So apparently, French President Nicolas Sarkozy cannot stand Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because “he is a liar”.

The remark was made when the French President was about to address a press conference with US President Barack Obama, at the G-20 meeting last week. The two had their microphones switched on, but did not twig. What was Obama’s response? A very tongue-in-cheek: “You’re fed up with him? I have to deal with him every day”.

Of course, the press had a field day. The last such gaffe was made by the very gaffe-prone former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Mr Brown was touring the North of England prior to the last election and had called a pensioner, and lifelong Labour Party supporter “a bigot”. He too, forgot that his microphone was still switched on and made the comment as he made his way back to his car. The comment effectively torpedoed any chance the Labour Party might have had of winning the last election in the UK.

Perhaps, one of the best was Ronald Reagan’s quip in 1984 prior to a radio address: “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

Such incidents can, or cannot be taken with a pinch of salt, but the actual line between the two, is very, very fine.

If one had to look at Reagan, it perhaps solidified his position further. If one had to look at Brown, it destroyed whatever shreds of credibility he had left.

Of course, the media revels in such comments being made off-the-cuff. One of the hardest things, as a journalist, is to get an off-the-cuff remark, or to catch a phrase that can make the headlines.

Politicians are normally very guarded, and the most one normally gets, is an off-the-record anecdote. But this is different. It shows politicians for what they really are. They are human beings with emotions, frustrations, faults and quirks. We tend to think of them (or want them to be) automatons which make no mistakes and have no frustrations or quirks, but like it or not, they are simply human.

Malta has never really seen such an incident, but then again, we are content to listen to tongues wagging in cafés in Valletta or Sliema; the effect is more or less the same. But, let them be warned. That one extra comment can make you or break you.