When presidents meet a 'hot mic'

By Steve Benen

Some of my favorite moments of George W. Bush's presidency were "hot mic" moments, in part because they offered rare peeks behind the curtain. When Bush was accidentally overheard on live microphones, we learned that he didn't know what the Mexico City Policy was, even after he signed an executive order on it; he didn't understand 2006 developments in Lebanon, though he thought he did; and he talked to world leaders in a strikingly unsophisticated way behind closed doors.

But President Obama is not without hot-mic moments. One of the big political stories of the day is the interest in comments Obama made to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on missile defense.

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The revelations aren't exactly shocking here. Obama, in Seoul for a nuclear security summit, told the Russian leader, "On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved, but it's important for him to give me space." In this context, "him" appears to refer to Vladimir Putin. When Medvedev noted that he appreciates the larger context, Obama added, "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."

Medvedev responded, "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir."

Mitt Romney is feigning outrage, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who's often confused about U.S. policy in Russia but likes to pretend otherwise, is looking for the fainting couch, but Obama's comments aren't exactly scandalous.

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