Mondale blasts Obama’s frequent use of teleprompters

Ben Smith reports on an interview Walter Mondale did on Wolf Blitzer’s CNN Situation Room show yesterday in which Mondale slammed President Obama’s frequent use of teleprompters:

Former Vice President Walter Mondale suggested in an interview today President Obama stop relying on “idiot boards” — teleprompters, that is — to deliver his message to the American people.

“He uses these idiot boards to read speeches in television, and I think he loses the connection that he needs emotionally with American voters,” Mondale said in an interview set to air this evening on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, according to a transcript from the network.

“Idiot board” is a term used in television and movie production to refer to boards held up for performers to read off.

“If you’re looking at the teleprompter, you’re here, you’re here, you’re here and you’re — your audience is right there,” Mondale said. “And I think he needs to do more of that.”

Mondale didn’t suggest that Obama needed the teleprompter.

“The Milwaukee speech, I thought was — was terrific. I think some of these backyard events are terrific,” said Mondale, who called Obama “I …think he’s very bright — as a matter of fact, brilliant,” he said.

Well, he’s right in that Obama should lay off using the ‘prompters so much (a suggestion that will be viewed with contempt by TOTUS), but very, very wrong when it comes to the suggestion that our celebrity President is “brilliant.” Yes, he can give a good speech, but beyond that …

You can watch video of Mondale’s remarks at Smith’s link or here.

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