Sure, all presidents use the Teleprompter. The problem is, when something is starting to make you look bad (as Obama's use of them is), if you are politically savvy you will try to limit that. Otherwise, it just gives cheap shots (or, some may say, legitimate shots) to the comedians, the media, and of course your political opponents. In politics, as unfair as it may be (just ask Bush), the famous saying is: "perception=reality." So you've got to be aware of how you are being perceived and not "step in it." For example, in about 2003, once we were in Iraq (or was it earlier, when we went to Afghanistan? I cannot remember when exactly), Bush stopped playing golf. He felt that it looked bad to have the POTUS out playing golf while our troops are out there at war. He knew that the press, the Democrats, et al., would have a field day with images of him playing golf in a time of war. It might not be fair (Obama plays golf all he wants, just like other presidents use Teleprompters), but that's the way the political and PR games work.
Originally Posted by tendrilly
Bush wouldn't play golf because it reflected badly on him in a time of war...but he thought it'd be acceptable to take more vacation days than any other president ever??? LOL, what a shrewd politican!!!

I can think of worse things than "teleprompter dependency," or enjoying a game of golf from time to time. How about being a war criminal? Lololol!

You know what? I don't really care if Obama uses a prompter. I really don't. Do whatever you need to do to make Americans look good again, buddy. And I don't think most people care, honestly...I follow the BBC, The Wall St. Journal, The New York Times and occasionally AP, which seems like a pretty good spread to me. I've never heard anything about Obama's prompter dependency, and I've certainly never heard of this "TOTUS." It only seems to bother the most conservative of posters, and you've all hated Obama from the start, anyway.
CG since 07/26/09