What? No animatronic teleprompter?

My family and I are getting ready for a trip to Disney World next week. I don't know whether we'll get to visit the Hall of Presidents this year, but thanks to YouTube, I can get an idea what the latest additions look like:


Seriously, here's what it looks like now: George Washington introduces Barack Obama:


I really think it is not a good idea to have the current president speak in the HOP. Presidents need to be judged by history, and Disney World should not be a PR forum for the current administration. I say this even though I applauded the animatronic W and would struggle to not boo the animatronic Obama. As it is, animatronics of current presidents say absolutely nothing substantive, in order to not put off any Disneygoers. So a good show is interrupted by meaningless fluff instead of any time-tested presidential wisdom. It would be fairer and more inspiring to include a montage of famous past presidential quotes: "Of the people, by the people, for the people..." "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" "Ask not what your country can do for you" "Tear down this wall"

It would be reasonable to adopt the U.S. Mint's policy (actually a federal law): Don't feature living presidents.

It turns out the first current president to have a speaking animatronic was Bill Clinton in 1993. It was a little embarassing when the Lewinsky scandal broke and people began booing the current animatronic president, beginning an unfortunate tradition.

I think Disney should discontinue speeches by sitting presidents in the HOP when the next Republican president is elected because a) this will hopefully be in 2012, and b) Republicans are less likely to protest, or are at least more likely to understand a business decision.