Romney: The Master Debater?

For years the Republicans have told all that will listen (Fox News and MSM) that Obama’s addiction to the teleprompter shows that he can’t think on his feet.

Picking up on a theme that has been rippling through GOP circles for two years, Republican presidential candidates are trying to use President Obama’s reliance on teleprompters to deflate one of his biggest strengths — his oratorical skill. If Obama can’t give a two-minute speech without a screen telling him what to say, the critique goes, it’s a sign that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about and can’t be trusted to do his job.

There are even blogs which focus specifically on Obama and the teleprompter. Even the forgotten candidate for Vice President, Paul Ryan, has made several recent jokes about the teleprompter.

But now the debates are upon us and the Republicans are changing their story, Obama is actually a gifted speaker, so don’t expect Romney to do well.

In a memo sent to surrogates today, Romney senior adviser Beth Myers sets the expectations for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney low — very low — compared to the “ample rhetorical gifts” of his opponent. The memo says President Obama has a “significant advantage” heading into the first debate.

“President Obama is a uniquely gifted speaker, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented political communicators in modern history,” Myers writes, calling Obama a “universally acclaimed public speaker.”

The Republicans use of choosing a narrative to fit their needs is very Kremlin-like in a Cold War sort of way.