FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
When Mitt Romney goes off teleprompter, he has a record of promptly stepping in it.
Take that botched campaign event in his home state of Michigan on Friday - the one where 1,200 people showed up in a football stadium that seats 65,000.
Romney told supporters he drives cars made in Michigan:
"I drive a Mustang and a Chevy pickup truck. Ann drives a couple of Cadillacs actually, and I used to have a Dodge truck, so I used to have all three covered."
Way to connect with blue-collar workers, Mitt. It's no wonder he's in a dead heat with Rick Santorum ahead of tomorrow's primary.
In that same speech, Romney made a repeated - and bizarre - comment about why he loves his home state, saying it feels good to be back in Michigan, "where the trees are the right height." Huh?
It appears that Romney has a serious problem when he goes off script: He sounds out of touch, elite or just plain strange. Examples abound.
He has said that he's "not concerned about the very poor," that there's a safety net in place for them.
Romney also said he likes "being able to fire people who provide services to me" in reference to choosing between different health insurance companies.
And he made the infamous $10,000 bet with former presidential candidate Rick Perry during an early debate. It's estimated that Romney is worth around $200 million.
In response to his latest gaffe about the cars, Romney says he can't be perfect. "I just am who I am," he said, adding that there's nothing wrong with being successful in America and that he wants to use his success to help the American people.
Here’s my question to you: Should Mitt Romney be allowed to go off teleprompter?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jim in St. Paul, Minnesota:
If Mr. Romney goes off script, he will let us know who he really is. That is what we need to assess when we decide whether he should be our next president.
Nancy in Tennessee:
Mitt Romney is probably sincerely trying to convey that he buys American while alienating Americans who are just a few steps from the homeless shelter. From not caring about the poor to just not understanding what poor is, he has let the cat out of the bag: Rich is more fun than being poor.
Trees are just right in Colorado:
He's trying too hard to be something he's not - presidential.
Crystal:
If Romney stays on teleprompter he comes off as a robot, but when he speaks his mind he looks like an idiot. Bottom line: Romney does not have the empathy to be an effective people person and he does not have any firm convictions beyond promoting his own self-interest. He is exposed by the bright lights of being a front-runner, as an empty suit stuffed with cash. He is corporation pretending to be a person.
Rich in Florida:
I think Mitt should be allowed to just go. Period. Seriously, voters may like the real Mitt – the elite successful rich guy – better than they like this faux ordinary guy Mitt who keeps slipping up with $10,000 bets and his wife's two Cadillacs.
Simon:
When Mittens goes off script, we get to see the real Willard. I drive a car made in Detroit, vote for me. Maybe not.
the late Ann Richards of Texas had the best description of someone like Mitt Romney at the 1988 Democratis Convention. "He Ws Born With A Sliver FOOT In His MOUTH". thie guy must think that he's talking to his multi-millionaire Bain Capital cronies when he speaks "off the cuff" because he comes across as one of the Montey Python "Upper Class Twits"
Since Mitt Romney was so very critical of President Obama for using a teleprompter, he should obviously continue to use one himself as it has become blatantly obvious that he gets "foot in mouth disease" when he abandons use of the teleprompter.
If he and the rest of them went off the teleprompter and script, maybe we could get some honest idea of what these people really stand for and what is it they actually want to accomplish if elected. However, the only thing that would accomplish for me is my level of disgust would go up.
Funny how life works sometimes. Mitt Romney was so very critical of President Obama for using a teleprompter from time to time. Now it appears that Mr. Romney should obviously continue to use and rely on one himself as it has become blatantly obvious that he gets "foot in mouth disease" when he abandons the use of the teleprompter
Not if the campaign doesn't want the voters to see how clueless he is. Maybe he could write on his hands like Palin.
Mitt Romney should go off the teleprompter the same time Obama does. This would permit more time for commercials and less boredom for television viewers.
Gerry
Ash Fork, Az.
I think Mittens should be allowed to go. Just go. Period.
Seriously, voters may like the real Mitt – the elite successful rich guy – better than they like this faux ordinary guy Mitt who keeps slipping up with $10,000 bets and his wife's two Cadillacs. Of course if genuine was what voters were looking for in a candidate, Ron Paul would already have the nomination sewn up.
Should Mitt Romney be allowed to go off teleprompter ?
Answer : No, but If he does, he will end up like Biden – a big "gaffer" – ie: "the trees are the right height" & the list goes on.
No – He would be totally incoherent then......he's using a teleprompter....really?
Probably not. But to tell you the truth Jack I don't care if he can't "connect" with me. (God knows Obama can't either.) I just want him to be able to fix the economy. So he just needs to shut up until he gets elected and then he can get on with it.
Should Mitt Romney be allowed to go off teleprompter?
What, a Republican is using a teleprompter? I thought they claimed only Obama did that!
Jenna
Roseville CA
Yes. Hopefully would see the real him and not the pandering version
Yes, and at every opportunity. The man is a boob, and his lack of communication skills are a reflection of his leadership abilities.
Probably not, but Romney's negative campaigning is getting old.
Romney is not being very impressive.
As compared to Santorum and Gingrich? The Gaffe Factory will be slowing down, gauranteed, as at least one of these clowns exits the stage after Super Tuesday. They will all be gone and silent by early November. What will we do for comedy after that?
He has to come off the teleprompter some times – he can't carry it around with him and just be able to plug it in. He's no orator, that's for sure. He still hasn't explained to America whether his money parked off shore has been taxed. Most of us can figure out the answer, I want to know from him if he thinks it Ok to dodge taxes like that in the tax code.
I'd say yes.. The more natural the better. Only a few speakers, like the current deceiver now in the White House, can use a teleprompter with surgical accuracy. Take it away from HIM and we'd get nothing but er's and ah's between each and every word. It would take him 60 minutes to convey a 10 minute idea.
Mitt Romney the flip flopper with no teleprompter now that's what I would call entertainment news. It seems like the only hope the GOP has left is Newt Gingrich, everyone already knows about his past so no suprises there while Rick Santorum isn't that great of a debater and Ron Paul hasn't had any meaningful legislation bills he has sponsored passed in over 20 years. With all of Romney's money he still can't close the gap and should just completely drop out of the race. What does Mitt Romney and Donald Trump have in common? They both like to fire people!
Romney is a brilliant guy who can and has solved complex problems. But, he has trouble connecting with many of the main stream voters - both with his advanced and sometimes nuanced vocabularyand his habit of ad libbing his way into a "rich guy" stereotype and some non-electability. The alternative from the democrats is someone who can orate crowds into weeping and swooning but seems only marginally capable of actually framing a compelling vision and enacting it - even after 3 years of OJT. Some choice. If I were Mitt, I'd stick to the script
Yes because I enjoy watching Romney put his foot in his mouth. But if I was his campaign manager I would tell him to only read what is on the Teleprompter and stop putting your dog on the roof of your car.
Sure he should.....but he should also get a tattoo on his hand that reads "Engage brain before putting mouth in gear".
Yes. Dump the teleprompter. He's much more entertaining when he wings it.
Romney obviously doesn't relate to the common folk Jack. He's rich, and lives in a different world. A teleprompter is his only connection with the little people. Without it, if he gets the GOP nomination, Obama's gonna steam roll him. It could actually be the end of the Republican party as we have known it and can America itself be far behind.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
So who's stopping him from not using a telepromter? I would think that is his choice. You don't have to be president to go off script.
Jack,
You might recall that George W. Bush had the same problem, which led to embarrassing moments for him and the country. A candidate can be kept on the teleprompter, a president sometimes can't. This is just one more good reason to re-elect President Obama.
Jim
Reno, Nevada
Oh yes, since we no longer have Bachman, Perry, or Cain, we need to have all the humor we can. Romney is the next best reason to laugh.
Jack,
Definitely NO – Let Mitt be Mitt. Its the only thing that makes his speeches interesting and fun for he audience. In fact, we ought to let Obama be Obama too. Get them both off the teleprompters. And let their wives give the speeches.
Jack, forget about whether or not Mitt Romney should be allowed to go off teleprompter. I don't think he should even be allowed to still be in this race, given the number of gaffes that he's made. All this shows is that Romney cannot connect with the middle class, and that's because he's never been in the middle class.
Romney=looting, bankrupting, stashing money in Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Swiss, for free Tax, Shipping jobs to China, India, Bain capital...why need teleprompter....
Absolutely. I love to hear Romney screw up. It reminds me how eminently unqualified he is to be president. For years now the talking heads have crucified Joe Biden every time he made a verbal gaffe. How are they going to spin this Romney thing? At least Biden is usually telling the truth. Romney meanwhile sounds like Tommy Flanagan, the old Jon Lovitz chracter on Saturday night livve. Yeah, that's the ticket.
It means what some of us already knew; that almost half of us are myopic slackers who choose to satisfy their immediate desires over prudent spending, saving and investment – you know, a lot like the US government. I’ll bet most of them voted for Bush and the rest work for the government.
Yes, that way we can see what he really is thinking instead of the "for public consumption" pabulum his handlers are spoon feeding him.
He doesn't follow NASCAR as closely as many, but he does have lots of friends who own companies that sponsor the teams. So there.
Carol in NoHo
It is clear that Romney has no clue to real life matters. He should go back to his money counting room that means more to him than anyone of the american people he says he cares for yet in real life he could care less.
So what if Romney's speaking coach is Rick Perry. Just think how well 'President Romney' will address the American People without a speech writer.
David, Las Vegas
He should be forced not to use it, after all he and his cronies seem to think the jokes about Obama using one are funny. I will tell you what's funny, when Obama doesn't use one he doesn't sound like the blithering idiots we have running on god's side.
If allowed to go off teleprompter:
Mitt Romney if given the chance to speak from his heart , might show his true color – as caring and compassionate
person.
Romneys campaign manager should put as lock on Mitts lips, but it is good to see what this Neo Socialist is really all about when he goes off script. Even then, if Romney sticks to the script provided him by his Neo Socialist Campaign staff, there are major problems with his positions. Take his latest stance on the Mortgage Interrest Deduction. Mitt wants to eliminate it. If that happens Real estate will crash faster than a new Springsteen album, and the Middle class will be out on the street selling balloons. I guess Mitt must be excited about the prospect of millions of abandoned homes. Doug, Pepperell, MA.
You either get Romney saying whatever it takes to win a group over (even though he cant keep his positions straight). Or second choice is Rick who just says things he cant take back. Does anyone think either candidate is electable? As we discuss over and over, a brokered convention is upon us with the real Republican candidate running in 2016. The Grand OLD Party is just that, time for a 4 year overhaul plan
Mitt Romney should not be allowed to
leave the house, unattended. He is an accident looking for a place to happen. And by the way, Jack, his first name is Willard not Mitt!
Mitt Romney is probably sincerely trying to convey that he buys American while alienating Americans that are just a few steps from the homeless shelter. No need to keep him from leaving the teleprompter now. From not caring about the poor to just not understanding what poor is, he has let the cat out of the bag. Rich is more fun than being poor.
Apparently not. But what concerns me more is the fact that without his speech writers, he's apparently a very arrogant jerk.
What ever Mitt is stepping in, he can't seem to get it off of his shoes. It is obvious that he is trying to be a "regular" guy, but when he is off script it dosen't work. Then again, it dosen't always work on script either.
And, today Willard Romney–attempting to be 'one of the guys'– said that he has "some great friends who are NASCAR team.... owners."
Teleprompter or no teleprompter, the man is going to keep tying his tongue around that big silver spoon in his mouth, because that is who he is–rich, privileged,concerned solely with the welfare of the top 1%, and oblivious to the rest of us.
Romney is gonna be Romney. [Just like Santorum is gonna be a self righteous, judgemental nutcase; Gingrich is gonna be a delusional, pompous windbag; and, Paul is gonna be a devoted Randian fringe dweller.]
Obama/Biden 2012–still in touch with reality.
They all should stay off the teleprompter, then maybe we would hear the truth about how they feel and what they know.
All of the people giving these talks should not be allowed to use a telepromter and then we'd find out who speaks the language of the heart. The reason Romney sounds like an elite is because he is and he fits the mold of the a typical American CEO who likes to fire people because he does like it as it feeds his ego.
Jack: No,No, a thousand times no. Mitt is allright when he stays on script. Mitt needs to learn how to use a teleprompter, so he does not go wild or stupid. Mitt is afraid of the media, and does not like to do question and answers periods. Mitt might be a rich old guy, but he lacks confidence in front of an audience. He needs a script to stay on course. You know Jack, "Stay the course", remember where you first heard that expression. Mitt's like a deer in the headlights.
George W. Bush was allowed to dictate his image. He stayed on message and sounded like a goofball when he adlibbed. Just look at how well that turned out for everyone. At least this time the corporate owned media appears to have learned a valuable lesson. They are not ignoring the gaffs, they are letting the people hear what the would be president has to say. Campaigning on the significance of tree size is Romney's choice to make. Let Romney be Romney! cy from arlington, va
No Jack, the administrators at Stepford Candidates Central should reprogram him to stay on talking points and quit adding human dimensions to his performance. Regular brain maintenance, along with impeccable manicures, are essential in connecting with the 99% of Americans hoping for a bionic leader who can swoop down and save the country: That's MittMan Model 2012.
Jack: It might be nice to see actually what Mitten's positions are, rather than reading what someone else has written for him-–the teleprompter is his saving grace-–and if he diverts from the teleprompter-–the real Mitten will emerge.
Of course, let him continue to step in it. If Romney loses in Michigan, I wonder who else will join the race to save the Repulican Party from themselves. Some oil company executive who would promise lower gas prices? If an oil exec did and won the election, he could sell all of his shares and not pay any taxes. Former Secretary of the Treaury Paulson saved $50 million in taxes when he had to sell his $485 million in shares of Goldman Sachs when Paulson was appointed by George W. Bush. And who thought Paulsonwas just taking a lower paying job?
That's what happens when you consistently talk about someone else always using a teleprompter. I think that he needs to stick to using a teleprompter so that he doesn't sound so out of touch. The republican party is reaping now. A real Christian knows all about sowing and reaping.
Yeah, that's just what we need in a president and as leader of the free world, someone who constantly sticks his silver spoon in his mouth.
Jack- Let him adlib his little heart out. He's become more robotic every day. It is truly gringe worthy to watch him try to be more human. I believe with his insular religion, his wealth and his less than stellar personality, he truly cannot help it. You know he's surrounded with public relations people trying to shore him up. And yet he fails time and time again. Can you even imagine him on the world stage dealing with all the many different religions, viewpoints and customs? It makes me want to laugh til I cry.
I haven't heard anyone say they have a problem with him being successful. They have a problem believing he can understand the average American.
How many times has had to worry about making his house payment? How many times has he worried about buying his kids new clothes for school? How many times has he wondered if he's next to get a pink slip? Has he ever laid awake in baed trying to figure out how to cover all the bills next month? I'm guessing the answer is no. But it's yes for 90% of Americans.
it doesn't matter the ship is sinking regardless
Yes! The more he does the more we get to know the real Mittens!
Yes – for all candidates. In fact I'd like for the teleprompter to be removed altogether. We might learn how the candidates truly feel. Although, we would have to be able to accept imperfection from all of them. We pounce on any stumble. Imganie a microphone in your face 100% of the time. Can any of us perfectly relay our true feelings when the polls, media and the American Citizens are looking to find any possible flaw. My thought is our system is flawed when we only get to hear what has been tested and polled. The truth should be good enough. We should allow a candidate to explain himself when he's tonugue tied – and accept his answer based on his history and track record.
Jeff
Towanda, PA
Yes he should be allowed to go off the teleprompter; however, his people know that he puts his foot in his mouth every time he goes off script. They don't allow him to go on talk shows, Meet the Press, etc....because they know they can't control what he says.
Romeny's hero Joesph Smith ran for president. I think they are both going to get the same election results.
Imagine what Mitt would have said, if Sarah Palin was holding his teleprompter. 😉
Mitt Romney needs to focus on the economy and public policy. He needs to point out every aspect of the ACA that has nothing to do with healthcare. Show the American people how much was spent on pet projects that have nothing to do with healthcare. Make the American people aware of the hidden tax increases hidden in the bill.
When Mittens goes off script, we get to see the real Willard.
I drive a car made in Detroit, vote for me.
Maybe not.
Jack – Let's keep him off the mic instead of on or off a teleprompter...
Speaking as a Democrat, I say he definitely SHOULD be allowed to go off teleprompter. As someone who would want him to WIN, I say no way. The more he "goes rogue," the more out-of-touch and even inhuman he looks and sounds. I don't know how he'd win against President Obama if he were to get the Republican nomination.
Yes, let him go off the teleprompter so that the voters can hear and see the real Mitt Romney. I think all candidates should not be allowed to use teleprompters and pre-written talking points. Speak to the people from the heart!
Pretty soon the Republicans will run a manniquin or a chimp for president. As long as PACS and super PACs can carpet bomb the airwaves smearing the opposition there really is no need to have a candidate who can talk. Maybe just a large doll that , when you pull the string in the back, mouths platitudes: (Yank) "I love this country". (Yank) " I love _______ (your state here)". (Yank) "The rich shouldn't pay taxes or obey any laws". It's only a matter of time before the GOP nominates a bobble head doll. cy from arlington, va
If Romney stays on teleprompter he comes off as a robot, but when he speaks his mind he looks like an idiot.
Bottom line- Romney does not have the empathy to be an effective people person and he does not have any firm convictions beyond promoting his own self interest. He is exposed by the bright lights of being a front runner, as an empty suit stuffed with cash. He is corporation pretending to be a person.
Until the Romney campaign invests in far more advanced A.I. for its candidate, they should keep him on the teleprompter to avoid exposing the weaknesses in their programming capabilities.
He should be allowed to go off teleprompter when Obama is allowed to go off his telepromter. The Press should recommend that Obama go off the telepromter for a test case to see how he does.
I can't wait to see a debate betwen Obama and Romney. Obama will studder and he haw. Romney will run circles around Obama. That's when the polls will be Obama 45% to Romney 55%.
Liberals will be squarming. Bill Maher will want his $1,000,000 back from Obama.
Absolutely! He's flip flopped on opinions so much that the only way to get the truth out of him is to take his script away.
Camillia from Dallas, TX
He's going to have to sometime so may as well do it now. People need to know what he is before voting for him.
Jack – let him go off the script as often as he wants. It makes it more likely that the Democrats will be in charge for another four years. That's good news for those of us who feel that the Republican party is out of touch with real Americans and would like to see an end to this dangerous clown act that is the Congress.
Why not? This way when he loses he has no one to blame but himself.
If Mitt Romney is anywhere but talking in a group of his fellow billionaires, he should not be more then reading distance from the teleprompter. He has had a fine Bloomfield Hills upbringing and education, but the only kitchen table talk he ever heard was between the maid, the cook and the butler if he happened to be in the kitchen. He has no clue what to say and not say to the 99% of us that didn't grow up that way.
Absolutely. The more the better. Same for Santorum.
That's when we see how they REALLY think and feel.
I am not sure who 'allows' what in this farce of a republican primary, but if there is such a thing as 'allowing' then Mitt Romney shouldn't be allowed to participate at all. But of course I state the obvious. . . . .
Sure let Mitt freelance. Then have a CNN panel explain which side of each issue Mitt is on today. I can't keep track. Mitt wants my vote for him to be president of the United States. I don't trust him enough to loan him a sawbuck..
He may be an accomplished business man but as a politician, he leaves much to be desired. He has changed his position on so many issues so many times that no one (including Romney himself) has any idea what he really believes.
Barring a catastrophic collapse of the economy or yet another Mideast boots-on-ground war, Obama will be reelected. If he is not, and this paradigm of perfidy is our next president, I will seriously consider emigrating to Canada. After all, that is where my great grandfather and great grandmother came from in 1868.
Jack, it would be nice if all of them didn't have a teleprompter. Mr. Romeny, just like most of the candidates running for president, is not a person who can identify with most of America and steps on his tongue when he doesn't follow his careful scipt on the teleprompter. Your question is should he be allowed to go off the teleprompter and the answer is that all of them should not be allowed to use a teleprompter until after they win the office of presidnt. Unfortunately, I suspect that most people in either party would be absolutely horrified if they know the truth about how their holy candidates really feels about most Americans.
Amended post (to correct for grammar in prior submission)
I can't see how Romney "off script" is any kookier than then candidate Obama's "We are the ones we've been waiting for; we are the change we seek." Talk about unintelligible, postmodern claptrap. And yet Obama's nonsensical speech was widely praised. I suppose if Obama can get away with that ridiculous line, then perhaps we can cut Romney some slack about the proper height of trees.
Mittens should be able to do as he sees fit, makes for some great Keystone Kops moments.
Sure. Let him go off script. The more he sticks his foot in his mouth, the more he destroys his chances of being the GOP nominee!
NO! He's got nothing to say outside his experts' talking points and every time he goes off script, they have to clean his teeth marks off his shoes.
As one of your northern neighbours, I would certainly appreciate the opportunity to discover the real Mitt Romney, so Hell yes, let him off the teleprompter so he can reveal more about his intellect and philosophy. At this particular moment in time, Mr. Romney seems to be a rather shallow individual, perhaps even as inept as George W. Bush. Scripted speeches won't give the man a chance to let the world know who he really is. Come to think of it, isn't Romney the guy who criticizes Obama by shouting "we need a leader, not a reader"? Ironic, isn't it?
If Romney's handlers were smart–they do not appear to possess an abundance of that commodity–they would keep him strictly on the teleprompter. Romney has a tin ear and zero emotional intelligence. They should also keep his tie on him. He looks really goofy running around in an $8,000 suit and a $500 dress shirt with an unbuttoned collar. Like, what happened to your Hermes tie Mitt?
I find it troubling that politicians are like those dolls where you pull the string and a recorded message comes through a speaker.
What ever happened to people who can use their own minds, their own intellect, their own creativity, and their own imagination to bring people together and accomplish great things? I think they died with the likes of Martin Luther King, John Kennedy, and an aging Nelson Mandela, and a host of others who dared to be who they were meant to be before the age of wind up dolls.
What? Romney uses a teleprompter? By all the stupid parrot posts that I read, you would think that Obama is the only politician in history to ever use one. Mynah birds, cockatoos and other mimicking birds who like to repeat mindless phrases please make note.
Well Jack, It is still better than Obama. Without teleprompter Obama claimed US has 57 states.
Sure let him talk, that way we know what we are getting to lead our Country.
Spell it all out no matter who they are.
He actually is too wealthy to be a caring President since he has never had to do without to pay a bill.
Why hide such a thing, sort of like Regean was, if he made a mistake someone corrected it for him.
Romney is certainly no worse than Santorum, who thinks family planning should be banned, college education is arrogant, as well as other such impromptu proclamations. Sounds like he is from the American Taliban Party.
Mr. Cafferty, I appreciate your articles even though they express a viewpoint light-years to the right of my own. But in sober truth, Romney's problem is NOT that he "sounds out of touch, elite or just plain strange". He REALLY IS! Anyone who claims to be unemployed, on grounds of having so much money he doesn't have to work, is out of touch. Any single person making the same annual income as 400 average American families is clearly elite. And if you want just plain strange, try googling Mormon underwear. Not that there's anything wrong with Mormon underwear, but it is undeniably strange.
He should stay on the Teleprompter for the same reason the President does. Heaven forbid anyone find out what you REALLY think or find out you DON"T think.
jack...
I almost feel sorry for the guy, Santorum and Gingrich don't know better, but Romney generally seems to be a pretty level headed type. He's demonstrated he can stick to a script and come out sounding pretty good, but his spontaneous comments are keeping some real nut jobs in the race and has an aborist or two scratching their heads.
Through super Tuesday, he needs to "stay within the box" period. Maybe his campaign staff can scribble a few safe off the cuff comments on his hand with strict instructions to ...stick with these.
"So as to give Obama an excuse, for his use of the same? I will leave it to Mitt to decide on that, sometimes a quick retaliation, works the crowd better. Maybe all he needs is a good script, and those who really believe in him, and what he's trying to do. He's the man!!"
If he wants to be President of the United States of America, there will be instances in which a teleprompter will simply not be available and he will need to be able to speak off script. There will be several if not countless instances in which citizens, world leaders, and many others will ask him a question and he'll need to be able to deliver a response without any assistance. If this is something that he cannot do as a candidate, then the Office of Presidency should not be considered at all.
The Republican party has always railed against the "elite." Their frontrunner, Romney, comes off as an elite braggert, completely out of touch with the average middle-class person. No, Jack, let him keep talking. The American people need to know what a plutocrat sounds like. If you want to be ruled by the Koch brothers, the casino owners, and Wall Street, then Romney is your man.
When Romney goes off the Telepromter it provides America with a clear understanding of the real Mitt. He's not in touch with the adverage American, only the 1%. He has no clue that the adverage working Joe only has one car and it's probably not new...just say no Mitt or we will all be sold off like a takeover from Bain Capital.
It doesn't matter. The entire so called "front runners" don't have a chance. I've voted Republican all my life and I won't be voting for anyone of these clowns. Are these guys REALLY this the best we can do? Where are the leaders, the guys in touch with the country? Instead we've got a rich kid frat boy with his foot in his mouth, a guy best suited for a SNL spot and a whacked out revisionist historian for "candidates". Wipe the slate clean and draft McCain or Huntsman or hell, even Hillary Clinton.
Yes, Romney should be allowed to go off teleprompter any time he wants to do so. The more often, the better as far as I'm concerned. The more he does go off the teleprompter the more likely Obama will be reelected. In fact when Romney tries to "wing " it he seems to put his foot in his mouth more frequently than Bush, Jr. did so. For example, yesterdays comment at Daytona about not being a fan of racing, but that he's friends with several car owners was another slam on the working class Americans. No wonder I have such a low opinion of the Republicans – they're out of touch with the entire electorate. It serves them right if they lose the presidential election.
Why not let him go off. Americans are so over-saturated with this guy, there may not be too much more he can do to change anyone's opinion, one way or the other. In the field of GOP candidates, Romney is safe, predictably inarticulate, but overall is bland to the point of boring. What he says ... it is what it is. Who cares?
I think Mitt and Santorum are GOP Fluffers for 2016
Without teleprompter Obama claimed that there are 57 states in USA.
If he is the candidate of his party, he will have to debate Obama without one. Obama has demonstrated he can talk without one. It is questionable if Romney can.
No, Romney should remain on a teleprompter for everything. One should be set up in his bedroom so he won't offend his wife Ann. She should get a medal for putting up with him for so long. The guy is a DORK, and the worrisome thing is if he sould get elected, which foreign nation, diplomat or sensitive issue will he put us in jeopardy over? But, he is basicly sincere and it is too bad for him that he keeps being misread because of his impromptu comments. His handlers are not doing a very good job keeping him in line, and ultimately those in charge of his campaign will have to suffer the consequences of his loss in this election year.
Wow, what will you two do when the election is over? Why don't you let some news HAPPEN first? GOP has already lost this election!
Not only should Mitt be allowed to go off the teleprompter, he should be encouraged to do so as often as humanly possible. It will make President Obama's re-election campaign that much easier by providing his team with lots of footage to use in its ads (or better yet, the ridicu-clips will be played so often that the campaign won't need to waste the ad spend on Romney at all!). Obama 2012!
He's not the only candidate who needs one, the ramblings of Santorum and Gingrich are just has mind boggling. I lean more to Ron Paul. His message is simple remember the Constitution, no money overseas, no war, and again no war. And if we want to forget the Golden rule bring the troops home and keep are neighbors in there own country. and finally again, no money overseas...
I would like to express my opinion of Mitt Romney & the entire GOP candidates by quoting Charlie Brown: "UGH!!!"
Presiden has said that there ar 57 states in USA even with his teleprompter.
No, trees should be the right height. I don't know how people can live in Missouri with short trees.
Mitt should stick to his speeches. When he goes off prompter, he could be SNL writers out of work....
He can't win with the prompter, and he can't talk without it.
This coming from a guy who goes on TV every day, USING A TELEPROMPTER!
Mitt was off teleprompter during every debate, and he Won them All.
Mitt is off teleprompter on the campaign trail, and sounds terrific.
MItt was off teleprompter when he was a CEO for 25 years, amassing his personal wealth while creating 100k's of jobs.
He was off prompter when he took deficits at the Olympics and as Gov. of Mass and left hem with surplus'.
All while taking only 1 dollar a year for his service.
What nonsense...The event with 1200 businessman, was scheduled for the "Atrium" at Ford Field.
THIS WAS NOT A ROMNEY EVENT!
The Secret Service moved it into the Stadium!!!!
A Man worth 250-400 million dollars, drives a Chev Pick-up a Mustang and has a Caddy SUV's on each Coast, and he's now a Pretentious Rich Guy??
You people simply need to get out more often. Most guys with Mitt's wealth drive Bentley's, Rolls" and Ferrari's.
Grow up Cafferty
Jack, You are kidding; right? He has been scripted so far? Oh, please, let's hear what he really thinks.
A teleprompter means nothing to Mitt unless it has a multiple choice option. What he says this week will just be changed next week to suit the audience he is addressing.
Sometimes I can't tell if Mitt Romney is a Mormon or a moron....
Mitt is the Teleprompter Candidate. We all know how stupid you have to be to need a teleprompter, right? Mitt "Teleprompter" Romney is your candidate?
I need something to laugh at, so please no more teleprompter for the mittens, eh, I meant the Flipper. Actually, I meant the elitist, foot in mouth vulture capitalist who loves america so much he puts his money in Foriegn Banks.
So.... we'd prefer a failed business guy, maybe a bankrupt or even someone who had never held a real job in the real economy. I thought we applauded success not blast people for it...
Please there was just a school shooting, and a child was killed. Who cares if Romney uses a teleprompter. This is what is so wrong with America.
My Gawd give the man a break. If he says he is "not concerned about the poor", he in all honesty meant not to worry abou them as he had some kind of plan in place to augment their status as poor people. This country and especially CNN is so hung on on taking every word in the exact context that it castigates many good poeple when they have said nothing out of place. Romney is a decent candidate and is surely a lot more skilled than the president now in office!
Should Romney be allowed to off the TelePromter? Absolute not.
Why do we want candidates on teleprompters? Aren't we electing them; not their speech writers and handlers?
Should Mitt go off teleprompter? That depends on whether you're rooting for him or not.
In the final analysis would it really matter ?
People are quick to judge Mitt as "out of touch" because he does make a gaffe from time to time. But who doesn't? With speeches every day and cameras on you 24/7 there is no person on Earth who wouldn't stick his/her foot in her mouth from time to time.
About the $10,000 bet, Rick Perry can afford it! I'm tired of the hypocrisy of the other millionaire candidates pretending to be like the average guy because they are "only" worth 1 to 10 million.
About the "very poor". That was a genuine gaffe, and he acknowledged it. The truth is, he does care, and his years of voluntary Church service for the poor prove it.
About the Cadillacs: If he hadn't mentioned them, they would be on his case for "hiding something". He is a very successful man and he should not apologize for that.
About the "trees being the right height" He is no poet, OK? He was trying to convey that at home everything feels right. but I'd rather elect a leader and a manager who can turn around the economy than a sweet-talker who can promise the world and deliver nothing.
It all depends on your perspective. If you want him to have a fighting chance at winning, he should never go off the teleprompter. If you're a Democrat or an anyone-but-Romney Republican, you'd like him to go off teleprompter as much as possible.
Absolutely! Mitt's so entertaining off script. One benefits to Texans was that his awkward remarks directed the attention away from Texas's cluless governor. Eve of Texs
I'm waiting for a moment in a debate when all four of them are saying "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" to each other.
Romney should be allowed to just go away and not just off the teleprompt. If this current field is the best the R's can put up, it will be 4 more years of Obama. get ready.
Of course he should go off teleprompter. The American people deserve to know just what an out of touch nut job he is! Let the man talk.
Can Romney make sense without a Tele prompter..? Yes if we want to hear about trees being the right size, about liking to fire people, or how he isn't concerned about the poor, how he knows NASCAR owners or how he is so rich he can bet people 10,000 dollars....
He's trying too hard to be something he's not – presidential.
Should Mitt Romney be allowed to go off teleprompter? The problem with this idea is that the people have a right to actually know the person running for office. Hiding behind a script is simply not part of the democratic process. If a candidate can't talk to the people, he or she should find another job.
If Mr. Romney goes off script, he will let us know who he really is. That is what we need to assess when we decide whether he should be our next President.
No - we'd miss all the fun! And how would we find out he knows Nascar owners, keeps a Cadillac at every home and makes $10,000 wagers? We want to see and hear the real fake that he really is. Really. A fake.
Personally, I think he's not from planet earth. He's weird. He talks about trees and cars and roads like it's the first time he ever saw them. He's CREEPY and I am totally serious.
this is so ridiculous that it's almost not worth the reply. The Teleprompter in chief can't form rational sentences without a teleprompter. So when Romney makes a comment about owning American made cars the guys at CNN blow a gasket. Maybe the water bearers for Obama are just trying a little harder. Recent polls show Obama now behind Romney and Santorum. Obama = Jimmy Carter. Same failed policies, same failed results.
I've been trying to figure out Mitt Romney for months. Those leading man looks, the funny way he walks with short and controlled steps, and especially that golly-gee way he talks. Since I don't believe in ridiculous conspiracy theories, I have rejected the possibility that he is a robot from the future, sort of like a GOP Terminator. But I have concluded that he is a time traveller from the 1950s.
The more he vacillates, the more the dems will shake flip-flops at him for a change ... and the less his own party will like him. So let him go off script by all means! Then bring on Santorum who is NEVER going to vacillate, just stick to his extreme positions. Go, Obama!
Actually, Jaclk, I don't give a hoot what Romney does! Neither do I care what any of the other losers do or say. I'll be voting for Obama so he can get the job he started, done! Did they all think he had a magic wand? You'll never hear it from the GOP!, nor will they ever compromise with the Dems. It might make Obama look good, and who would want that????
Mitt Romney should just stop talking all together! This man has changed his position so many times we could all qualify for Whip Lash claims.
As far as I can tell, although it is admittedly difficult, his solutions for our economic problems are the same as those that got us into the mess. Thus, he should change his tune.
Of course he should. If voters find him stilted, out of touch, and alienating, his campaign is getting the wrong message if they think a teleprompter will fix that.
"Even with your own Teleprompter you couldn't. "No, Jack. Not even if you use your own C/C could you buy my steak & Kidney that is on the grill at this moment. Enjoy your Tuna sandwhich. Now I only half cook the kidney, then place it on the steak and let the juices flow junder it's cover. "
By all means, he should be encouraged to "be himself" and ad lib as often as possible. It's only in this manner that we have been able to see his true colors emerge, including his privileged ego, disdain for those of us who have less in the way of financial resources (note that we the non-rich are NOT necessarily illiterate, uneducated or incapable of comprehending multisyllabic words, as one boob on here suggested) and biased, anti-woman, anti-gay, anti-ethnic social perspective. From the point of view of an educated professional woman, I will say that his overall level of turdosity seems somewhat lower than Santorum's, who would put us back in the Dark Ages with the Church ruling all, but Romney's all-for-us-rich-folks and rich-folks-for-only-themselves principal is at least as galling. Neither is worthy of any public office, much less POTUS.
Of course, After making fun of the President for his Teleprompter use, he can't start taking lessons from the President. His off script messaging is highly illuminating for those of us who can actually think for ourselves and while a single gaffe isn't a big deal, the fact that this is a trend is very telling about the type of President Mitt would be.
Lord yes, keep Romney scripted – he's a walking, talking disaster unscripted. Can't they just update his programming so he doesn't spew such inane nonsense? I wouldn't worry so much about Romney though, he's just so socially inept that he's creepy.
Santorum on the other hand is radical creepy – a nightmare, a purebred crackpot – the republicans created this mess, and they'll have to deal with the problem. I'm still wondering why his God hasn't struck him down for all the lies he's told.
Jilli, Houston, TX
What script? His words are geared towards pleasing the crowds he is talking to.
Jack – Only if he is taking his medication.
Yes! There is no down side. Either way, on or off the teleprompter it's all a boon for comedians. We, John Q Public, all thought there would never be another foot -in-mouth GOP candidate after G.W. Bush. But somehow a whole new batch have risen to the top of the Grand Ole Party. It's amazing and a bit scary.
It is time to set our emphasis on what is the ability of the individual candidate rather than the rhetoric , so that we may not end up with another President who lacks lenership and cannot implement solutions to our problems because is not able to work with Congress.
YES–everyone needs to learn that he is really just 'Gordon Gekko"
Yes! There is no down side. Either way, on or off the teleprompter it's all a boon for comedians. l thought there would never be another foot -in-mouth GOP candidate after G.W. Bush. But somehow a whole new batch have risen to the top of the Grand Ole Party. It's amazing and a bit scary.
Only if Obama get's taken off of his!
Michael, Indiana
I am not a Romney fan, but this blog is nothing more than a left wing echo chamber. You are all spouting the same nonsense and making the same jokes blah blah blah. What a waste of time!
Mitt should be allowed and encouraged to go off the teleprompter every chance he can... bwahahahahahaha.
Jack,
Once a clown, always a clown! Teleprompter or not!
If a man must stick to a script, isn't that disingenuous? I think, let him speak his mind and his heart. Geez. Why are we quibbling over whether or not he should fake his way to the nomination?
With such a disconnect between his "on" & "off" prompter rhetoric, both the teleprompter & Romney should be turned "off".
Yes of course Jack. There's that First Amendment thing, and besides it's funny.
Yes please. He can't help himself. He was born with a gold foot in his mouth.
Yes, because when he does things get so much more entertaining.
He should be REQUIRED to go off script!
Of course he should. His campaign staff should encourage him to shut his mouth, but the American people deserve to know what kind of person he really is.
Politically no, but for sheer entertainment let mitt talk all he wants.
Of course Romney should be abel to go off the teleprompter. He is not a robot; he is a candidate and he should be allowed to speak candidly to the American people.
Yes. The Republican Party is the best reality show on television!
YES!!!!! When Democrats watch his speech we can't stop laughing. Romney please go off teleprompter the American people need a good laugh.
Too late! And let's face it; we actually learn more about him than when he stays on script. Can you imagine electing this guy and only then finding out he doesn't care about the poor? For his campaign it's obviously important to tell him to stick to the teleprompter; for voters it's more important to know what he really thinks.
Romney and" Bamney" are twins and both lie. Niether are qualified to be President. They both want to manage the economy and thery both believe in big government. They both believe that individual Americans can not manage their own lives and that they are smarter. Ken Krieger Cape Coral Florida
Isn't that Popeye's line, "I yam what I yam"?
ALL candidates should be forced to work off the teleprompter so we can see who they really are and what they really think. I am tired of paid campaign hacks putting words in their mouths. Let's see – and hear – the truth!
Mitt's rich enough to hire someone to talk for him. He doesn't need a teleprompter. He should just hire a puppeteer to move his lips and body so he doesn't keep reminding us common folk about how much money he has or how many homes or how many cars or how many rich friends he has. Mitt, it's not jealousy - you earned it, no problems. What is a problem is that you don't know what the rest of us go through day after day and when you make stupid statements reminding us how wealthy you are, it sounds more like you're bragging rather than trying to relate to us peons. Take a few acting classes, maybe that way you can learn to fake sincerity better.
Letting him ad lib is the only way voters will see him for who he really is. I'm surprised you missed his latest NASCAR comments: he made fun of people in plastic rain ponchos and mentioned he has friends who own NASCAR teams. This guy is so wealthy and so out of touch, he doesn't even know which way is up.
Listening to sound bites is numbing. He should definitely go off of the teleprompter, he is much more entertaining that way. I am staring at Michigan trees now with a newfound appreciation.
Mr Romney should go off the teleprompter at times so he can be prepared to engage in the forth coming "town hall" meetings if he wins. Avoiding their use now will only come back to haunt him later on.
Let him stay off the TelePrompTer. His unrehearsed lines are awesome comedic skits in between hard news stories.
What is wrong with Mitt Romney talking about his success? Woiodnt you prefer to have a Presidential Candidate with a background of success? Maybe that person can help make the country successful again. Who wants an average Joe running things in The White House anyway. I don't. I applaud Romney's success. Good for him, and good for the USA! Losers or Average Joe's aren't needed for the most important job I the world.
Who the heck cares. He's wealthy. I'd rather have a wealthy president that got there by working and making money for others, growing companies, etc than one who seems to be on my level who's wealth was made by writing books about his one true love....himself. Maybe look at it this way... Romney can afford any car he'd like and he chooses American made. He could have 2 or 3 of those and then a few foreign cars but he chose American. I don't know if this is an example of the press stirring up trouble because they have nothing else to do, love obama and hate conservatives, or if it's an example of just how sick we are as a nation that we desire to bring hard working wealthy Americans down to the poverty level instead of allowing them to give us an America where we all the an equal chance to peruse that kind of success. Kinda sounds like we need to grow up.
Let's put it this way... When you dance around a pile of crap as much as Romney does, you're bound to step in it.
Mitt Romney can go off teleprompter any time he likes as far as I'm concerned. He subtle, witty, and sophisticated. I've never made more than 60K annually and I connect with Mitt Romney just fine. If I like Mitt then so do millions of other middle-income and low income-voters. Just because we aren't rich, it doesn't mean we aren't smart.
Yes, we want him to be himself. The man makes millions of dollars a year, so no one should expects him to relate to our financial woes. We just want jobs and the national deficit paid off. Be yourself and tell us how you're going to fix the problem. This should be common sense.
Of course he should be allowed to go off script. That's when we should pay the closest attention. I want to know what kind of man he REALLY is. What better way than to hear his candid, unrehearsed comments?
Its easy to be successful when your father paid for your college, and law school. Even with the Post 9/11 I found myself in 100K student loan debt. Not having anyone with power network for me it took me 1 year to find employment with an IVY league master degree. I did my time in IRAQ and came back injury free now thats SUCCESSFUL! Serving your country not to feed your ego, legacy, nor deep profits thats SUCCESSFUL! 1.) Even the playing field free college then we can talk about success!
Romney should not be allowed to talk, period. All the Republican candidates should shut their offensive mouths and become the real "silent minority" and either find someone who isn't off the wall or concede the election and save the country a lot of money. Save money? Now there's a good idea!
Jack, Finally a politician is honest with this answers to the press and YOU can't Stand the truth!
Charlotte, NC
yeah, rock on. Tell us why you want to mess up (and I'm being euphorically) And I will give yoiu an answer. Unforstunatley, the answers are from the Gillden Age in the late 1800 hundreds. Hey Republicans, check your calendendar
Romney tells his crowd whatever he thinks they want to hear.... unfortunately, he assumes our ignorance. He's telling us stuff we don't want to hear and this is why he isn't connecting to anyone. I don't care if he drives 20 cadillacs, all I'm hearing is, "I'm an Elitist" – Major foot in mouth disease. He should spend less time talking and more time listening. I'm a registered Republican and I will be voting for Obama hands down because he's, by far, the best candidate.
Amherst, Ohio
Mitt should definitely not be allowed to go off teleprompter. He seems to never learn from his previous gaffs. Can you imagine the fallout if he were to be involved in an important conversation or negotiation with some foreign dignitary and is unable to think any more clearly than he has shown a proclivity for?
Sure Jack! Let the Mittster run his mouth unscripted. It always turns out to be something funny or twisted or just down right weird. At times a combination of all three. Unlike Santorum who is just scary.
Jack, I think that Mitt Romney should go off the teleprompter and off the campaign for the 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination. This man is clearly tone deaf and out of touch with the vast majority of Americans who work for a living and are struggling to make ends meet. Romney is arrogant and condescending. He recommended to people who are disturbed by his snobbery to "vote for the other guy"–I take that guy to be President Obama. I think that the American people should take Romney's advice and "vote for the other guy" and forget about electing Romney for president.
Yes please keep them all off the teleprompter.That way they can spend all their time explaining their blunders and not on creating new absurdities.
Absolutely Mitt Romney should be allowed to go off script, Mr. Cafferty. That way we all get a glimpse "under the hood" (or hoods, since the Romney's have so many cars) and it's pretty fun to watch! I wake up every morning and think...."What wonderful Romneism will we hear today that will further alienate regular working-class Americans?" This is pure gold. It's a great time to be a democrat!
Mitt Romney should be not allowed. Period.
Romney is correct , he is what he is ....a very rich out of touch elitest who thinks his money can buy anything cause it always had even the presidency . That is until now, and money does not buy the now how to do it . So for that reason he should stay scripted if he wants the nomination. For the rest of us , he needs to keep showing the true Richie Rich .
And it does have comical value to break up the blah blah blah of political pundits.
Jack, I would rather have some one who is honest, reserved and a smart business man like Romney (apparently you don't know many financial accountant types) rather than a Santorum who cares more about his religion and his sexual practices to change our country to his thinking. You are so democratic, what was your comment about the President singing?????
Sure, why not? In what other way can Santorum win the nomination (so that Obama can win another 4 years?
Canada.
Absolutely, he should go off teleprompter often. Why not let him stick his foot in mouth and be himself, one the most out of touch with the 99%. He can't be any worse than Santorum taking the Presidency and country back to the 17th century.
Funny, I don't remember any stories about the need for Mr. Obama to stay on prompter! That man has made more idiotic statements in three years than Bush ever did in eight. But you can't report that, right? Wouldn't want to make your guy look bad! This question is simply meant to make a republican look foolish, which I guess is what you believe is your right, duty and privilege as journalist with access to the public. It's disgusting.
Teleprompter should be part and parcel to Mr. Rohmney......with what comes out of his mouth, teleprompter would be his medicine!
Teleprompters are there to tell them what to say – let him go off as he then would tell the truth – unusual for a politician
If I was his adviser, I would install a shock collar so when he goes off track, a push of the button might be useful. If he wants the position, he should just shut up or face the wrath of SNL and other late night laughs.
That depends on whether you want to help America or, like the GOP, who continue to attack America (read POTUS) and our collective values. The present GOP "candidates", and I use that term loosely, cannot fix what they (Rethuglican Party) have brought us to. Think about it...The Grand Old Party (GOP)...who do they really represent at the "Party"? Well, I think we all know.
Cap'n Bob
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Yes I think Romney should be off teleprompter. I believe that
voters have a right to see the Man behind the curtain, instead of
what he wants them to see, so they can better decide who to
vote for.
Of course we should allow Mitt to go off the teleprompter!! Imagine how liberating it will be for him to be honest with the American public and give us a true picture of who he is, not the "pre-packaged to fit the demographic" candidate that has become so typical of these two faced politicians. Let's see your true colors – not the red, white and blue that you think is your ticket to the presidency.
Sure if Mitt Romney wants to look like a fool let him.
Come on Jack! Mitt off the TelePrompTer is the only thing keeping most of us tuned into the GOP race. How dare you even THINK about spoiling our fun.
David in Kilmarnock, Virginia
Why don't you just elect a poor president. Obviously, if you make too much money in this country, you don't qualify to lead the poor. Seems to me if I was poor, I would want to have the leadership of someone who wasn't poor so that they could teach me what they know and help me out. Oh wait, this is the United States. Obviously, we don't think like that.
He should be allowed to leave the planet if he wants to he is self-destructive.
Absolutely, as often as possible.
Yes, Jack! Not only should Romney be allowed to go off the teleprompters, he should kept away from them throughout the duration of his campaign. That's the only way we will see this leopard's spots! The more I learn about this man, the harder I pray he comes no where near The White House.
The real question in my mind is should the media be forced off the tele-prompter ! I don't even care for Mitt Romney, and he won't get my vote, but so what. It is what it is and what it is is he is a successful business man who owns homes on the east coast and west coasts. His wife has a car on the east coast at the home there, as well as one at the west coast home. I guess I wish the media would go off tele-prompter and talk about something that actually matters. This insensate chatter about how the fact his wife has 2 cars some how is a big,policy altering revelation is beyond me. is one of the biggest waste of airtime I've yet seen this cycle.
This guy is a corporate sponsored drone,I can't vote for someone who's successes have been created by laying off Americans.he claims his success in dominos and staples is key to his success but even those giants have a net job loss in America this is the biggest problem in America even today as the stock market surges.small mom and pop pizza joints and small business supply stores are closing at alarming rates all over America please jack show this to the people this is what's killing us today and we need government to address and devise a plan to adapt to this trend.americans are losing ownership in their homes and the places they work at alarming rates.im all for capitalism but more Americans need a piece possibly through more broad stock ownership and a more aggressive path to sustainable home ownership.americans need to have ownership in America's greatest success stories.
As a democrat the more he does, the more it makes me laugh. Next thing you know he'll bet $10,000 that he drives a mustang while watching the poor fall into a safety net.
He's going off on purpose. An attempt to appeal to the former George W. republicans.
Absolutely, one hundred percent! Each time Mitt stretches his strings and attempts to dazzle his fellow countrymen/women with his whit, President Obama and his re-election team applaud. Some of Mitt's most recent comments bring back vivid memories of former President G.W. Bush's off-prompter comments and ramblings; the gynecologists speech, literacy in math, and of course my all time favorite, that old Tennessee saying, or was it in Texas fool me once, shame on ... Perhaps Mitt should look, listen and learn from his predecessors and just stick to the script. Keep up the great work Jack ... all the best from your friends in the North.
Without a teleprompter, our own President Obama forgot the number of states in the United States. Just saying!
Absolutely! Of course the fact that I'm a democrat probably has everything to do with that opinion. Everytime this guy opens his mouth an Obama re-election feels a little closer.
Jack, he was speaking the truth.
Yes he should, so the rest of America can see how 'shallow' and out of touch he really is....he acts as if it's his 'right' to be President to save us from ourselves. Makes me sick to my stomach.
You betcha.
he's been using a teleprompter? .. he should fire his writer!
Jack, the best advice anyone could give the Republican party would be to tape all four of their mouths shut, with or without the teleprompter. The foolish rehearsed rhetoric and assinine off the cuff remarks make it painfuly obvious how out of touch with reality these candidates and their devoted disciples are. It is truly frightening. I never thought I'd say this but Barack Obama may be the only hope this country still has.
Yes, Romney should be taken off the teleprompter and left to his own devices. Then all Republicans who are thinking about voting for him will see how unqualified he is for President. Without the prompter, his remarks are immature, childlike and without thought. Very scarey. Also, he is much too impressed with himself and his wealth to have the ability to run this country with the people in mind first! May God help us!
He (as well as all the other candidates) should simply state what he belives in and what specific things he will do if elected. Then let the voters decide!
He'd better stay on script. Whenever he strays, he commits yet another gaffe. Don't think so? I'll bet you $10,000!
Of course he should, Mr. Cafferty. How else will the 99% know he thinks they're trash?
He's become a national joke. The guy reminds me of a walking streetlamp.
This man is so out of touch with normal unrich people . He is insulting us every time he opens his mouth. . I for one am annoyed at the sound and sight of him. Let him go off on his own, he proves over and over why he is having such a hard time winning over the GOP. It is a clown show!!
There's nothing false or inaccurate about Romney's statements. They were simply displeasing to the political ear. What do you get when Romney goes off the teleprompter? An honest man. I'll vote for that.
Why on earth does Romney need a teleprompter? He sounds like a broken record saying the same thing time after time, except when he flip-flops on his views. The GOP candidates need more than a teleprompter to beat Obama...they need a miracle!
i don't give a hoot about Romney should stick with teleprompter or off script. he still panders. he is the 'panderer in chief'
I must have been mistaken. I never thought that a teleprompter could control a politician's image, or improve the way he speaks in public. The teleprompter won't help Romney because of who he is. The teleprompter won't make Romney more "relatable" to the public that isn't composed of Donald Trump and Koch brothers types.
Romney can't relate to ordinary Americans because he has never had to worry about whether he'll be able to pay his bills this month, or what he would do if he or his wife or one of the kids got sick and the treatment isn't covered by insurance. He's never had to worry about what he would do if the boiler broke, and what he'd have to do without in order to pay for a new one or to have it fixed. He's never had to worry that he couldn't afford to pay for college (for himself or for his kids), nor has he ever had to worry about losing his job. He owns several homes in several states, it sounds like he currently drives 3 vehicles and his wife can rotate driving her two Cadillacs. I don't begrudge him his success, but he had a huge advantage being born into a super wealthy family, and with all of the connections that come with that kind of wealth. Ordinary Americans don't have those kinds of advantages. They worry about keeping a roof over their heads, about putting food on the table, paying for insurance and gas. There's nothing left for extras. Romney's "bet" with Perry of $10,000 would have paid my rent for almost 10 months.....and to him that $10,000 was chump change, nothing to be missed. I read about the millions and millions of dollars he and his super pacs are spending on advertising and robo calls, and how nasty the ads are. What a waste of money–and how much good that money could do in communities all over the US, especially those that are hurting.
Someone wrote that Romney is relatable because to say otherwise doesn't make sense. It would mean that old people can't relate to young people. I disagree–old people CAN relate to young people because the old people were young at one time, and remember their youth. Romney, by contrast, has never ever been upper middle class, let alone poor. He can't relate. He thinks the auto industry should not have been bailed out, but he has no problem with government bailing out his buddies on Wall Street. No teleprompter can fix that.
Romney is an embarassment every time he opens his mouth.. He stumbled and bumbled and said the trees in Michigan are the right height. For what? Climbing? To see the view? Maybe he thinks he can see Russia from HIS home state.
No one will ever know what Mitt will do until he's (if elected) president. Then we better brace ourselves for a frightening look at the real Mitt Romney.
Yes, by all means allow him to go off the teleprompter. Then the public can see where his head actually is instead of in some safe, prepared script. A president has to think quick and make the right judgements under pressure. If he can't do that at a speaking event where he is the guest of honor, why should he be president?