He also threw in an “Al Gore invented the Internet” crack to top things off.

(Briefing Room) — 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.’” [On second thought, I'm not sure if that was a joke — ed.]

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.

Posted by ZIP on Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 7:55 pm | Tweet

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