10 best teleprompter jokes

President Barack Obama’s teleprompter, also known as TOTUS, is perhaps one of Obama’s closest companions — always present at presidential events, speeches and campaign stops. The president’s fondness for the device has been the subject of plenty of jokes – just this week, Rick Santorum went as far as to say “it should be illegal to read off a teleprompter.”
Here’s POLITICO’s look back at some memorable jabs about Obama’s TOTUS:

1. “I have to admit, I was a little nervous when I looked out here. I saw all the TV cameras and a teleprompter. I figured President Obama must be here, giving another speech about raising taxes!” - Florida Gov. Rick Scott (Sept. 2011)

2. “What am I going to tell the president when I tell him his teleprompter is broken? What will he do then?” – Vice President Joe Biden after one of his teleprompters blew over in the wind (May 2009)
3. “I believe that I can tell the truth without notes better than he can dissemble on a teleprompter.” – Newt Gingrich (Jan. 2012)
4. “The president couldn’t find anywhere to set up a teleprompter to announce new taxes.” - Sen. Marco Rubio (Feb. 2010)
5. “You set up a presidential podium and a teleprompter in a sixth grade classroom? ‘Here’s what health care means to you. Let’s say you developed, coo-ties.’ … That’s not a great photo-op in a middle school classroom, just like if you delivered an Oval Office speech from your nap mat!” - Jon Stewart (March 2010)
6. “I think we’ve confirmed you can’t govern from a teleprompter.” – Sen. Jim DeMint (Feb. 2010)
7. “President Obama’s teleprompter was stolen. Police are on the lookout for a thief that’s eloquent and spreading a message of hope.” - Conan O’Brien (Oct. 2011)
8. “He speaks well. He reads the teleprompter well.” – Mitt Romney (Nov. 2008)
9. “After that, I promised I would never again use President Obama’s teleprompter.” – Rep. Michele Bachmann, explaining an earlier misspeak (May 2011)
10. “We had people talking about how the next era of hope and change was sweeping aside our values and principles. Hope and change and teleprompters.” Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Feb.