ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — Since leaving Charlotte, President Obama has mentioned Bill Clinton’s blockbuster speech in each of this three campaign stops.
In fact, invoking Clinton’s primetime address has given him one of the best lines of his stump speech.
Yesterday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Obama said that he received a suggestion that Bill Clinton should be named “secretary of explaining stuff.” He said the same thing in Iowa City later in the day, getting laughs every time.
This morning in St. Petersburg, however, Obama jokingly admitted that he’d censored the recommendation. The original suggestion included much more colorful language, likely of the four letter variety.
“Although, I have to admit, it didn’t really say 'stuff'," Obama told a crowd of 11,000 in Florida. "I cleaned that up a little bit.”
Below is the evolution of the line. (Also: inconsistency noted. Did the suggestion come in the form of a tweet or an email? Perhaps an emailed tweet? DM?)
Portsmouth, NH:
President Clinton -- (applause) -- made the case in the way only he can. Somebody emailed me after his speech -- they said, you need to appoint him secretary of explaining stuff. (Laughter and applause.) That was pretty good. I like that -- the secretary of explaining stuff -- 'splanin. (Laughter.)
Iowa City, IA:
President Clinton made the case the way only he can. (Applause.) Somebody sent around a tweet saying, you need to appoint him secretary of explaining stuff. (Laughter.) So I thought that was a pretty good idea.
St. Petersburg, FL:
After he spoke, somebody sent out a tweet -- they said, you should appoint him secretary of explaining stuff. (Laughter and applause.) I like that -- secretary of explaining stuff. Although, I have to admit, it didn’t really say "stuff." I cleaned that up a little bit. (Laughter.)