Trash-talking one's former boss is a pretty common practice, but it can get you into trouble when your former boss is the President of the United States—and he's up for re-election in three weeks.  

That happened on Tuesday when a quote by Neera Tanden, a former Obama aide and current president of the Center for American Progress, appearing in a story by John Heilemann in New York raised eyebrows: 

"People say the reason Obama wouldn't call Clinton is because he doesn't like him. The truth is, Obama doesn't call anyone, and he's not close to almost anyone. It's stunning that he's in politics, because he really doesn't like people." 

Well! That's some pretty blunt talk. But as is a custom in Washington, Tanden dutifully took to Twitter a few moments ago to say she didn't really mean what she said.

I was trying to say how President Obama, who I admire greatly, is a private person, but I deeply regret how I said it. I apologize.

— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) October 16, 2012

Forgive me, Obama? Tanden previously served as a senior advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services during the health care reform push. Through her progressive think tank and her public speeches, she continues to be a strong booster for the President. (Given the revolving door between CAP and the Obama White House, that's sort of a given.) So what do you say, Mr. President, we still cool?

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John Hudson