Fritz on the TOTUS

During an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, former Vice President Walter “Fritz” Mondale offered advice on how President Obama can better connect with the American people. Mondale observed that: "He [Obama] uses these idiot boards to read speeches in television, and I think he loses the connection that he needs emotionally with American voters.”

Mondale thinks that the constant head turning required to adeptly read idiot boards (the television insider term for teleprompters) is bad optics and that he should stare directly at his audience.

While Mondale noted that Mr. Obama can continue to give good speeches, the Carter era Vice President conceded that a continued reliance on teleprompters is a real and symbolic element of the President being able to connect.

Politico had a snarky update that indicated that the 82 year old former Vice President will be introducing Vice President Biden at a Mark Dayton (D-MN) event and a teleprompter will be available.

In the past, Vice President Biden has also made light of President Obama’s use of teleprompters.

The TOTUS, Teleprompter of the United States, was not available for interviews.