Obama's 'jackass' remark about Kanye West was off the record, says CNBC

Washington, Sep.16 (ANI): President Barack Obama's 'jackass' remark about Kanye West were off the record, claimed John Harwood, CNBC's chief Washington correspondent.

"The custom in television, as I understand it, is that when you have an interview of this kind, the little chit-chat when you are getting ready to sit down to do the real interview is off the record," Harwood told Politico.

"It's one of those things that's like an understanding, as people have understandings with sources," he continued. "And if you have a relationship of trust with someone, as I feel I do with the White House and the president, specifically, I felt like I should honor it."

However, the remarks quickly became public after ABC News reporter Terry Moran tweeted the comment.

Harwood said that he's not sure exactly how many White House reporters may have been watching or listening to the live feed of the interview, which was embargoed for Monday at 6:30 P.M.

As whether Moran's tweet violated any ethics guidelines in the age of Twitter, Harwood said he's doesn't' "know what the rules are supposed to be." (ANI)