Obama Tells it Like it is on Kanye...Off the Record

Our president is known for choosing his words very carefully, most of the time. Occasionally, he lets his guard down in public and speaks from his gut, as was widely thought to be the case when he said that Cambridge police "acted stupidly" during the events leading to the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. He later apologized for his choice of words.

But it turns out that when the cameras are off and the pens are down, President Obama isn't afraid at all of telling it like it is. And although his comments were off the record, the minor controversy about it is very much on the record.

In an off-the-record portion of an interview with CNBC yesterday, Obama was overheard giving his opinion about Kanye West's interruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for best female video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

ABC News reporter Terry Moran caused quite a commotion tonight on Twitter after writing the following: "Pres. Obama just called Kanye West a "jackass" for his outburst at VMAs when Taylor Swift won. Now THAT'S presidential."

Although it wasn't long before Moran removed it, with over a million followers, the Tweet quickly bounced around Twitter through various users. (And it can still be found here).

SOURCE: Politico.com

ABC News issued an apology to both the White House and CNBC for breaking the rules. And somehow TMZ got a copy of Obama's remarks on audio!

Now I'm not even going to ask you if you think Obama was right about Kanye. Over 4,300 of you already told us in a poll that you think the rapper's antics that night were "tacky." But what do you think of Moran's trigger-happy Tweeting, or the way this story has taken off in a very public way?

From Kanye West is an idiot discussion (466 replies and growing)

"I would say that Kanye had no class if he did that at the BET Awards because he thought Beyonce should have won over, say for example, Keke Palmer. Kanye's behavior was just classless, tasteless, tacky and generally uncalled for." Casey18735

"That's why Kanye will never be adored and have the status of Michael Jackson." Shorty_Casper

"[Taylor Swift] looked like she didn't know what to do. This was Kanye again trying to make headlines. I didnt really know the girl's video, but if it had more than just standing in a catsuit and stilettos....she deserved the win." CaramelQueen01

Want to discuss this story with members?

Kanye West is an idiot started by member by Ready4Wah
VMA Watch and Chat started by member mommacaliente
West apologizes started by member Cexxie_Lady

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=716565&pid=716564&uts=1253024738

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Latest Obama Photos

President Barack Obama gestures while speaking at Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, on the first anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse, and to outline financial changes to avert a future crisis like the one that sent the global economy into a tailspin. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

FR151332 AP

BlackVoices.com

President Obama Photos

President Barack Obama waves upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday Sept. 15 2009. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

President Barack Obama is welcomed by Col. Steven Shepro, Commander of the 316th Wing upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday Sept. 15 2009. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

President Barack Obama greets visitors at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, prior to departing for a day on the road to promote his health care agenda. Obama is traveling to Warren, Ohio and Pittsburgh, to talk about health care reform, then on to a fundraiser in Philadelphia for Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., as he faces re-election in Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Barack Obama steps off Marine One upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Tuesday Sept. 15 2009. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

President Barack Obama walks with Col. Steven "Shep" Shepro is the Commander of the 316th Wing and Installation Commander of Andrews Air Force Baseboards, toward Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama walks towards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

US President Barack Obama salutes as he steps from Marine One at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland on September 15, 2009. Obama is travelling to Ohio to address auto workers. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

US President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland on September 15, 2009. Obama is travelling to Ohio to address auto workers. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

TOPSHOTS A man takes part in a demonstration against the US administration displaying posters depicting US President Barack Obama in front of the White House in Washington on September 14, 2009. TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

NEW YORK - SEPTEMEBER 14: A flag adorns the front of the New York Stock Exchange after the closing bell on September 14, 2009 in New York City. President Obama gave a major speech on the state of the economy today at Wall Street. (Photo by Ramin Talaie/Getty Images)

Getty Images