---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So I'd be quite happy to have a…"
description: "\"So I'd be quite happy to have a three-hour Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with Barack Obama. I'd let him use a teleprompter. I'll just rely on knowledge...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/newt-gingrich-792_barack_so-i-d-be-quite-happy-to-have-a-three-ho_472623.jpg"
---

#  So I'd be quite happy to have a three-hour…

![“So I'd be quite happy to have a three-hour Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with Barack Obama. I'd let him use a teleprompter. I'll just rely on knowledge. We'll do fine.” quote by Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/newt-gingrich-792_barack_so-i-d-be-quite-happy-to-have-a-three-ho_472623.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/newt-gingrich-792_barack_so-i-d-be-quite-happy-to-have-a-three-ho_472623.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/newt-gingrich-792_barack_so-i-d-be-quite-happy-to-have-a-three-ho_472623.jpg)

> “So I'd be quite happy to have a three-hour Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with Barack Obama. I'd let him use a teleprompter. I'll just rely on knowledge. We'll do fine.”

[Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A structured debate with a skilled opponent can be managed with preparation and calm.

**In simple terms:** Preparation aids debate.

Key Takeaway

Prepare thoroughly, stay calm.

Themes

debate knowledge politics

Mood

analytical confident

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- political campaigns
- public speaking
- policy discussions

Key Concepts

rhetoric strategic thinking communication

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you handle unexpected arguments?
- What role does empathy play in debate?

A Different Perspective

Relying solely on knowledge may ignore emotional nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Debate Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate-barack-442337/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Hour Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hour-lincoln-4081826/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Rely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rely/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Teleprompter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teleprompter-1849417/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Teleprompter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-teleprompter-4081827/)

## Related quotes

> [I always said that I wouldn't use a teleprompter, and if I start to sing real flat, I'll hang it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-always-said-that-i-wouldn-t-use-a-teleprompter-and-if-i-start-to/)

[Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/)

> [I have an outline but never use a teleprompter. That kills the connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-have-an-outline-but-never-use-a-teleprompter-that-kills-the/)

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> [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/)

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> [I'm the only one that can take the debate to Barack Obama and win and be elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-m-the-only-one-that-can-take-the-debate-to-barack-obama-and-win-and/)

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> [If I'm off the teleprompter, management doesn't get to see what I'm going to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/if-i-m-off-the-teleprompter-management-doesn-t-get-to-see-what-i-m/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [Sonu Nigam, Farah Khan and I don't have a teleprompter and neither do we plan about what we say. If we break into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/sonu-nigam-farah-khan-and-i-don-t-have-a-teleprompter-and-neither-do/)

[Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/)

> [I have no broadcasting training. No one's ever said to me, 'This is how you read a Teleprompter.' They just pointed to it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/i-have-no-broadcasting-training-no-one-s-ever-said-to-me-this-is-how/)

[Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/)

> [Reading a teleprompter is not what makes you presidential. It's your actions that you take, and it's democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/reading-a-teleprompter-is-not-what-makes-you-presidential-it-s-your/)

[Linda Sarsour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sarsour/)

> [There are great news anchors; they're probably very smart, but they're not talking to the audience like real people. They're just reading from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/there-are-great-news-anchors-they-re-probably-very-smart-but-they-re/)

[Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/)

> [I can't believe I'm saying this, but Obama looks like he DOES need a teleprompter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-can-t-believe-i-m-saying-this-but-obama-looks-like-he-does-need-a/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [Here's a man who was twice elected to the most powerful position on Earth despite needing a TelePrompTer to correctly identify what year it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/here-s-a-man-who-was-twice-elected-to-the-most-powerful-position-on/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [Reading off a Teleprompter is an easy skill to do passably well and a difficult skill to do very well. I still have room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/reading-off-a-teleprompter-is-an-easy-skill-to-do-passably-well-and-a/)

[Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/)

> [While teleprompter use is very common for politicians and others giving formal speeches, Biden is the first candidate to regularly use one outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/while-teleprompter-use-is-very-common-for-politicians-and-others/)

[Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/)

> [During Biden's nearly 50 years in politics, his off-the-cuff remarks have gotten him in more than a bit of trouble, but the obvious teleprompter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/during-biden-s-nearly-50-years-in-politics-his-off-the-cuff-remarks/)

[Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/)

## More by Newt Gingrich

> [Governor Romney may be running for CEO, I'm running for President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/governor-romney-may-be-running-for-ceo-i-m-running-for-president/)

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> [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/)

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> [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. Now, maybe that's wrong, maybe that's expensive, maybe we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/maybe-we-need-a-tax-credit-for-the-poorest-americans-to-buy-a-laptop/)

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> [I will focus on being substantive and I will focus on Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-will-focus-on-being-substantive-and-i-will-focus-on-barack-obama/)

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> [Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/stop-costly-new-regulations-that-would-increase-unemployment-raise/)

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> [Any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/any-ad-which-quotes-what-i-said-on-sunday-is-a-falsehood/)

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> [It doesn’t matter what I do. People need to hear what I have to say. There’s no one else who can say what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/it-doesn-t-matter-what-i-do-people-need-to-hear-what-i-have-to-say/)

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> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

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> [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/)

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[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/)

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> [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/)

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> [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/)

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> [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/)

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> [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/)

[Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/)

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