Biden: I have to think about everything I say

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Jake Turcotte

Are we going to see a less candid Joe Biden?

While appearing on Face the Nation this morning, CBS host Bob Schieffer asked Vice President Biden how his new position might change him.

After all, the the gregarious politician has always been known as someone who speaks his mind. But sometimes that's landed him in hot water.

During the latter stages of the campaign, for example, he wouldn't improvise. He wouldn't give interviews. Speaking off-the-cuff? Forbidden. He was a talking points machine.

The press was disappointed.

Oops of office

So when controversy mushroomed last week when the vice president joked about Supreme Court Justice John Robert's bungling of the oath of office, it seemed like a return to the old Joe.

President Obama didn't seem to be laughing at the joke, however. Click here to read that story.

Clamp down

Schieffer asked him about his new position and if it would put some constraints on his freewheeling nature.

"You are known for being candid, for talking, being unafraid to talk," Schieffer said. "Is it harder now?"

"It is harder now," Biden said. "It is -- I’m really happy to be part of a team. But what I have to think about now is, everything I say, I am the vice president. I am not the president. I’m the vice president."

"So everything that I say reflects directly on the administration," he continued. "And so I may have strongly held views that the president may not have. And they should be -- that should be done between us, not for me to -- but, yes, the bottom line, it’s harder."

He's not alone 

Things are still hard for the former Republican vice presidential candidate as well.  On Friday night, MSNBC's Hardball host Chris Matthews took a shot at Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

While discussing a possible book deal she's apparently pursuing, Matthews wondered aloud if she even knew how to read.  Click here to read that story.

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