UPDATE: What do you think? Is the “Applause” indicator in this image a prompt for the audience or is it closed captioning for the hearing impaired?
Now that so many people have brought up the second possibility, we not sure. Either way the question remains: Why were people applauding at a memorial service?
That leaves us with two options: Either the prompt was horribly inappropriate or the audience was horribly inappropriate. Take your choice.
If it turns out to be closed captioning, we apologize to Robert Gibbs. If it turns out to be an applause prompt, we apologize to the friends and families of the victims on behalf of the audience.
When asked about the numerous outbursts of applause during President Obama’s speech at the Tucson memorial service, Press Secretary Roert Gibbs claimed on Thursday that they were a complete surprise to the good folks in the White House.
“I will say that I read the speech several times and thought that there wouldn’t be a lot of applause if any. I think many of us thought that. But I think there was a celebration, again, of the lives of those who had been impacted. Not just at that grocery store but throughout the country. And I think that, if that is part of the healing process, then that’s a good thing.”
But this photo shows the crowd was responding to built-in applause instructions. Kind of like when Oprah’s audience goes wild at her every word.
In the words of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, “Who you gonna believe – me or your lying eyes?”
Excuse our incredulity, Robert, but if you read the script you saw the “Pause for applause” instructions scattered throughout. Couldn’t have missed them.
In the words of Judge Judy, “Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.”
Source: Associated Press
H/T: Gateway Pundit
