Screening Obama: White House looks to install new teleprompter, Prez to get fed info at press events

American Spectator ^ | 2.16.09 @ 6:09AM | the Prowler

[Behind Liberal Lines]

the White House is looking to install a small video or computer screen into the podium used by the president for press conferences and events in the White House. "It would make it easier for the comms guys to pass along information without being obvious about it," says the adviser.

The screen would indicate whom to call on, seat placement for journalists, pass along notes or points to hit, and so forth, says the adviser.

Using a screen is nothing new for Obama; almost nothing he said in supposedly unscripted townhall events during the presidential campaign was unscripted, down to many of the questions and the answers to those questions. Teleprompter screens at the events scrolled not only his opening remarks, but also statistics and information he could use to answer questions.

Obama had a teleprompter set up for his remarks last week, before taking questions, but the White House couldn't use the teleprompter for anything but the remarks, because the journalists were so close to the screens. Further complicating matters, teleprompter copy can't be easily updated in real time, in a setting like a White House press conference.

[BigBobber]

When he’s negotiating with our enemies in Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, will he have a cheat screen then or will he just wing it?

[madinmadtown]

Great comments. One reason that the press likes Obama so much is that he has exactly the same qualifications for a job as they do...the ability to read a teleprompter and a face...except for Helen Thomas, of course.

[Iron Munro]

Obama Goes Wireless

[Tarpon]

So the Obama is too stupid to field real questions from the press?

And what if Bush did this ... Chimpy Bush would be called every derisive name in the book.

[Plutarch]

If this were, say, Palin, it wouldn't be a little piece in American Spectator. Oh no, it would be wall to wall. Only a rider of the short bus would require such an ADA workplace accomodation. For Obama, the MSM will marvel breathless at his way cool tech savvy.

[Steven Tyler]

But...0bama is soooo intelligent.
He’s actually an empty suit

[ladyvet]

The screen would indicate whom to call on, seat placement for journalists, pass along notes or points to hit, and so forth, says the adviser.

And it hasn't even been a month.

[Semper Mark]

Somebody hack into it!

[sarasota]

The new teleprompter will coordinate answers to the pre-screened questions from hand-picked “journalists”. Q&A’s spoon fed for public consumption. (Ad Age didn’t name him Marketing of the Year in ‘08 for nothing.)

[KarlInOhio]

One thing I have to complement the Obama administration on: they react quickly to style complaints. Obama looked foolish snapping he head left and right to look at his teleprompters outside of his normal field of vision and didn't spend nearly enough time looking at the camera. Now he'll just have to look down.

[unkus]

When he’s negotiating with our enemies in Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, will he have a cheat screen then or will he just wing it?
___________________________________________

They’ll chew him up and spit US out.

[cricket]

Yes, the 'wizard - not' will continue to amaze and inform. . .hope this empty suit - and sooner not later - falls flat on his face at his 'managed' Press conferences.

Obamafraud should wear thin on the Media. . .but will it? No one should hold their breath waiting. . .

[Behind Liberal Lines]

When he’s negotiating with our enemies in Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, will he have a cheat screen then or will he just wing it?

Why do you think he's having such a nervous breakdown about giving up his blackberry device?

[COUNTrecount]

VERY well said.

Axelrod, Soros, Ayers........the list is endless.

[PghBaldy]

This is not surprising, but is distressing. The fools have elected a fool, and now the whole world knows it (if they didn’t when he was running and bowing to our enemies).

[savedbygrace]

Obama is the Jonas Nightengale of Presidents.

Without the happy ending.

[Let's Roll]

Your #11 - Post of the day!

[rangeryder]

Look on the bright side of this brilliant President’s agenda, he’s going to hold a concert for Stevie Wonder. They’ll probably bill it “The Blind Leading the Blind”.

[PLD]

Idiot Alert!!

[AppyPappy]

That will cause some uncomfortable delays

Reporter: Mr President, what is 8+8?
Obama: Ah...that’s a very good question. In case you didn’t hear it, he asked me “What is 8+8?”. I want to, ah, make this clear to the American people in the, ah, clearest way possible. And that is that, 8+8 is .....uh, you did ask 8+8 right? OK, well, it’s 16. Next question plz.