Vice President Joe Biden, perhaps overcome with excitement during his speech congratulating President Obama on the passage of health care reform, dropped an F-bomb on live television when he turned to Obama and said, "This is a big fucking deal."

The microphone just barely catches it, but listen closely and you'll hear it. This is surely a high point in Biden's long history of verbal gaffes.

UPDATE 12:54 PM The White House must not be too upset about Biden's comment -- Press Secretary Robert Gibbs just tweeted:

"And yes Mr. Vice President, you're right... "

WATCH:

<0--2195--hh>0--2195--hh>