Telling POTUS to do without TOTUS

WASHINGTON - Someone surely does not like US President Barack Obama’s beloved teleprompter that he famously relies on to make a speech.

An opposition Republican targeted the teleprompter of the President of the United States (POTUS) in a blizzard of House amendments aimed at cutting $100 billion from the federal budget.

The mover, Representative Steve Womack, told Fox News that it’s about tough love: “We’re asking people to do more with less. And I think the president ought to lead by example.

“He is already a very gifted speaker. And I think that’s one platform he could do without,” Womack said.

Obama relies on the teleprompter (nicknamed TOTUS) probably more than he relies on White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, commented Politico, a Washington newspaper focusing on congressional and presidential affairs.

“It has its own blog (updated quarterly, but still). It’s probably making a deputy chief of staff salary,” it said.

“When Obama leaves office, it’s likely to be memorialised on The Mall. There are some things you just don’t mess with, and the TOTUS is sacred and inviolable. These House Republicans!” added the Politico tongue in cheek.

Womack later pulled his amendment from consideration, saying he couldn’t get a read on how much it would save. “I think

we made our point,” Womack said wryly.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)