Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Gaffes Examples: 2011

EXAMPLES AND ANALYSIS: 2011 Gaffes
BLITZER: I'm Wolf Blitzer and yes, that's my real name. I'll be your moderator this evening and I'm happy to welcome each one of you to our debate.

ROMNEY: I'm Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name.
-- Former Gov. Mitt Romney, November 22, 2011, during GOP presidential primary debate hosted by CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

Comment: Romney's first name isn't "Mitt". His full name is Willard Mitt Romney.

***
"Most of all, Admiral Mullen, Deborah, Michael and I also want to also acknowledge your son Jack, who’s deployed today. All of you have performed extraordinary service to our country."
-- President Barack Obama, September 30, 2011, during ceremony for outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen.

Comment: "Deborah" refers to Admiral Mullen's wife, Deborah Mullen. "Michael" seems to be a mistaken reference -- perhaps a teleprompter error -- to Obama's wife, Michelle. Perhaps, however, President Obama was referring to Admiral Mullen a second time (his name is Michael)? The cadence of Obama's words don't seem to fit that explanation. Or maybe he was referring to Admiral Mullen's other son, whose name is also Michael, and who perhaps was also attending the ceremony?

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"Tonight is the measure of whether the country begins, in the state of Wisconsin, a national drive to push back, or whether we have more to go to build a movement of resistance. But resist we much. We must and we will much about that be committed."
-- Activist and TV pundit Rev. Al Sharpton, August 9, 2011, hosting on MSNBC and reading from a teleprompter.

***
  • This bill is stupid and I know stupid [held by a woman dressed like Sarah Palin]
  • Scott Walker schoolyard bully
  • Unions our my cup of tea
-- Wisconsin protest signs from Reuters video posted February 20, 2011.

Comment: Calling former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) -- and the legislation -- "stupid" is name-calling. Saying Walker is a schoolyard bully is demonizing (akin to calling him a dictator). The last sign is just confusing.

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