I know Sky News is owned by Murdoch, but this is beyond the pale.

[Bleacher Creature]

See the highlighted line in the story below:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Barack-Obama-Thanks-Himself-In-Teleprompt-Blunder-During-Address-With-Irish-PM-On-St-Patricks-Day/Article/200903315243932?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15243932_Barack_Obama_Thanks_Himself_In_Teleprompt_Blunder_During_Address_With_Irish_PM_On_St_Patricks_Day

Obama In St Patrick's Day Teleprompt Blunder
12:26pm UK, Wednesday March 18, 2009

A teleprompt blunder has led to Barack Obama thanking himself in a speech at the White House in a St Patrick's Day celebration.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen was just a few paragraphs into an address in Washington when he realised it all sounded a bit too familiar.

It was. He was repeating the speech President Barack Obama had just read from the same teleprompter.

Mr Cowen stopped, turned to the president and said: "That's your speech."

A laughing Mr Obama returned to the podium to take over but it seems the script had finally been switched and the US president ended up thanking himself for inviting everyone to the party.

Mr Obama is an accomplished orator but is becoming known in America as the "teleprompt president" over his reliance on the machine when he gives a speech.

(SNIP)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So here's my question, when has that "nickname" ever been used by anyone other than the AUTHOR OF THIS CRAPPY ARTICLE? I've heard the teleprompter smear before, but the way this piece passes along a smear as fact is ridiculous. And by the way, I'm pretty sure President Obama memorizes his speeches.

[WeDidIt]

1. Well, at least we know the new GOP talking point

plus a talking point from the Dems behind Obama with the knives in their hands.

[billyoc]

9. Murdoch smears Obama, but it's Democrats with "knives in their hands"?

Don't you know any other sad songs?

[WeDidIt]

10. Haven't you been paying attention

Obama is getting attacked from both parties these days.

Just like with Clinton, only earlier into his administration. Watch 2010 for a repeat of '94.

[billyoc]

11. '94 can be explained by two words:

Bill Clinton.

[WeDidIt]

13. Teh Democrats in Congress shoved a knife so deep into Clinton's back

he had to reinvent himself more to the right to survive after '93.

[MarjorieG]

2. Tele helps when he's thinking/doing multiple things at once, needing to sound credible.

Let's have bumbling Bush again?

[Arkansas Granny]

3. They act as though President Obama is the first one to use a teleprompter.

Teleprompters are often used for speeches as well. In this application, they are called Conference Teleprompter Systems. In this case, the reflector is usually a piece of glass with a special partially reflective coating. It is mostly transparent so as to not block the view of the speaker by the audience or cameras. Usually, two of these are set up, one on either side of the lectern (if there is one), so that the speaker can look around at the audience and always be able to see one. Except for these aesthetic changes, they work in the same way as they do for television.



U.S. President George W. Bush during the 2007 State of the Union. Note the tinted transparent conference teleprompters on either side of his podium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprompter

[asphalt.jungle]

5. the ironic thing is

the anecdote that they chose to use shows he isn't the only head of state using a prompter. i guess the irish taoiseach is using the prompter as a crutch as well. if you want to appear to be making eye contact with your audience that's what you use. reading off one takes skill, many have used it poorly.

in his first prime time press conference he was able to go from telemprompter introduction to answering reporters' questions in great length. if he was only able to speak with a prompter he wouldn't have been elected because he would have been an epic failure in debates and town halls.

[cwcwmack]

8. well...

in all honesty... President Obama uses a teleprompter at nearly ALL events, not just speeches.

But IMHO, that's OK! Again, I'd rather have accuracy and intelligence in his words rather than the earlier example of duh.

[Median Democrat]

4. Obama Did Fine Kicking McCain's Ass During The Debates

Also, Obama has done what appears to have been a hundred interviews and press conferences. I think this talking point will just undermine the credibility of Murdoch. This week alone you have two townhalls, Leno and 60 minutes, so nice bit of revisionist history by Murdoch.

[cwcwmack]

6. Well

I'd rather have a well spoken President who relies on a teleprompter for accuracy and prose than a cowboy who looks like an ass when he opens his mouth.

[rvablue]

7. Funny, the Shrub couldn't even use the teleprompter properly....as he used it just as often

as Obama, but not even a fraction of one percent as well.

[Cali_Democrat]

12. My GOP friend keeps on talking about the teleprompter

I told him that Bush and every other President used it too. He said it didn't matter because Obama is the one who ran on change.

:crazy:

[Wednesdays]

14. As if anyone who isn't a Kool-Aid drinking Bushbot gives a rat's ass

About this or about Obama's use of a teleprompter.

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