The race for the GOP presidential nomination has been a gold mine of foot-in-mouth moments. Whether they’re forgetting essential parts of their campaign platforms or looking for answers on the ceiling, it seems comic relief is only a debate away.
Here are the nine best gaffes of 2011. Why nine instead of ten? We’re leaving one slot open in case Donald Trump gets into the race.
9. Bachmann mistakes John Quincy Adams for one of the founding fathers
In an interview with ABC, Bachmann said that the founding fathers “worked tirelessly to end slavery,” although slavery was written into the Constitution and was not abolished until decades later.
She also referred to John Quincy Adams as one of the founding fathers, although he was only nine years old at the time of the Declaration of Independence’s signing.
8. Rick Perry thinks there are eight Supreme Court justices, can’t pronounce “Sotomayor”
During a meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board, Perry fumbled the pronunciation of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Later on in the interview, he mistakenly said that there are “eight unelected and frankly unaccountable judges” on the high court. (There are nine.)
7. Bachmann is proud to share Iowa roots with a serial killer
During an early campaign stop in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, Bachmann told a TV reporter that she promised to channel the spirit of hometown hero John Wayne. And although we think she meant the actor, the only person by that name from Waterloo is John Wayne Gacy — the infamous serial killer.
6. Michele Bachmann: “I haven’t had a gaffe”
On Fox News, Bachmann claimed “I haven’t had a gaffe.” Numbers nine and seven on this list prove otherwise.
5. Rick Perry thinks the voting age is 21
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMq_3jQ2YdwAt a rally in New Hampshire, Perry called on the support of everyone in the audience who will be “21 on Nov. 8th.” (You 18-year-olds can prove him wrong next year.)
4. Mitt gets handsy
The usually buttoned-up and boring Romney displayed a rare moment of silliness when he pretended that a waitress grabbed his rear-end during a campaign stop. His attempt at humor came across as just plain awkward.
3. Herman Cain is a foreign policy expert
Cain said that the Chinese “have indicated that they are trying to develop nuclear capability.” China has had nuclear weapons since 1964.
2. Rick Perry has a “senior moment”
In one of the most unforgettable GOP debate moments, Perry tried to list the three agencies he would cut if he were elected president. But he went nearly silent for an entire 40 seconds before mustering an answer — and still failed to name the third agency. He did, however, offer a contrite “Oops.”
1. Herman Cain forgets what happened in Libya
If only there were no such thing as videotape. During a meeting with the editorial board of a Wisconsin newspaper, Cain was asked if he agreed with Obama’s decision on Libya. Cain scrambled to come up with an answer — any answer.
The painfully long five-minute video makes Perry’s pause look like a commercial break.