Teleprompters and crib notes - is one really bad and the other good?

OK - I went digging and she did criticize Obama in her speech about using a teleprompter - even as she was reading from notes on the podium! Head down, top of head to the audience. Now - how is that better than using a teleprompter?

Annie, do you think having a few points written down is the same as reading every single word you say from a teleprompter? Have you seen what happens to him when his teleprompter stops working? He freezes up. With notes written on your hand you are speaking from your own mind. I'm honestly not sure if you guys don't see the difference of if you're really just trying to find an excuse to attack her.

I don't know where they've all been, myself. I don't remember seeing teleprompters in the past, but I also don't recall it having been an issue before now, either. I really do think it's because Pres. Obama is Black (half) but rather than use that as a reason, people are finding whatever reasons they can to criticize him. They use his middle name against him (like he had control over what his parents named him), his place of birth (proven time and time again), his assumed religion or they make up things that don't exist in either his book or his wife's thesis because they want some reason to hate him other than his color. They didn't do this with Carter or Clinton - the only difference in THIS Democrat is that he's a man of color. They may not even see that, but it was the trigger that got the ball rolling. It's truly shameful that this man has been targeted for so many non-issues - and frightening that so many still believe the lies that have been spread. Anyway, I agree with you about Obama's speaking ability and his knowledge. I don't think his use of a teleprompter in any way is indicative of his lack of knowledge. He may have a speech writer, but I believe he more than others before him participates in the writing of his speeches because he wants to own what he is saying - he wants it to be from HIM. And, I think you may be right about Sarah's cognitive problems - hadn't really thought about that before, but that is definitely possible. Even Bill Clinton is far more knowledgeable than one might think if all you hear is his "good old boy" banter. I wish I knew while he was president just how much he know and understood about foreign policy and international relations. I was amazed listening to him at one point and gained a new respect for him. It's a shame he allowed his dalliance to interfere with so much at the end.

I appreciate your perspective, Bob. I can see why you think like you do about that, even if I don't completely agree with it. I also appreciate that you didn't feel the need to attack my perspective even as you disagreed. Thank you.

Well Reagan was an actor and he probably had to take speech classes when he went to Actor's school. Bush was not that good a speaker and he may have disregarded the speech writers when he said "I will do it on my own," and I also heard that Clinton was a naturally good speaker. Yet if any of the cameras showed Bush using a teleprompter, you would have had a field day here mocking him and saying he was such a bore, but because Obama uses a teleprompter it is all right. Oh and if Obama used crib notes, it would have been all right with you. That is the trouble, he gets too many excuses. It is like there is an exception with him. So why is he more better then anyone else who ran? Or the previous presidents?

How about Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton and Bush Jr? Do you really think that they all, up until Obama, memorized every word of their long speeches such as the State of the Union Addresses? I wouldn't expect them to! They know what they're going to say but when there are interruptions for applause, etc. and it's a long speech what's wrong with having it written down so you don't lose your place or forget something important in the moment? Having a speech written is a lot better than having to have the answers to questions you've gotten in advance written down, don't you think? Annie

I'm also curious to know if you think that Sarah Palin's reading of her entire tea party speech from a paper on the podium with her head down not looking at the audience regularly throughout it was in good form?

So, how did you feel about Sarah reading her speech from the paper she had on the podium in front of her? Isn't that the same thing as a teleprompter but with even less eye contact?