Precipice: (n) 1.a very steep or overhanging place; 2. a hazardous situation; broadly : brink.

Gaffe: (n) The act of accidental truth-telling by a politician

With that in mind, here’s Barack Obama, providing a much more honest description of his ObamaCare program than he probably intended:

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. We just had a very productive session about the final stages of healthcare reform in the Senate.  And from the discussions we had it’s clear that we are on the precipice of an achievement that’s eluded congresses and presidents for generations — an achievement that will touch the lives of nearly every American.

So what did he actually mean to say?  I think Obama meant that “we are on the crumbling rockface of American credit,” or perhaps “we are on the collapsing ledge of individual liberty.”  Hey, either one works.

By the way, don’t miss Mary Katharine Ham’s hilarious take on this, too.

Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at [email protected] with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.