"Teleprompter telegraphs Obama caution" (AP's Fornier)

[jefferson_dem]

Analysis: Teleprompter telegraphs Obama caution
By RON FOURNIER, Associated Press Writer Ron Fournier, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – What kind of politician brings a teleprompter to a news conference?

A careful one.

President Barack Obama took no chances in his second prime-time news conference, reading a prepared statement in which he took both sides of the AIG bonus brouhaha and asked an anxious nation for its patience.

"There are no quick fixes," he said, "and there are no silver bullets."

It's an interesting dichotomy: Obama came before the nation to sell one of the most expensive and politically risky agendas ever offered by a U.S. president, but his language was heavy with caution. A hard-willed plan given a soft sell.

Served up opportunities to lead with his heart, Obama was cerebral. Cool and calming in a time of white-hot public anger.

<SNIP>

But he didn't look angry. Nor did he sound much like a pitchfork-wielding populist.

"At the same time, the rest of us can't afford to demonize every investor or entrepreneur who seeks to make a profit. That drive is what has always fueled our prosperity, and it is what will ultimately get these banks lending and our economy moving once more," he said.

It was a carefully modulated statement, and Obama — relying on a familiar crutch — read it off a flat-screen monitor perched at the back of the East Room.

The teleprompter was no help during the question-and-answer session (reporters don't signal their intentions), but Obama was no less careful during that give and take.

<SNIP>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090325/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_analysis_2/print

[ErinBerin84]

1. .

:rofl:

[high density]

2. Fournier's analysis is always right on with what the American people are worried about

:eyes:

And these places wonder why people aren't buying newspapers anymore.

[EarlG]

3. For fuck's sake

OMG! President reads prepared statement!

Surely this has never been done before in the history of politics.

[terisan]

4. Don't understand why using a teleprompter as one might use printed notes for speech is bad nt

Just updated technology.

[Berry Cool]

7. Oh, but don't you know, he uses it as a CRUTCH.

They'd much rather he stood there staring off into space, looking lost, like Bush always did.

[Pirate Smile]

9. Right. It is preferable to look down at note cards? Only if you're an idiot.

Fournier always sucks.

There was no laughing to jump on so AP needed something.

[asphalt.jungle]

11. because the 5 min prepared remarks are more important than the Q&A

the writer made his point sound rather silly when he later conceded that he was the same way during the Q&A where he didn't have a prompter.

"The teleprompter was no help during the question-and-answer session (reporters don't signal their intentions), but Obama was no less careful during that give and take."

in this youtube age, the president doesn't want to look like a high school student peering down at his notes while presenting his book report. if it was a crutch and he was useless without it he wouldn't be able to participate in a 55 min Q&A without knowing the questions in advance.

[cottonseed]

5. If that's all they got...

I think Obama's getting there.

[Uzybone]

6. This media is a disgrace

You would think Obama invented the teleprompter. What the hell is the difference between reading from a screen and reading from papers on a lectern?

[Cha]

13. The corporatemediawhores can't handle Obama's

intelligence so they attack his strengths. Typical goperverts.

[Ikonoklast]

8. I suppose Fournier still rattles out his diatribes on an IBM Selectric.

And has a copy boy run it down to the Western Union.

[jsamuel]

10. I don't know if I have ever seen him NOT use one when reading a prepared statement.

Including the first press conference and his acceptance speech.

[grytpype]

12. I miss it when Bush would come out and just talk really stupid.

[Thrill]

14. Just goes to show how the media nitpicks, when they can't rattle you

[ecstatic]

15. wtf is the msm's obsession with teleprompters all about? What are they

trying to imply? Teleprompter or not, President Obama is typically the smartest person in the room, and when he's not, he knows it (a truly smart person knows his/her own limitations and gladly seeks input from others). Uggh...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

16. So I guess he won't be bringing the President donuts any time soon. Someone remind me again.

Isn't he the same douche who would send love letters to KKKarl Rove?

[Teaser]

17. Fournier's assignment tonight...

Find some way to use the word "teleprompter" when talking about this press conference.

[Political Tiger]

18. What the hell is this obsession with telepromters?

Every politician uses them....perhaps the difference is that when Obama uses one it doesn't look like he's using one, therefore making the cranky cons jealous? When Dumbya used one he had that deer in the headlights look, and when McCain used one it looked like he was about to drop dead.

A TelePrompTer is simply the 21st century version of notes on a piece of paper, or a speech on a piece of paper. Any politician who doesn't use a telepromter or have notes in front of him or her when giving an important speech is a fool, and President Obama ain't no fool!