Jay Carney shares his press secretary regrets with Stephen Colbert

Today is Jay Carney’s last day as White House press secretary for the Obama administration, and for one of his final interviews he sat down with Stephen Colbert to share his frustrations and regrets about the job.

Carney was press secretary for three years, which made him the longest-serving White House spokesman since the mid-’90s. It was a fact Carney was not aware of when he took the job, even though he had once covered the White House for Time magazine during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies.

It was contentious exchanges with the media that were a factor in making the job a high burnout one, and Colbert didn’t give Carney a breather. The faux conservative host seemed intent on focusing on Carney’s regrets and mistakes. And Carney went along.

As Carney explained, “I’m a glutton for punishment... There’s nothing better, I find, than a really contentious briefing to make my day.”

His biggest mistake? Occasionally taking the bait and getting testy with a reporter, something that never looks good on TV, where only one side of the exchange is visible.

But was Carney tempted to tell off the press in his final briefing on Thursday? Actually, yes he was.

What was Carney tempted to say to them? Colbert had some ideas, but we can’t print them here. Watch the entire interview, racy language and all, here.

Carney’s replacement, his longtime deputy Josh Earnest, gives his first daily press briefing today.