It’s very frustrating to be a politician. President Barack Obama is quite eager to ensure that his words are not misinterpreted. Four words, it turns out, appear over and over in his speeches:

(Video via Time.)

This is probably a losing battle. If there’s one thing constant to the art of politics it’s that no, opponents will not let you “be clear.”

“That’s not what I meant. That’s not what I meant at all….”

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Daniel Luzer is the news editor at Governing Magazine and former web editor of the Washington Monthly. Find him on Twitter: @Daniel_Luzer