The morality of teleprompters, speech texts and bullet points on the palm

Can someone tell us how it is that people see moral distinctions—and they do—among the use of teleprompter (evil), speech text (acceptable, but not as cool as off-the-cuff) and, now, the crib-notes on Palin’s palm?

We value the off-the-cuff remarks so fondly. But do we also believe that thinking about what wants to say ahead of time is a sin?

Speechwriters should be first and best at pointing out the intellectual inconsistency, sentimentality and utter foolishness of this American attitude.