Biden pokes fun at president with teleprompter joke

In between his plugs for President Obama's agenda at a New York City fundraiser on Wednesday, Vice President Biden joked about their divergent views on using a teleprompter. 

Biden asked for the teleprompters to come down while speaking at an event for Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), recalling a conversation he said he had about the devices with Obama.

"I am not using this thing. If you want to put it down, it’s OK by me," Biden said, according to a pool report. "You know Barack said, excuse me, the president said, 'Joe is learning to make a speech with a teleprompter and I am learning to do one without a teleprompter.'"

Obama's critics harangued him for his teleprompter use during the 2008 campaign and throughout his presidency, suggesting he lacks the ability to speak dynamically off the cuff.

A Republican lawmaker even proposed an amendment this month to the House-passed government spending measure that would have removed funding for the teleprompter. He later withdrew the amendment.

Biden's crack garnered laughter and applause from the audience of Democratic donors, according to the pool report. While explaining Obama's desire to invest in the high-tech sector, he cited federal spending during the Eisenhower administration that helped spur the development of the Internet.

"I know that will disappoint some of you Al Gore fans," he joked.

The gregarious vice president concluded by praising the president's mettle.

"You have a president who I admired before I took the job but I have come to admire in a way that is hard to even explain. I watched this guy make incredibly difficult decisions every single day." Biden told the audience. "I think you are going to see not only the United States but him sort of sprout their wings a little bit."

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