Obama Can't Speak Without a Teleprompter

Email Print posted by s10129107 10/06/2008 01:16:04 PM EST

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Every time I have a discussion with a Mccain supporter they have to mention that Obama cannot speak without a teleprompter.

Of course their evidence of this is "Cmon, he cant do it" or "Have you heard him speak without a teleprompter, he's a moron" or "he thinks there are 57 states".  The first time I heard this argument I was completely dumbfounded.  I try to explain to them that, yes I've heard him speak many times without a teleprompter in interviews, in speeches and in debates and that not only does he speak adequately but also elequently.  Sometimes I feel like rational arguments cannot reach these people.  They'll find an excuse to feel how they want to feel towards him and wont let any amount of evidense dissuade them.   

Is there any way to reach these people?  It seems like they get all their information from random emails and right wing radio yahoos.  They think his wife is a terrorist, they think he is unamerican and there is no convincing them otherwise.

I have one friend who thought Michelle Obama had this racist thesis paper and that it was hidden from the press.  I looked it up on Google, it was the first result.  I read it, found nothing inflamitory and sent it to her.  She still thinks Michelle Obama is a racist.  This is somebody with an Engineering degree and a good job.  Is there anything I can do or say?  

I'm rambling because i'm frustrated.  I'm frustrated that my friend who is an Engineer in New York is fooled by this garbage.  I'm frustrated that people vote with their gut and not their brain.  Do people follow the republican party with the same fervor with which they follow their religion?  Is there any reaching these people?  For the love of God, somebody tell me how.  I

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Is there any hope for these people?
Yes 12%
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Obama Can't Speak Without a Teleprompter | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 hidden)
and McCain (none / 0)
doesnt even know how to use a teleprompter. He reads from little cards .

Kaboom!

next

hehe

by Chinese Democracy on 10/06/2008 01:58:23 PM EST

the only way (none / 0)
to reach these people is let them see obama as president;  that is the only way they'll come around.

by screenshotted on 10/06/2008 02:11:22 PM EST

Obama also memorizes (none / 1)
his speeches, and can improvise extremely well, although in debates, he takes time to think about his answers, so there you got me.  It takes him an extra 3 seconds to respond, and construct a coherent thought, so I shouldn't vote for him.  I want the guy that can just blab out something immediately, when asked a question.

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 10/06/2008 02:18:05 PM EST

Not only can he memorize, (none / 0)
but he can also write his own ... like his major speech on race at the start of the general election.

by gatekeeper50 on 10/06/2008 02:53:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I guess when i said memorize (none / 0)
I thought it was implied that he wrote the speech...in today's age Obama is truly the political exception all around.

Chris

by chrisandyasemin on 10/06/2008 10:30:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
no. (none / 0)
The reason i voted no is because most of these people have their reasons why they ignore reality. For instance i had a roomate that was going to vote for clinton, she lost and now all of a sudden she can't stand obama why?? no real reason she doesn't have one, she now she says she's not saying whose she's voting for....

my point, some people vote for stupid reasons, their looks, popularity, hear say... To hide their stupid reasons they say stupid things..

people like this are dangerous at elections trust me i used to be one of them until i actually started to look at the facts and substance..

by IntegraTypeR06 on 10/06/2008 03:04:41 PM EST

I'm really interested (none / 0)
to hear more about this. Are you a former republican or just someone who has changed the way they consume information?

by hazmat on 10/06/2008 04:51:08 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Almost the Opposite of the Truth (none / 1)

The truth is, Obama is not that comfortable with a teleprompter.  He is one of the few candidates who can write a 45 minute speech on Sunday and deliver it nearly word-for-word on Monday.

His preferred speaking style is to walk around with a wireless microphone, "Oprah-style".

He did not start to use a teleprompter until Clinton started attacking Michelle because she left out the word "truly" in a speech.  Clinton claimed that without the word "truly", then Michelle must not be proud of America.  His campaign decided that they could not risk having Obama misspeak, not even an insignificant word.

The reason this pisses off the McCain campaign is that they were hoping to catch a few gaffes from Obama and Michelle to exploit during the campaign.

by rbruck on 10/06/2008 03:05:39 PM EST

Tell 'em like it is (none / 0)

Tell your friend that talking about race doesn't make you a racist, and that it was her undergraduate sociology thesis paper from Princeton. To you and me that says it all, but ask them what they wrote for their sociology thesis paper. If they reply "I never took sociology" tell them that she did, from PRINCETON.

Another point to tell them is that she thought because of America's implicit bias against the black community, she would never integrate into "white mainstream America" and remain on the fringe of society. Com'on... that's not racist! That's truthful, honest, and heartbreaking.

To go on a rant, you could speak about the larger point at hand: that Obama has lower poll ratings than he would if he weren't black. That the majority of America has implicit biases against black Americans (including black Americans). We all know racism is still a problem. Have for years. But people always point the finger elsewhere, never looking at themselves for signs that they too may be exhibiting signs of implicit bias.

[I graduated from a state university with a degree in psychology. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, implicit bias is an subconscious aversion to or attraction toward a stimulus. Implicit racists don't call themselves racist, however subconsciously they do feel anxiety/disgust toward minorities. That combined with culturally infused negative stereotypes by social intercourse and media racial bias, these guttural feelings are validated, and through that the stereotypes are validated.]

Our country is still recovering from racial inequalities that were politically expunged with the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. However to this day black Americans are less likely to get a job if competing with a white applicant (sound familiar?). These biases run deep, and most people cry "race card" whenever it is openly discussed. Which is exactly why Obama doesn't talk about it. However I think this something all Americans should be aware of as we head toward the mud-slinging stage of the election.

by touched on 10/06/2008 04:39:41 PM EST

If explaining were only enough (none / 0)

I talked to her at length of what I thought of the paper.  As we were both science majors I defied her not to acknowledge the scientific roots of the paper.  There was a survey taken and it was discussed in the context of prior academic work.  I spoke of this at length.  I realized it didnt matter what i said.

I think you hit it on the head.   People have these implicit biases and they will, whether they are aware of it or not, form an opinion that supports those biases.  You cannot address these types of feelings discussing the issues and all too often when you discuss the actual biases people become defensive.  So how can you help somebody see the light when you cant address the issues and cant address the biases.  Maybe its enough to call out their biases and hope they mull things over for themselves.

by s10129107 on 10/06/2008 05:50:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Missing the point! (none / 0)

The point isn't who memorizes and who reads and who whatever.  The point is who understands what they are saying and who doesn't.

Memorizing or reading a speech or completely different from memorizing or reading answers in a debate or interview.

Think about it.

by ProfRich on 10/06/2008 05:15:39 PM EST

Retards (none / 0)
You can't reason with 4 year old children.  That's how I see these people.  They are 4 year old children.

by elimenez on 10/06/2008 08:03:44 PM EST

I could reason with my kids. (none / 0)

When they were 4.

by rbruck on 10/06/2008 08:50:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Is this a stones and glass houses thing? (none / 0)
Did anyone actually watch the Palin interview with Couric?

Here's the clip that Caffery ran, watch how many times she looks down, and tell me she isn't looking at a cheat sheet with talking points.

The first time I watched it I thought of The Village Idiot with the mysterious bulge in the back of his suit.

I will say Palin has got to be a nominee in the most like George Bush Stupid Answer award.

After all how can anyone ever top.


"But ultimately, what the bailout does is help
those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the--it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right
track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All
those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."

Wow!

If only she could have gone on

"And believing in the Easter Bunny, and the golden eggs he brings to those who......Christmas, Katie this program will help those who believe in the Baby Jesus believe that by cutting taxes......We have to cut taxes to raise more money to fund the program.....Of course deregulation is an important part of any hope of successfully bringing about jobs......Jobs are the cornerstone to helping keep people healthy and being able to put food on the table......keeping people healthy is important because healthy people don't really need health care.....we have to understand that under the table are hands reaching across for their slice of The American Dream......I remember when my preacher prayed to protect me from demons and witches and almost like a dream I knew that we needed to bailout the insanely rich because if we don't.....I believe this is a case of witchcraft at work and we need to not only throw money at it but we may very well need an exorcism.......You know I'm from Alaska, and in Alaska well gosh darn-it, I'm just going to have to get back to ya on this and on when John McCain voted on more regulation for anything."

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative." John Stuart Mill

by Hubble on 10/06/2008 09:44:17 PM EST

The gone on part is (none / 0)
great.. its like her subconscious was tapped into.

Im still lauging

by Chinese Democracy on 10/07/2008 12:03:33 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Arguments for McCain (none / 0)

Arguments for McCain ALL come from rightie talking points. Honestly, I've never heard one from a McCain supporter that didn't originate with Hannity, O'Reilly or Limbaugh, etc. It's truly sad to hear these ridiculous things come from everyday people you might otherwise respect.  Makes you wonder what on earth happened to them to be so utterly gullible.

My reply to your friend would be that McCain can't talk WITH a telepromptr - what's your next concern?

by Verified1 on 10/06/2008 11:33:36 PM EST

Speech (none / 0)
I saw Obama give his stump speech during the primaries.  He walked onto a stage with no notes, teleprompter, or even a podium.  He talked for almost 45 minutes. 

by publius on 10/07/2008 02:09:29 AM EST

I did too (none / 0)

He is a fantastic speaker without a prompter.

I know because I saw it with my own eyes.

by ProfRich on 10/07/2008 07:56:30 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Yes, but (none / 0)
We all know your eyes have a clear liberal bias...

;-)

by Kang the Conqueror on 10/07/2008 11:36:23 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Teleprompter Trouble (none / 1)

by Twba on 10/07/2008 10:35:57 AM EST

People are dumb (none / 0)
The world is also full of countless rabble that can't speak without the Internet.  I anxiously await the day I meet Bobo face-to-face and watch him struggle to muster up something resembling "Hello" while his fingers twitch involuntarily, frantically searching for a keyboard that isn't there.

by OneHitKill on 10/07/2008 12:47:31 PM EST

Obama Can't Speak Without a Teleprompter | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 hidden)
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