President Obama joked about his hot mic gaffe in Russia today in front of the American Society of News Editors annual conference.

"It's a pleasure to speak to all of you and to have a microphone I can see, " he said to laughter from the crowd. "Feel free to transmit any of this to Vladimir if you see him. he said.

Obama responded with a little dig of his own against Mitt Romney's aide for his "etch-a-sketch" moment.

"Clearly, we are already in the beginning months of another long, lively election year." he said, dismissing the "gaffes and minor controversies, there will be hot microphones and etch-a-sketch moments that will occur."