Mondale to Obama: Ditch the 'idiot boards' [Slams TOTUS.....]

Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

Mondale to Obama: Ditch the 'idiot boards'

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.

But while Obama's supporters have dismissed conservative mockery of the device by pointing to the president's ability to operate fluently without it, Mondale suggests that it's a real and symbolic element of his difficulty, at times, connecting.

[Shelayne]

If he ditches the idiot boards, he’ll show moments of unparalleled brilliance, such as on display here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHUsRTYFAU&feature=related

[Hardraade]

Ditch the board and keep the idiot? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

[Chode]

[bmwcyle]

Mondale just does not get he can’t talk without the boards.

[TexasCajun]

Obamah ...ah ...ah ...ah

[twister881]

Agree, no problem...it’s a good thing.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

My teleprompter tells me, “Bump!”