Ben Smith picks up on a Geithner gaffe:

Geithner, at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the U.S. is "open" to a headline-grabbing proposal by the governor of the China's central bank, which was widely reported as being a call for a new global currency to replace the dollar, but which Geithner described as more modest and "evolutionary."

Smith notes that the moderator sensed a gaffe and presented Geithner with an opportunity for a redo on the issue, which he appears to have taken. (UPDATE: Smith also notes Geithner's comment cause the value of the dollar to plunge, though it recovered somewhat after his clarification.)

Stephen Hayes notes Austin Goolsbee made a similarly flimsy denial yesterday afternoon with Wolf Blitzer.

Sandwiched between these two remarks, of course, was the President's more assertive response to the same question at last night's presser. In some areas, a lack of message discipline among different players in the administration isn't much of a problem. On an issue as vital as one involving the strength of the dollar in the middle of an economic meltdown, it's a bit disconcerting - to put it charitably.