The Five Greatest Gaffes Of Rick Perry’s Campaign

Slideshow

by Jon Bershad | 1:00 pm, January 19th, 2012

» 50 comments

Well, there goes another one. Rick Perry, has left the 2012 campaign trail.

Perry came into the race like a whirlwind. And why wouldn’t he? After a few years of “change” that has left many Americans disillusioned, here was a Texas governor with great employment stats who literally looked and sounded exactly like Josh Brolin imitating George W. Bush. However, once Perry started appearing at debates, the gaffes started piling up and people were left thinking more of Will Ferrell than Brolin.

Yes, Rick Perry had some pretty tremendous gaffes. However, like fellow former candidate Herman Cain, there was just something likable about Perry’s mistakes. I mean, how could you hate Will Ferrell? As I said during a write up of one of these gaffes, Perry really put proof to the old chestnut about “a guy you could have a beer with.”

The only problem was that America looked at Perry and realized they had absolutely zero desire for their bumbling drinking buddy to get anywhere near the White House.

However, now that his campaign is over, perhaps we should sit back, relax, pop one of those beers open if we’ve got ‘em, and celebrate the six oopsiest moments of Rick Perry’s campaign.

You are seeing this message because you have javascript disabled. To use our slideshows you need to enable javascript. There's no cross domain hackery or tracking voodoo, it's just some sweet jQuery animations. Please, think of the animations.

In the meantime, enjoy the html version below. I guess. If that's your thing.

Number One: Perry Calls the Turks Terrorists, Initiates International Incident

The first chink in Rick Perry's armor was always his debate performance. His early supporters were disheartened to see him look alternately bored, sleepy, and confused. Not exactly the Romney killer they were expecting. And some of his answers were...interesting. And, during what we now know is Perry's last debate, he gave us a doozy. He called Turkey's leaders Islamic terrorists, said they should be kicked out of NATO, and started an international incident with the nation's leaders calling his comments "unfortunate" and its media simply calling him an "idiot". We call this "going out strong."

Number Two: Perry Gets Asked Question he Doesn't Know the Answer to, Tries to Answer it Anyway

Ah, here's the gaffe that inspired my beer drinking comments I mentioned before.
During a town hall meeting, Perry was asked about a Supreme Court case and clearly didn't know what it was. However, he decided to try to answer it anyway. The result was a two and half minute bit of rambling that seemed to come straight out of an uncomfortable episode of The Office. Perry could have just admitted he didn't remember the case (he came close a couple times) and moved on. After all, he's only human, we don't expect him to remember everything (we'll disregard the fact that this case was an important one from his own state). He didn't though, and gaffe fans will thank him for it.

Number Three: Uh...

The third oopsiest moment is...uh...something about Perry's...the thing with the...huh. I seem to have forgotten this one. We'll come back.

Number Four: Perry Compares the Oppression of Gays to the Oppression of...Christian School Children

From the beginning of the campaign, it appeared that the far right religious fundamentalists in America had two Dick's (or Richard's, or Rick's) to choose from; Santorum or Perry. When Perry began the race, he was coming off strong from a huge (and hugely controversial) prayer rally. However, in the time that followed, he didn't seem to focus as much on socially conservative areas as one might have expected. But, as he began to dip, his campaign made the decision to go back at it hard with a video called "Strong" that ended up being one of the most poorly received ads of the past few years. In it, Perry tries to claim that there's something wrong in America because gays can join the military but schoolchildren aren't allowed to celebrate Christmas. Um...what?
Unlike the other gaffes on this list, this ad didn't inspire jovial laughs and talk show jokes. It inspired absolute fury. The ad quickly became one of the most disliked videos on the entirety of YouTube and, for the week that followed, it was completely obliterated by the Internet. Even people who weren't following the campaign now knew Perry's name...and they didn't like him.

Number Five: Perry Gives Speech, Nation Wonders If He's Drunk

Here was the first gaffe that people assumed would end Perry's campaign. As we know, it wouldn't be the last.
Perry, who had been dinged for appearing stiff and not engaging during debates, tried to rectify that at a Cornerstone event. He gave a 25 minute speech where he told jokes, made funny voices, and appeared to have a great time. Good, right? No. Within hours, the country was wondering aloud if he was drunk, on pills, or suffering from a mental disorder. Exactly the kind of president we're looking for.

Number Three (Second Try): Perry's World Famous 'Oops' Moment

Ah, now I remember what the third one was!
We've already talked a bit about Perry's debate troubles, but this was the moment that crystallized his whole campaign. This was the gaffe rubicon. There was no coming back from this one.
When asked which three governmental agencies he would end, Perry quickly named the first two and then just stopped. He scrambled for a few moments, desperately attempting to remember the third one. Ron Paul even tried to help him out. And then, like manna from Comedy Heaven, he offered up the one word heard 'round the world; "oops."
The moment became an absolute phenomenon. Talk show hosts were laughing about it, the other candidates were laughing about it, Perry himself was laughing about it. However, in the midst of all the fun, the "oops" moment bolstered talk that maybe Perry just wasn't ready for this.

Rick Perry

Anonymous

Oh no…

Rick, Rick, Rick!!!

It sounds oh so familiar…

Well, you shot yourself in the foot so many times…

Still, at least you have three ideas that you can now remember…
OSTL

Yes, cause we all know this is the first time any politician has ever made any “oooppses” right? Like giving half a billion to a failing company who in turn fired most of their employees of which 900 are still on unemployment?

OOOOPS!
Anonymous

Poor old Rick…

…Maybe he’ll have another go at it in four years or go hunting instead!
Charles Ulysses Feney

Adios Ricky boy.

Rumors Of Strange Bed Fellows In Texas In 2004
(P.C. version)

A Texas RINO Governor named Rick Perry
Got busted bedding his State Secretary.
His wife couldn’t handle
A nasty gay scandal
Like Idaho’s “wide stance” Senator Larry!

Perry likes to pray, and talk of matters straight
But she caught him with his Secretary of State.
His wife felt disgraced
That she’d been displaced
‘Cause Rick had some needs that she couldn’t sate!

Soon after the sordid tale hit he press
The Bilderburgs stepped in to suppress
All these gay Perry rumors
Which are electoral tumors
So they brought in the Rove for finesse.

He issued an immediate repudiation
And arranged his lovers resignation
‘Cause the Bilderburg goal
Of a Perry Presidential role
Won’t be blocked by Rick’s back door infatuation.

When Perry prays, he’s playin’ you for a fool
He only practices the top half of the Golden Rule.
He now awaits his chance
To “widen out” his stance
And as President, offer to push in America’s stool!
______________________
Charles Ulysses Feney
http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

My guess, he will shoot a werewolf that will then turn magically into his neighbors dog.
Anonymous

Politicians who eat corndogs are so silly….I dont vote for politicians who eat corndogs….Thank you mediaite for showing me that Rick Perry is one of those types…..
OSTL

This your first primary, child?
Anonymous

…Grow up!
Anonymous

I guess if he was black and surrounded by terrorists, degenerates, and marxists, his mistakes would be written off as people just hating for hate. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the privilege of being black, I suppose.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G6WAK2FDYYCIIKQGXD5BLQORHY Not a happy camper

Man, after sucking on that corndog, he could hardly wash the sweet sticky taste of Santorum out of his maw.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G6WAK2FDYYCIIKQGXD5BLQORHY Not a happy camper

Meh. Don’t blame Mediaite; it’s those homophobic repubes that wouldn’t vote for the guy slurping on that huge log.
Anonymous

Just how he hasn’t shot himself while cleaning his gun(a euphism if I ever heard one) or shot his foot while hunting, I have no idea.
Anonymous

Jon,
May I assume that your choice of photographs says something about your orientation and might be affecting your professional objectivity? You should be called in for a review by your publisher. I like a lot of what goes on at mediaite, and making fun of politicians is part of what makes it a great site, but what you have done here belongs on some porn site. I hope your boss pulls your ticket.
Anonymous

I’m going to miss old Rick, the Koch’s will have to put him out to pasture after this.
http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

Normally loaded with blanks?
Anonymous

Please enjoy the note I wrote to Dan Abrams.

Dan,
Please Review Jon’s Post for inapproprate Pornographic imagery

The Five Oopsiest Moments Of Rick Perry’s Campaign http://www.mediaite.com/online/the-five-oopsiest-moments-of-rick-perrys-campaign/
It should be removed, Jon should be fired, and his work area disinfected. If you defend his choice of humor and it continues, I would be disappointed with you’re otherwise great site.Wayne Harropson
http://twitter.com/John_Cary John Cary

get a life, church lady
Anonymous

Like going to Iraq….

OOOPS…
Anonymous

I don’t see anything pornographic….
Anonymous

need a Kleenex?
Anonymous

Thanks for replying.

Wayne
Anonymous

Thanks for your reply

Wayne
Anonymous

I wonder if Perry was doing down on the Texas Attorney General when he got caught by his wife like is going down on that corndog.
Anonymous

Jon,
I guess the joke’s on me isn’t it.
The following is what I got back from comments to Dan Abrams:

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at srv02.mediaite.com.

I’m afraid I wasn’t able to deliver your message to the
following addresses.

This is a permanent error; I’ve given up. Sorry it didn’t
work out.

:

74.125.93.26 does not like recipient

I tried two email addresses, both with the same result.
You have to admit, that’s pretty funny.
Wayne
Anonymous

where in commenter WayneHarropson confuses Mediaite writer Jon Bershad for Mediaite commenter MrPorkChops
Anonymous

Sorry, I sould have originated a new post directed at Jon if that is what you are talking about.
My focus is on Jon posting the photograph(s), and that Jon should be fired. That is my only discussion. The graphic(s) for Jon’s story should be below Mediaite standards and if not it would be unfortunate. The graphics incited comments that fulfill the graphics intent that adds credence to my concern but is secondary to my complaint that the photos are used at all. If the publisher isn’t ashamed of it then so be it. Pork Chops comment is secondary. I sy Mediaite is better that this.
Anonymous

LOL.

I sometimes wonder where the commenters on mediaite come from.

Are you serious? Or are you trying to do some kind of parody gimmick post, wayne?
Anonymous

One word…

fool.
Anonymous

I think Perry was a Democratic plant to make Republicans look like fvcking idiots.
Anonymous

We tried but literally could not find anybody else that dumb.
Anonymous

Juan,

If you like the graphic, and the slanderous and profane intentions behind the graphic, and the fact that it is posted by a professional journalist from Mediaite, then… you like it. I want to think someone in the organization might see it the way I do and fire Jon. No parody, just a call for common decency. There are a lot of really funny things about Rick Perry, but this display says everything about Mediaite and Jon, but absolutely nothing about Perry.
Anonymous

I forgot to mention the entertainment value of the bounce notice I got from the contact Dan Abrams link.
It says it doesn’t like me. This is pasted in:
:
74.125.93.26 does not like recipient
Henry Wood

Are you suggesting that Rick Perry does porn?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bart-Morgay/100001554351938 Bart Morgay

Only Sarah Palin surpassed Rick Perry in clueless buffoonery.
Anonymous

My personal favorite…….

“Was it was before he was before the social programs..uhm from the standpoint of he was for ahm… standing up for Roe vs Wade before he was against vers uh… Roe vs Wade uhm… he was uhm… for race to the top uhm… he’s… for Obama care now he’s against it.” -Rick Perry

Gonna miss you brother, the clown car won’t be the same without ya’. Thanks for the memories.
Mo Fokker

Not Colby Hall of Clear Channel Communications’ fame?
Anonymous

…Thanks indeed!
Anonymous

Has Jon been fired yet?
Anonymous

Unemployment with no end in sight.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5Z42WUZYWC5HB5FMZR4UKI6PCY Alex1110

Rick maybe done for now but I’m sure he’ll be back. And next time he’ll remember all 3 branches of Government that he’d like to eliminate IF he becomes the President of the U.S. (that is a big IF)
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5Z42WUZYWC5HB5FMZR4UKI6PCY Alex1110

Rick maybe done for now but I’m sure he’ll be back. And next time he’ll remember all 3 branches of Government that he’d like to eliminate IF he becomes the President of the U.S. (that is a big IF)
Anonymous

..Because companies are sitting on $2 trillion and not using it to hire so that Obama looks bad and Romney waltzes into the White House so that he and a Republican Congress can push through more deregulation and tax breaks/subsidies for said corporations.
Anonymous

..Because companies are sitting on $2 trillion and not using it to hire so that Obama looks bad and Romney waltzes into the White House so that he and a Republican Congress can push through more deregulation and tax breaks/subsidies for said corporations.
Anonymous

So how do you explain Bachmann, Cain, Newt and Santorum? LOL

Damn the Dems sent in a lot of plants.

BTW I understand that your post is sarcasm.
Anonymous

Are you sure?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5Z42WUZYWC5HB5FMZR4UKI6PCY Alex1110

Whoever took this pic of Perry should be awarded with a Nobel prize! That’s aweful because it shows exactly what Perry projected his image in the public ie he s.cks!
Anonymous

“does not like recipient” LOL! I don’t blame them. What do you do when a real problem comes along?
Anonymous

Have you adjusted your meds yet?
Anonymous

Yea I thought it was funny too
Anonymous

They’re dialed in just right.

Thanks.