Obama and his teleprompter
Can the president function without an electronic script?
The right’s silly “fascination with President Obama and teleprompters” seems to have gone mainstream, said Steve Benen in The Washington Monthly. In an “analysis” of Obama’s Tuesday press conference, the AP’s Ron Fournier described the teleprompter Obama used for his opening statement as a “familiar crutch,” as if it were unusual for presidents to read prepared statements. That’s an “analysis”? “From where, the Republican National Committee?”
Well, seriously, said John Hindraker in Power Line, “everyone knows that Barack Obama is lost without his teleprompter.” But even the teleprompter can’t save him from every “blunder,” like when he mispronounced “Orion” a number of times. Add astronomy to the list of subjects on which “Obama is incredibly ignorant,” joining history and economics.
Critics of Obama’s teleprompter use have a point, said Peter Baker in The New York Times online. He uses the device more “extensively” than any president since Eisenhower—for “everyday speeches and statements,” not just major addresses, like past presidents. No wonder Obama’s teleprompter has its own blog and Facebook page.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, this whole Obama-can’t-survive-without-it attack “sort of baffles me,” said Michael Scherer in Time. “So he likes reading from a screen and not a piece of paper,” like some of his predecessors. Obama won three unscripted presidential debates and slays at every press availability. “Does anyone really doubt Obama’s ability to speak cogently and in detail without notes”?
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Penny acquitted in NYC subway choking death
Speed Read Daniel Penny was found not guilty of homicide in the 2023 choking death of Jordan Neely
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Suspect in CEO shooting caught, charged with murder
Speed Read Police believe 26-year-old Luigi Mangione killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published