McCain and teleprompters

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:18 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
In a constant effort to improve its candidate's big speech abilities, the McCain campaign is using both a large flat screen monitor and two side pannel teleprompters for the candidate to read his prepared remarks on the housing crisis outside of LA, which he is delivering now. Teleprompters are nothing new for any of these candidates, but the McCain campaign had expressed concern that the side panel prompters made McCain look like he was watching a tennis match, but by using the large monitor fixed in the back of the room, McCain rarely shifted his gaze from straight ahead.

The hope is that by surrounding him with teleprompters McCain will be able to look more natural speaking to nearly 20 cameras in what will be his most extensive remarks on the housing crisis to date.

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Comments

I hope it is a 60 inch plasma screen because I'm sure his sight isn't too good.

McCain is old (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:26 PM)

A great speech. We should use the government to bail out people who were too stupid to read the fine print on the contract. If you are too stupid to understand the rules when it comes to buying ahouse, you do not deserve to buy a house. The banks need to tighten the rules to loan money to only people who can afford the terms.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:29 PM)

can mccain read? I bet he will still stammers on about victory in iraq at all costs, although I bet he doesn't actually know what that victory is supposed to look like, hard to define victory when your babysitting a civil war in someone else’s country, mccain and hillary are going to get us all killed

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:32 PM)

Perhaps they should just let Joe Liebermann do all of John' speeches. He seems to be the only one who can keep the facts straight

turnip (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:34 PM)

Neither is his judgement. Stay the course in Iraq, rather than go where the real enemy is. And come to think of it, his choise in women isn't any better than Bills'. Does he really think he can dodge the bullet when he gets to the convention, concerning his wife?

Doctor Doubt, Ill (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:40 PM)

That could help with the "senior moments" We can't afford to have any accidents or mistakes as he has proven that his response to military mistakes is to perpetuate them so we don't look foolish, misguided and stupid to the rest of the world.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:42 PM)

I saw some of the speech. It didn't help. Well, he has a few months to get it right. The parts of the speech I saw were singularly uninspiring and woefully out of touch. I have a news flash for him. Many in foreclosure (or financially struggling) are already working two or three jobs and haven't taken a vacation in years.

Scary stuff...McCain on Iraq, McCain on economics, shall we go on...

Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:44 PM)

I really like Senator McCain as a person. I wish he wasn't a Republican, but I am glad he is addressing this problem. I have mentioned before when he reads from the teleprompter it is very hard to watch him speak. If this is one solution, fine. Please don't make fun of him.

Chuck, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:45 PM)

Are you sure it wasn't a jumbo tron.Even if he could read it he still has no clue what he is talking about.Dosn't know who the enemy is.or where they came from.Needs someone at his back telling him what to say.No thanks!Time for change Obama 08

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:54 PM)

He already has a live teleprompter, and that guy's name is Liberman. McCain had to be corrected on live world-wide TV because he's too old to keep up with all this difficult Iraq/Iran stuff.

He's old...and he's not happy! (but he doesn't remember why)

His memory is so bad, he probably hid his own easter eggs this past Sunday!

Kevin, NM (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:55 PM)

I want an article about how they are outfitting him with one of those motorized carts to "improve his mobility on the campaign trail"

Really old (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:58 PM)

Judging from what I saw during the republican debates, McCain is not a good speaker, not a good debater, and just not good in front of the camera. He's going to get picked apart by either Obama or Clinton during debates.

Scott, San Diego, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:02 PM)

What he really needs is Joe Liberman to whisper sweet nothings in his ear all the time.

jeanie saint inigoes, md (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:02 PM)

I'm sure this will be good for him, but sadly no combination of screens and teleprompters will make up for the utter lack of conviction in the delivery of his speeches. The speech he made when he sealed the deal on the Republication nomination was so fake and so lacking in charisma that I think watching him read the phone book would have been more interesting.

Michael (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:03 PM)

That the media finally can suggest this....should McCain win this year, I am printing this one and pasting it on my wall....

Barbara C., - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:04 PM)

Doens't matter. He'll STILL see what he wants to see!

Joe Einloth (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:05 PM)

Since mccain is so familiar with financials (remember the Keeting 5?) why would he need a prompter, can't he remember what he is supposed to say? Maybe not, could be that reagan early alzheimer's thing going on, sorry, this is one trip I don't plan to take, regardless of who the Dem nominee is he/she has to be better than mccain!

Union Baby, Tennessee (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:05 PM)

Wait a minute. Isn't there some sort of protection that allows senior citizens a pass on looking comfortable while giving speeches? Just read McCain, or have someone else read it for you.

Old enough to have forgot how (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:06 PM)

Not only does this guy need teleprompters, he needs someone lucid close by when in public. John McCain is not presidential material. "W" has been the worst president in modern times and McCain would be no better. Bomb Iran McCain's "Carry a big stick...be the big dog" mind set doesn't make him a Teddy Roosevelt.

bill, okla (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:10 PM)

I have a news flash for him. Many in foreclosure (or financially struggling) are already working two or three jobs and haven't taken a vacation in years.

Scary stuff...McCain on Iraq, McCain on economics, shall we go on...
Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:44 PM)

Then I strongly suggest a financial planner.....
Hamburger helper instead of Red Lobster......
Regular TV instead of cable..............
Paper plates instead of china............
Dr. Rocket instead of Dr. pepper.........

and most importatly a course in remedial english on how to read a contract properly when you are buying a house!

If you need to work three jobs to keep your house, then you are nothng more then a loser my friend!
Get some education and get a better paying job!

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:13 PM)

I have no doubt that John McCain is a genuine Americn Hero, I like Mr McCain, but I don't believe that qualifies a person to be a great President.
If I were the Democrats I'd insist on as many debates as possible, where he didn't have the ability to read prepared speeches & had to rely on his mental alertness. The incident in Iraq, was NOT a "mispoke"

Bill, Reno, NV (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:18 PM)

Yeah, so McCain is not a "performer" like Barry Obama. Although McCain may not be as "articulate", he is certainly more genuine. Also, McCain is more experienced, more conservative, less divisive and more electable than Barama.

Jimmy C., Oak Brook, IL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:19 PM)

McCain - you are in the US Senate now, you've been there for more than 20 years...so, what's stopping you from introducing legislation, NOW, to address the problem, NOW! Oh, you don't know how, you will need many advisors to tell you how, because, like you said, you don't know much about economics.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:21 PM)

My god, didn't candidates used to MEMORIZE most of their speeches?

Gerald Lider (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:24 PM)

McCain/Romney = unstoppable

Sorry Dems, try again in 2012.

Howard, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:37 PM)

The time has come for Senator McCain to simply turn the telepromptors around for all of us to read for ourselves. Many of us are more capable of reading than he is. The plus side is we could all explain the content of the speeches to him should he need any help distinguishing the "enemy parts"from the "good guy parts". It is time to unplug McCain and all others running-from the telepromptor. We should demand that our politicians can think on their feet and free of the electronic "feedtroth" of spin control rooms and lobbyists.
Can you imagine taking a telepromptor into a job interview?
Any "Dummy" could get the job of President. Pun intended.

Bradley, Sarasota, Florida (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:36 PM)

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