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[bijou]

Teleprompter of the United States
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Obama campaigning with the TOTUS in Abington, Pennsylvania, October 2008Further information: Anthropomorphism‎
According to radio talk show personality Rush Limbaugh, the Teleprompter of the United States or TOTUS is the puppet master of the head of state and head of government of the United States, Barack Obama.[1] This anthropomorphizing of the teleprompter is used as a joking criticism of the president's purported over-reliance on teleprompters.

Contents [hide]
1 Origin
2 Debate Challenge
3 Malfunctions
4 Criticism
5 See also
6 External Links
7 References
 


[edit] Origin
Barack Obama's extensive use of a teleprompter during his presidential campaign and his presidency has been noticed by the media[2] and has lead to criticism and claims that he is incapable of speaking extemporaneously. This criticism has been rejected by supporters of the president.[3]

On March 16th, 2009, Rush Limbaugh first began to say that Barack Obama's teleprompter tells him what to say:

“ Before I left the Golden EIB Microphone a few days ago, Obama's teleprompter told him to be negative on the economy. He was bashing the US economy, bashing the US stock market, bashing Wall Street every opportunity he got. We all know why. He wanted to create a crisis atmosphere and mentality, so as to set government up as the solution to virtually every problem he thought of and could convince people existed, and that's why he started loading up all of his Democrat pet projects, loading them up and trying to get 'em rammed through as quickly as he can. Now, I go a couple days ago to a charity golf outing, and Obama's teleprompter tells him to be positive. Now Obama's teleprompter's confident. The teleprompter's positive. Obama's teleprompter is bullish. They're telling everybody to go out there and bet the farm.[4] ”

The earliest known reference to the TOTUS is a post by the user Christien on the blog Hot Air on March 18th, 2009 at 1:09 AM.[5]

On March 18th, 2009, Rush Limbaugh first referred to the TOTUS on his show and explained it's meaning:

“ You should know, ladies and gentlemen, that TOTUS, the Teleprompter of the United States, has announced a nationally televised press conference and appearance from the White House next Tuesday night at eight p.m. They're going to have to move American Idol again, because the Teleprompter of the United States has scheduled a nationwide press conference and address. That's next Tuesday night at eight o'clock.[6] ”

The TOTUS is now a recurring theme on the Rush Limbaugh Show, and Rush Limbaugh has begun to use the formulation "Obama's teleprompter told him to say ..." when referring to quotes or speeches by President Obama, implying that he is an empty suit.


[edit] Debate Challenge
On March 16th, 2009, Rush Limbaugh reiterated a debate challenge to President Obama while referring to the TOTUS:

“ My offer for the president to bring his teleprompter to the EIB Network so I can debate the teleprompter still stands.[7] ”


[edit] Malfunctions
On June 17th, 2008, Barack Obama's teleprompter went out at a campaign event in Bristol, Virginia.[8] As a result, he was criticized for giving a poor speech:

“ After the teleprompter malfunctioned a few times last summer and Obama delivered some less-than-soaring speeches, reports surfaced that he was training to wean himself off of the device while on vacation in Hawaii. But no such luck.[9] ”

On March 17th, 2009, Barack Obama's teleprompter accidentally displayed his speech for Brian Cowen, the Prime Minister of Ireland, at a Saint Patrick's Day party at the White House. After a few paragraphs, Brian Cowen realized his mistake and Barack Obama returned to the podium to read it, without realizing that the teleprompter was now displaying Brian Cowen's speech. Barack Obama ended up thanking himself for the party.[10]


[edit] Criticism
Robert Schlesinger rebuffed criticism of President Obama's reliance on teleprompters by pointing out that using prepared remarks is not out of the ordinary for a President.[11]


[edit] See also
Rush Limbaugh Show

[edit] External Links
"Obama Speech - Teleprompter Goes Out". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDJSVPAx8xc. Retrieved on 2009-03-19.  – A video of Barack Obama speaking without his teleprompter.
"Official" Seal of The Teleprompter of the United States
Barack Obama's Teleprompter's Blog

[edit] References
^ http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031809/content/01125107.member.html
^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090305/pl_politico/19663
^ http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/3/6/-obama-and-the-teleprompter-dont-buy-the-conservative-talking-points.html
^ http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031609/content/01125107.member.html
^ http://hotair.com/headlines/?p=34055#comment-374348
^ http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031809/content/01125104.member.html
^ http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031609/content/01125100.member.html
^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDJSVPAx8xc
^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090305/pl_politico/19663
^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1162976/Teleprompter-meltdown-Irish-PM-repeats-Obamas-speech--president-thanks-himself.html
^ http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/3/6/-obama-and-the-teleprompter-dont-buy-the-conservative-talking-points.html
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprompter_of_the_United_States"
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprompter_of_the_United_States

[DixieBelle]

Comedy gold.

TOTUS!

[thundley4]

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[Chris_]

I can't believe it's still there.  Don't the oooobamanite censors kill those things within minutes of their being posted?

[RightCoast]

I can't believe it's still there.  Don't the oooobamanite censors kill those things within minutes of their being posted?

This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedia's deletion policy.
Please share your thoughts on the matter at this article's entry on the Articles for deletion page.
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[bijou]

[RightCoast]

Will CNN claim this was their image????

[Lord Undies]

"TOTUS" is already a classic.  It has set the tone for the entire charade now being played out in our White House.  That fool who calls himself president will never live it down, and he cannot change, so it will remain to haunt him everday.

The "One" is a Bozo and a buffoon.  The truth about this idiot is spreading far and wide.  Thank God.  My prayers are being answered.

Aside:  For what reason would Wikiputridia remove the entry?  It's factual, educational, and timely.  To remove it would render an already pathetic sham of a site more obviously biased and useless.