# You're kidding right? Obama needs a teleprompter to give a speech at an elementary school!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576 "2010-01-26T21:56:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/41 "2010-01-27T06:51:28Z")
You know, the Gettysburg Address was scripted too. True fact. Lincoln didn’t just improvise it out of his ass. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/42 "2010-01-27T08:59:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Didn’t your guy wait around to find out what would happen to a fictional goat while America was literally under attack? And if you read post 19 I wasn’t happy about that either. He was just in Cleveland last Friday and he killed the whole day in a meet-and-greet tour of Ohio. He’s got the State of the Union Address today. It seems like he spends a fair amount of time making public appearances. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/43 "2010-01-27T12:19:25Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Do you really want him to waste his time by speaking off-the-cuff? Because that probably involves more preparation time You don’t seem to understand the meaning of “off the cuff” ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/44 "2010-01-27T14:32:05Z")
Why is this even an issue at all? There isn’t a single person who speaks to a press scrum, a television camera, or a board of directors whose speech hasn’t been prepared beforehand, and whether they speak from a memorized script, 3x5 cards, or OMG TELEPROMPTER!, it’s still all canned. If you’re shocked by this, then wait 'til I tell you about water! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/45 "2010-01-27T14:42:04Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > You don’t seem to understand the meaning of “off the cuff” Actually, I think I do. > [@](#): > > Off the cuff (1938) is from the notion of speaking from notes written in haste on one’s shirt cuffs. [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=off](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=off) But, etymology apart, if you have been scheduled to talk to a group of people, without making any notes (whether on your shirt sleeves or on a teleprompter), you’ll spend some time thinking about what you will say and organising your thoughts. Experienced public speakers (like the President of the US, whoever he is) prepare for their speeches one way one another, even if you don’t see the preparation. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/46 "2010-01-27T14:51:27Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > A doctor walks into a bank to cash an enormous check that he earned from treating patients whose lives have been ruined by exorbitant health care bills. When notified by a bank teller that he’s attempting to endorse the check with a thermometer contaminated by fecal matter, he quips “if I have this stinking, shit-smeared thermometer, then I must’ve mistakenly left my Mont Blanc in a patient’s rectum. God, I hope I’m not sued for malpractice again.” Then the teller lends the doctor her pen and they both have a good laugh. _EXEUNT OMNES_. _golf clap_ ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/47 "2010-01-27T15:04:12Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Actually, I think I do. No, [I don’t think so](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/off-the-cuff). Etymology apart, we elected Obama because he _is_ smart enough to think on his feet. I like the guy, but c’mon, dubwa could have pulled that one off. I’m chalking it up to B having a bad day, but you got to admit that it wasn’t his finest moment. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/48 "2010-01-27T15:15:03Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It seems like he spends a fair amount of time making public appearances. What!? Did I read that right? The president making public appearances? Goddamnit, that’s the last straw … let’s get 'im, boys! ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/49 "2010-01-27T15:28:26Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He thinks through what he’s saying and uses pauses and “uh’s” while speaking extemporaneously. Because he makes fleshed out, nuanced thoughtful statements when speaking without a script instead of reverting to instant auto slogans, obfuscating non-sequiturs and prefabricated, all purpose platitudes, that makes him a dummy. Kind of what I was going to say. Christ, politics aside, we have the most eloquent, articulate extemporaneous speaker as president in my memory (Lyndon Johnson is the first president I remember actually hearing), and he’s being heckled for using a _teleprompter_? Man, I give up, I frikkin’ give up. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/50 "2010-01-27T15:29:08Z")
Don’t knee jerk, **Jack**. Even Jon Stewart made fun of him for this one. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/51 "2010-01-27T15:33:29Z")
\*\*Magiver \*\*is clutching his pearls over the president making public appearances, and I’m the one that’s knee-jerk. Gotcha. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/52 "2010-01-27T15:36:07Z")
Saw this on TDS and yes, it looked a little odd to be using teleprompters in the close quarters of a classroom. It’s not worth frothing at the mouth about, but it was not a good photo op either. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/53 "2010-01-27T15:45:21Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > \*\*Magiver \*\*is clutching his pearls over the president making public appearances, and I’m the one that’s knee-jerk. Gotcha. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/54 "2010-01-27T15:48:29Z")
No idea why the first black president who many people have convinced themselves is an Al Qaeda manchurian candidate born in Kenya who happens to live in a country with a radical right wing echo chamber would worry about speaking freely and feels every word out of his mouth has to be carefully guarded. None a’tall. No idea why abused wives like to use their forearms to protect their faces either. Pussies. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/55 "2010-01-27T15:51:32Z")
I didn’t realize he was speaking at Tea Bagger Elementary, **Wesley Clark**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/56 "2010-01-27T15:55:12Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > And I have seen numerous past Presidents speak in public without the use of teleprompters. How many do you know who got 400% more death threats than any president before them? How many had to live in a country where a corporate media parroted rumors that the president is a terrorist sympathizer? Openly talking about murdering the president barely gets people’s attention anymore. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/99DnWj7y4ZA/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/99DnWj7y4ZA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque So yes, he uses a teleprompter. It is because the radical right wing (which has a terrorist wing, witness their killing of abortion doctors) will use every word he says against him and to inflame those domestic terrorists. Obama probably uses a teleprompter because the right wing is trying to inflame domestic terrorism and will use anything they can to encourage that. He can’t talk ‘off the cuff’ when there are tens of thousands of armed people who want to kill him. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/57 "2010-01-27T15:56:37Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Yep. Okay. I’m a little lost. I gave Magiver a friendly chiding over his announcing his chagrin over the president making public appearances … much as every president we’ve ever had has done. How does that make me knee-jerk? Because I chided in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/58 "2010-01-27T16:07:04Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Okay. I’m a little lost. > > I gave Magiver a friendly chiding over his announcing his chagrin over the president making public appearances … much as every president we’ve ever had has done. How does that make me knee-jerk? Because I chided in this thread? Whoops. I read _waaayy_ to much into your post. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/59 "2010-01-27T16:12:26Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > How many do you know who got 400% more death threats than any president before them? You don’t need to cite all the crazy things people say about Obama, but I am pretty sure that statistic was debunked. > [@](#): > > So yes, he uses a teleprompter. It is because the radical right wing (which has a terrorist wing, witness their killing of abortion doctors) will use every word he says against him and to inflame those domestic terrorists. They can use prepared remarks just as well as they can use spontaneous remarks, and he does do question and answer sessions with the public and the press. The guy was a university professor for a while, so there’s no real dispute he knows how to put a speech or a lecture together. He chooses not to because of potential political damage, which IS kind of silly. But I don’t hold him solely responsible: that’s what political theater has evolved or devolved to. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576/60 "2010-01-27T16:14:37Z")
Pople have noticed that the story was debunked, haven’t they? Obama didn’t use a teleprompter to talk to the kids, he used it for the press scrum afterwards, which is what all Presidents always do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-kidding-right-obama-needs-a-teleprompter-to-give-a-speech-at-an-elementary-school/526576.md?page=4)