On the December 18 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, guest host John King and White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux played a video clip of former President Bill Clinton talking to reporters in Des Moines, Iowa, in which Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) can be heard and seen in the background saying to someone, “We've got to go. These kids are waiting for us. Come on.” King commented that he had a "[s]neaky suspicion, Suzanne, you might be able to translate that 'Move [sic] on' to 'Please stop talking.' " Malveaux responded, “Yes. 'Stop sucking the air out of my campaign,' yes.”

Politico senior political writer Ben Smith commented on the same video on his blog. Smith wrote:

A great moment captured in the background of this video, from The Page: about halfway through, Hillary, on the left edge of the screen, emerges from the SUV to drag Bill away from the press.

Kind of emblematic of his role lately.

From the December 18 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:

MALVEAUX: But the Clinton campaign has to play a delicate balancing act. Former President Bill Clinton is causing controversy over his sharp questioning of Obama's credentials, even suggesting he -- Clinton -- had the good sense not to run until he was ready. We caught up with Mr. Clinton in Des Moines.

Some of the comments you made about Barack Obama, you had said that in 1988, you weren't ready to be president. You didn't run. Are you trying to say that Barack Obama isn't ready either?

BILL CLINTON: No. I'm trying to say that I agree with what The Des Moines Register said, that Hillary has the best record of positive change-making in other people's lives, and I think it's important. And I think that's why they endorsed her. That's what I was trying to say. I think -- I bragged on all of them -- Senator Obama, Senator Edwards, all of them. I like them.

MALVEAUX: If you rewind, during our exchange, you can hear Senator Clinton urging her husband to move on.

BILL CLINTON: Hillary has the best record of positive change-making in other people's lives --

HILLARY CLINTON: We've got to go. These kids are waiting for us. Come on.

BILL CLINTON: -- and I think that's why then endorsed her. That's what I was trying to say. I think -- I brag --

[end video clip]

MALVEAUX: And John, there's some political analysts who suggest that they do move on, that that is a good idea, because they say while President -- the former President Clinton, he does have a lot of credibility within the party, they say going too negative or pushing too hard, too aggressive, might actually backfire for his wife. John.

KING: Sneaky suspicion, Suzanne, you might be able to translate that “Move on” to “Please stop talking.” Suzanne Malveaux.

MALVEAUX: Yes. “Stop sucking the air out of my campaign,” yes.

KING: Catching the candidates in Iowa and the candidates' spouses, Suzanne Malveaux. Thank you, Suzanne.