfair to the professional comedians. We should try to sympathize with the difficulty of thinking of jokes when you're on your knees with a worshipful look on your face while simultaneously trying to suppress homoerotic fantasies.
A dozen 'prompters
April 5, 2009 - 15:01 ET by Rukus12 Teleprompters?
I can see it now
TOTUS: All right guys, watch a pro do his thing for the Big Guy
MegaPrompter: Dream on pipsqeak! He'll go to me first.
TOTUS: Oh, suuuure he wil Mr. TV not a prompter guy! Get some RAM already!
Tele Jr.: Shut up you two! He's fixin' to speak!
Mega and TOTUS in unison: Pipe down shrimp!
Tele Jr: Whatever! I got yer shrimp hangi... uh, wait a sec...
All 11 other promters/TV: ROTFL!!
TOTUS: Here we go! Big Guy is here!
Mega: WE my pixels! ME!
TOTUS: Shut up fatso! Bite my hard drive!
Barry: "Shut up fatso! Bite my..." Uh, err, um hold on a sec, I can't hear myself think...
Audience: WTF!
MSM: He's so articulate!
Sigh.
Gary
"Things can only bother you if you let them bother you" -My Dad
Ooh ooh!
April 5, 2009 - 16:27 ET by RukusAfter I posted the above I started thinking about coming up with a 12 Days of Christmas-ish ode to the 'prompters. Maybe the 12 'Prompters of Barry. Ooooh, the wheels are turnin'...
Who says Barry's 'promters aren't humor worthy! : )
Gary
"Things can only bother you if you let them bother you" -My Dad
NICE!!!
April 5, 2009 - 20:33 ET by JnobleThat's an instant classic I'm definatly copying and pasting for future reading. Thanks!! :-D
Perhaps you fine folks have
April 5, 2009 - 15:20 ET by mandrakePerhaps you fine folks have never seen this slide show?
http://s332.photobucket.com/albums/m335/dmhlt48/Teleprompter%20-%20Reagan/?action=view¤t=2102fb6a.pbw
Power-saw to the people - Dexter
ok
April 5, 2009 - 15:23 ET by katainkentwhat's your point?
That Obama is not the only
April 5, 2009 - 15:26 ET by mandrakeThat Obama is not the only POTUS that has used it..so why make a big deal out it.
Other Presidents
April 5, 2009 - 15:32 ET by RukusOther Presidents could speak without it. Barry uses it the vast majority of the time. Reagan spoke very well off 'prompter,can't say the same of Barry. "Uh, um, er..." Can't compare the two, sorry.
Gary
"Things can only bother you if you let them bother you" -My Dad
I don't know, Barry seemed
April 5, 2009 - 15:40 ET by mandrakeI don't know, Barry seemed rather articulate on the Leno show 95% of the time. There was that unfortunate gaff about bowling. But I've said stupid things from time time..like "will you marry me" see we all do it!
Power-saw to the people - Dexter
".like "will you marry me" see we all do it! "
April 5, 2009 - 15:48 ET by RukusLOL!
I think it's far easier to speak that way, re:Leno, when doing a softball interview. Speaking politics is another thing all together. The teleprompter thing is getting to be tiresome though. Look what happened in England when trying to answer the press without the 'promter, it wasn't pretty. Anyway, just MHO.
Gary
"Things can only bother you if you let them bother you" -My Dad
I don't know, Barry seemed
April 6, 2009 - 02:25 ET by Dan The Man 2I don't know, Barry seemed rather articulate on the Leno show 95% of the time.
But he is not so articulate improptu in front of the press. And why is that, because he has no real thoughts in his head.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
this is not a big deal
April 5, 2009 - 15:37 ET by katainkentthis is a passing joke and its funny.
This is a big deal. As is this. this. this and this. Oh and this.
Obama is certainly not the
April 5, 2009 - 16:07 ET by motherbeltObama is certainly not the only President to use a teleprompter...but he is the only one to use them to the extent that he does....even the NYT admits as much.
Some selections:
Presidents have been using teleprompters for more than half a century,
but none have relied on them as extensively as Mr. Obama has so far.
Mr. Obama uses them for routine announcements and even for the opening statement of his only news conference so far.He used them during a visit to a Caterpillar plant in Peoria,
Ill. He used them to make brief remarks opening his “fiscal
responsibility summit.” He used them to discuss endangered species,
even recalling a visit to national parks as an 11-year-old. “That was
an experience I will never forget,” he said, reading from the
teleprompter.
Read the whole thing.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
hey MB
April 5, 2009 - 16:17 ET by katainkentthis is a good article too. "Daniel A. Cirucci is a lecturer in corporate communications at Penn State Abington, where he teaches public speaking"
TOTUS
April 6, 2009 - 06:14 ET by Sergeant ROCKReagan didn't have them installed in the press room. Nor did he travel with a teleprompter entourage. Nice try.
Obama Bin Barry is an empty suit.
"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
Imagine this
April 6, 2009 - 12:32 ET by mytwocentsI can only imagine if BHO were ever carved on Mt Rushmore. There would be two teleprompters carved on the mountains to the left and right of him.
5
April 5, 2009 - 16:10 ET by bknownstLet me see you've got 5 pictures of President Reagan, in 8 years in the White House, plus months of campaining? Have you ever seen comrade 0 without TOTUS in a public speaking engagement?
Wow
April 5, 2009 - 16:15 ET by Jcon966 or 7 phots of Reagan, vs. Barry using one for almost every single speaking engagement. That is quite a reach. Almost Troll-worthy, to be honest.
Obama is, to put it politely, a stuttering fool without Rahm and the boys spoon feeding him every word.
Almost Troll-worthy? Please
April 5, 2009 - 16:49 ET by mandrakeAlmost Troll-worthy? Please make me a full blown Troll..I promise to try harder..please!
katainket -I disagree
April 5, 2009 - 16:17 ET by MassConservativekatainket -
I disagree that this is a passing joke. The issue is that he is demonstrating that he cannot handle the simplest comments without it being pre-scripted for him. Even when the comments are prescripted he is so reliant on the teleprompter that he cannot even think for himself when it goes out of whack (your link, St. Patrick's day, etc.).
He wants to hold face to face talks with some of the biggest whackos on this planet who are a bit unstable (remember the reactions to the Danish Mohammed cartoons?).
What happens when a non-scripted Obama says something that is completely misinterpreted and he is incapable of thinking himself out of the jam? He will make the gaffe machine Biden look the the Obama everybody thought they were signing on for.
"There are scandals that need to be addressed. Republicans address them, Democrats re-elect them." - Tom Delay
in the scale of things
April 5, 2009 - 16:20 ET by katainkentI find its importance much lower in priority. But what is a joke. Its something so absurd and painful you must make fun of it to deal with it.
The way that the MSM, the
April 5, 2009 - 16:38 ET by RR GOPThe way that the MSM, the Europeans, Hollywood, TV personalities and assorted Leftists worldwide cover for him, he really doesn't need TOTUS at all...that's the remarkable thing.
Look at what Biden's gotten away with and it's made no difference.
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!?).
Blame it on the Teleprompter Union
April 5, 2009 - 16:55 ET by rightwingidiotThis is not Obeyme's fault. It's the fault of the White House Teleprompter Union.
Using card check, all of the Teleprompters unionized when Tele, BO's prompter that's been with him for years, found out that he wasn't going to be the only prompter at the WH. Once the prompters took a vote to unionize and it didn't get 50%, Tele stongarmed the no voters until he got enough yes votes. Story is that Tele threatened to break some of the prompters panes and stands. He is one bad dude.
Now, because of the prompter union, all of the WH prompters have to travel with him wherever he goes and he's not allowed to speak in public without using one of them. Union rules.
So, we have to cut Obeyme some slack.
This isn't because he can't think past the end of his nose.
This isn't because he can't spit out 4 words without um, uh, duh, um, uh, uh.
This isn't because he would stick his foot in his massive piehole if it wasn't for it being scrolled on a screen for him.
This isn't because he's a lying sack of crap and needs others to keep tabs on his lies so he can keep it all straight.
This isn't because the real ideas don't come from Obeyme at all but from Axleramrod, Pluffman and Soros.
This isn't because Obeyme's nothing but an empty damn suit.
Teleprompter Union is correct
April 5, 2009 - 17:03 ET by RukusThe problem was they weren't getting along.
So the Union was the way to go. Tele learned his thug politics well from his buddy Barry. : )
Gary
"Things can only bother you if you let them bother you" -My Dad
Past the end of his...
April 6, 2009 - 16:04 ET by KimberlyYou give him that much credit? I think some of the thoughts in his head can't even cross the blood/brain barrier.
Serious question: Does anybody know if POTUS is being aloud to smoke on this trip? Is he wearing a Nicorette patch? Chewing Nicorette gum? Because he's truly reaching new levels of incompetence on this trip, and I'm wondering if he's jonesing for a cig during some of the more brain-dead moments.
It really isn't humor-worthy.
April 5, 2009 - 17:03 ET by CKA in Red State USAThe guy's a fraud of the highest rank.
But, then, having 12 teleprompters along? Wow.
What is wrong with him?
April 5, 2009 - 17:07 ET by slickwillie2001And when is it going to be time to ask about this guy's state of health? Going as far back as Gordon Brown's visit, we were told the Bamster was 'under the weather'. Now on the trip to Europe he is breaking out in fever sweats. He is fumbling and doesn't seem to be able to think straight. We know it's not because of too much work, he only seems to work about six hours a day, five days a week. Remember all we got on the Bamster was a one page note from a doctor saying 'he's healthy'.
The press was all over President George W. Bush and the VP Cheney over the slightest tic. Why does the Bamster get a total pass?
First the Brits gave us Hannan, and now Crace!!! Many thanks!
April 5, 2009 - 18:27 ET by Cape ConservativeI forwarded that link to my entire list!
Now for my take on a little humor of this trip. Having 500 onboard couldn't prevent 'the one' from doing what so many of us do when traveling - catch a cold!
If he had been a LOYAL listener of Rush, he would have known to bring along a good supply of Zicam ;-) I love how Rush does that goofy commercial! And every time I heard 'the one' talk through that stuffy nose, I thought how fitting it was for his big appearance before the world ;-)
HE SHOULDA LISTENED TO RUSH!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
If Obama is so smart, does an IQ of 99 = a genius
April 5, 2009 - 19:49 ET by needleHere are two clips that dramatize Obama’s problem.
WARNING: There is no way to stop these clips – sort of like Obama himself! To keep from going mad I had to leave the room for several minutes until they ran their course.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
It'd be Funny if it weren't True...
April 6, 2009 - 16:24 ET by KimberlyThe teleprompter ping-pong is hysterical. Literally, he's using a technique that wouldn't even pass muster in Elementary Public Speaking: Read TP on right. Glance at notes. Read TP on left. Glance at notes. Lather, rinse, repeat.
True story: When I worked for the government years ago, in order to get my professionalization certificate in my career field, I had to take Introductory Public Speaking. (By that point, I'd hosted a radio show, been a regular on a number of local access talk shows, and was an adjunct instructor at one of the Gov't training facilities.) We were taped at the end of each speech, and then the tape was played back at 2x speed with no sound, so we could see how our body language was coming across. It was very instructive and useful in breaking bad habits, such as ping-pong (look from one side to the other with robotic timing), bobblehead (head bob up and down), lean-to (swaying one direction or the other), white-knuckles (staying frozen at the podium with hands clenched tight), etc.
If you can stand it, play back one of BarryO's TOTUS speeches at 2x with no sound. The ping-pong motion is annoying as all get out. Then do the same with a clip where he's speaking off the cuff. A better example of bobblehead and lean-to you will NEVER see from a public speaker. It's almost as if he thinks nodding "yes" as he speaks will make people forget he took three minutes to come around to a 30-second answer.
Like Spectators...
April 6, 2009 - 19:35 ET by rightwingidiotLike spectators at a tennis match. Perfectly annoying.
Frankly, he gives too many speeches. His handlers think it makes him seem connected to the common people and the MSM just oozes over his long-winded, teacher-like answers to press questions. In reality, he's just dragging out the answers to, 1) hear himself talk more which I know he enjoys immensly and, 2) to lessen the number of questions he gets. Better to blather on for 5 or 6 than to have to answer 10 or more.
And with all that damn uh, ah, duh, uh, uh, duh, ah he is just so confidence inspiring.
What doesn't seem to sink into that thick skull of his is
April 7, 2009 - 19:10 ET by Cape Conservativethe fact that his blathering on and on and on doesn't accomplish a single thing! He just says a whole bunch of NOTHING!!! And anyone listening knows that!!
I'm sure the Europeans are having a grand old time laughing at this faux leader!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Anyone have any info on the
April 5, 2009 - 19:47 ET by GregEAnyone have any info on the numbers of people, etc, when Bush went to the same summit? I am going on an internet search now but if anyone has it, let me know. Thanks!
The poor memory exhibited
April 5, 2009 - 19:48 ET by snaggletoothieThe poor memory exhibited by the dependence on the teleprompter and his frequent inability to make sense when discussing mildly complex issues off the cuff gives rise to some speculation. How recently was he using marijuana and cocaine? Did he refuse to release his medical records because they would provide proof that he continues to abuse these drugs? Or is there some even worse malady that has affected his mentation? Does he have AIDS with neurological involvement? A brain tumor? Tertiary syphilis? Advanced liver or kidney disease?
His total lack of transparency and the press corps fear of a normal vetting process just make 5 questions pop up where there was once only one.
I think you're right. I
April 6, 2009 - 13:34 ET by balboaI think you're right. I think he's actually mentally challenged, having donated part of his brain to Islam.
Bal
April 6, 2009 - 16:12 ET by Rukus"having donated part of his brain to Islam."
Not to mention a good chuck of our tax dollars!
Gary
"Things can only bother you if you let them bother you" -My Dad