Joe Biden did what late night comedians are struggling to do -- make fun of President Obama. At the Air Force Academy today, Vice President Joe Biden lampooned the president's use of teleprompters when one of his teleprompters blew over.
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Biden makes fun of Obama after teleprompter falls over
By Jimmy Orr | 05.27.09
They say that late-night comics are having a hard time making fun of President Obama. If that’s the case, maybe Letterman, Leno, and Ferguson should pay attention to a wacky new comedian who proved today that it could be done.
The comedian’s name? Joe Biden.
What the…
The odds were good for a gaffe-free speech. Really. It was a safe crowd. The vice president’s remarks were already written and approved. All he had to do was read it.
Nope. Never that simple…
Biden, with the help of Mother Nature, managed to make his own special brand of news today when delivering the commencement address at the Air Force Academy.
Apparently it was windy. So windy that one of Biden’s teleprompters blew over.
Two choices
So at this point, the vice president had two options. He could ignore it and proceed to give his speech (after all, one was still functional), or he could call attention to it by making a joke at the president’s expense.
Guess which option the vice president took?
Rough day
The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that it didn’t seem to be a great day for him anyway. According to the paper, Biden “didn’t get much love from the crowd” while delivering his speech.
One of the three times that he did receive spontaneous applause, however, was when he made fun of his boss. That’s when the teleprompter blew over.
“What am I going to tell the president?” Biden asked the crowd. “Tell him his teleprompter is broken? What will he do then?”
A clarification from Biden’s office has yet to be released…
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2. tokonoma | 05.27.09
If President Obama is as smart as I think he is, he should send the Vice-President to an undisclosed bunker for the remainder of his term. While there, the VP will be for-biden to speak in public.
3. cynthia | 05.27.09
That’s hysterical.
I remember being at a college graduation on a windy day when the papers the valedictorian speaker was reading from went airborne to the cheers of the audience. What a hoot - since we all have to endure the boring tradition, and it’s rarely entertaining.
When Cheney gave his last speech on security (read studiously from his notes) it was an inside job. No chance of wind unless the ceiling fans turned rogue. Still got a headache from the studio lights glaring off his bald head when he kept looking down (isn’t there makeup for that?) Geeeesh - Politicans just can’t keep us from making fun of them, no matter how hard they try. It was nice to see Biden have a chance to make a come back. G.W. had a cute way of making fun of himself, being some of his few ‘most endearing moments’.
4. Dave | 05.27.09
Why does the press keep making such a huge story out of so called ‘Biden gaffes’? He made a harmless joke,and it was funny. I’m sure Obama has enough of a sense of humor to see it that way.
5. Michael Wiles | 05.27.09
I love Biden! I dig Obama. Together they lighten up what truly seems to be darkening skies. If they can laugh then maybe we can too?
I sure am…
7. liam | 05.27.09
Like this article, I’m sure FAUX News and the rest of Big Media will twist this into another attempt to make Obama and Biden look bad. Will it never end.
9. Jacob | 05.27.09
Imaginary friends like Jesus and the Devil are pulling pranks like knocking over TelePrompTers, trees, mobile homes, etc., all the time.
10. Michael | 05.27.09
Good grief! Is anybody else becoming completely annoyed with all the “Biden Watchers” who are so quick to proclaim a “gaff” has been committed *every* time Biden makes a little joke or speaks for himself. This is ridiculous!
12. C. Dawkins | 05.27.09
Joking aside, and it was a funny.
What would Obama really do without his teleprompter? Besides say “uh uh uh”
13. Andrew | 05.27.09
Obama will do nothing, because this was funny and not inappropriate in any way.
14. EWAdams | 05.27.09
If “has to read from a teleprompter” is the worst thing that’s ever legitimately pinned on Obama, he’s home and dry. In fact, all presidents should cultivate a harmless failing so as to make people think they’re more human and accessible.
15. Patrick S. | 05.27.09
This is non-news. I always thought the press was unfair to Dan Quayle. He wasn’t perfect, but it was a little too much hearing day after day how he screwed this or that up. I guess the media has a new target to ridicule….
16. Joe Biden Forever | 05.27.09
Little bit of wind has entertained Faux Nuz …hooorahhhhhh
But, the wind coming from the banks is causing all the entertainment…ouchhh
Report more and more about banks and leave Biden alone..at least he is harmless..as opposed to Darth Vader..keep up the good work Faux Nuz..2 thumbs up…wayyyy upppppp….
17. Nixon | 05.27.09
What is funny is that the writer of this piece doesn’t understand who the butt of Biden’s joke was. He’s making fun of the people who try to make the use of a teleprompter into a political issue.
18. Sam | 05.27.09
Biden will make a gaffe every time he is put in front of a camera… good times. I would pay to have seen Obama’s face when he saw that one!
19. Waldo5 | 05.27.09
That was an unkind cut from the vice-president (note the correct hyphen—vice president is president of vice) who should know better. Pres. Obama could very well handle a non-existent teleprompter. He is a master of ad lib, extemporaneous speaking without notes, without preparation. He has spoken mostly extemporaneously all his life. But now he is president. His words are weighed and received with world attention; if he slips, makes even a slight mistake in his speeches, he is lampooned, condemned, and he must be extremely careful that he does not reveal top secret, secret, or confidential information. Some of what he knows—no one else knows, and he may have exclusive knowledge he must not mention anytime. Any slip now can be disastrous, especially in time of war.
20. NinaK | 05.27.09
What will President Obama do? He’ll smile broadly! President Obama has a wonderful sense of humor. He is also, cool, calm, and collected. The question need never have been asked. I have seen President Obama speak without a teleprompter and he does a great job. Some people have nothing better to do than TRY to find fault with this great President.
Read an article today where Rush, Gingrich, and Coulter were referred to as, “The Holy Trinity”!!! The Repubs have really, really lost it. The Holy Trinity consists of, “The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit”. Have the Repubs forgotten about this? To compare these shysters to God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit is downright disgusting!!! These people are the opposite!!
21. Craptaculus | 05.27.09
This is in no way a “gaffe”. It was a joke. I hate Biden and think he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He’s said some pretty stupid things, but this is just a simple, relevant, even slightly funny, joke.
23. Jack Tucker | 05.28.09
What is really ridiculous are the people whining about using teleprompters.
I’ve known few people who gave public speeches who did not rely on notes.
A teleprompter is an electronic note pad that allows the speaker to (appear to) look at the audience or cameras.
The controversy is more ridiculous than the act of reading from a teleprompter.
Biden doesn’t owe anyone an explanation; neither does Obama.
I disagree with some of Biden’s policies, but I think he’s the funniest guy on the national stage. His “gaffes” are more of a concern to the media than his audience or anyone else.
25. EWAdams | 05.28.09
I agree with you that “all presidents should cultivate a harmless failing”.
But now that the shoe is on the other foot we somehow can’t seem to remember how hard the media was on the likes of G. W. Bush and Dan Quayle. They seemed to be “idiots” for making any mistake.
When the Obama or Biden do it… well it just goes to makes these “gods” almost seem human??!?!?
That’s why it is an issue with conservatives. Because we put up with **** for so long and now we are frustrated that liberals aren’t held to the same stupid standard.
26. Ray Salemi | 05.28.09
It’s interesting the Fox captioned this as a “gaffe.”
I’m pretty sure it was a “joke”. It was intentional and funny.
27. Felicia | 05.28.09
Honestly. I do not like Obama or Biden at all. But it was a joke and it was funny so who cares.
28. ilovejoe | 05.28.09
Who doesn’t love Joe! He is the archetype Vice President, if there ever was one! He completely balances Obama, and what is not to love about that.
29. wayne hill | 05.28.09
joe knows he is only a one term VP. In the second term he switches jobs with Hillary, so she is in position for the top job.
30. Greg | 05.28.09
Get used to it, and get over it. No doubt those complaining about the story had no problem with the media targeting every W gaffe (or gaff, if you prefer), and admittedly, there were many. But YOUR boys are in the hot seats now, and the provebial tables have turned. And if YOUR immediate underling took shots at you like Joe does at his boss. you’d fire him/her in a New York minute.
31. rewinn | 05.28.09
If 3×5 cards were good enough for Jesus, they should be good enough for President Obama!
32. Schlu | 05.29.09
Obama stutters even with a teleprompter. I can’t imagine how he would do without a teleprompter.
33. M Jones | 05.29.09
It’s not that serious, it was a joke. And for those recalling reactions to W’s mess ups, it wasn’t his jokes people were tired of, it was his inability to speak without sounding like a complete idiot. He wasn’t joking, he just didn’t have a firm grasp of the English diction.
34. steph | 05.29.09
dont make fun of biden when he screws up. its not like liberals made fun of every mistake that GW made. …… ha!
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Bob Cook | 05.27.09
What a perfect time to pull off an extemporaneous one-liner.
It’s in context; in sync; and easily recognizible.
Way to go, Joe.