In poker, when an opponent develops a predictable signal, it’s called a tell.  Barack Obama has developed a tell, and as Jim Geraghty discovers, it’s when he’s telling everyone around them how to act.  In this case, though, Obama may have broken a speed record this time:

President Obama, yesterday: “I’ve asked leaders of both parties and both houses of Congress to come here to the White House on Thursday so we can build on the work that’s already been done and drive towards a final agreement.  It’s my hope that everybody is going to leave their ultimatums at the door, that we’ll all leave our political rhetoric at the door.”

President Obama, today: “The debt ceiling should not be something that is used as a gun against the heads of the American people to extract tax breaks for corporate jet owners, for oil and gas companies that are making billions of dollars because the price of gasoline has gone up so high.”

You know, when people described Obama as exceptional, this isn’t quite what we thought they meant.

Update: Jeff Dobbs puts it to video:

More doorbell!

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.

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