Behind the Headlines

By Stephanie Ariganello; stephaniea@monroenews.com

I came across this while googling something completely different.

Here’s the list as posted in the WP forums online:
“Upon reading these quotes you may wonder, “Did they really say that?!”… the answer is yes…unfortunately, they really did. Let me know if you agree with my personal picks and feel free to share your own favorites (because there really is no shortage of embarrassing comments made by politicians).

10. “I don’t care what people are saying Uptown or wherever they are. This city will be chocolate at the end of the day.” Ray Nagin (2006) (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/smn.01.html)

9. “When I was in England I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn’t like it and didn’t inhale and never tried it again.” Bill Clinton (1992) (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0312/29/lol.08.html)

8. “Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know.” Donald Rumsfeld (2002) (http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=2636)

7. “I think with a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, you can’t play, you know, hide the salami, or whatever it’s called.” Howard Dean (2005)
(http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2005/10/dean_pops_off.html

6. “I’m a fairly wide guy.” Larry Craig (2007)
(http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/30/craig.transcript/index.html)

5.“Too many OB/GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.” George W. Bush (2004)
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040906-4.html)

4.“To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don’t be economic girlie men.” Arnold Schwarzenegger (2004)
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7203-2004Oct4.html)

3.“I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” John Kerry (2004)
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/debatereferee/debate_1008.html)

2.“I have a record in office, as well. And all Americans have seen that record. September the 4th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It’s a day I will never forget.” George W. Bush (2004)
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/10/20041018-11.html)

1. “During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.” Al Gore (1999)
(http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/03/09/president.2000/transcript.gore/ ”

It made me think, does Monroe County have any quotes from politicos or other public figures that stand out as so cringe-inducing or ironic? I couldn’t come up with any immediately, but I’m sure, given time, anyone could come up with at least one.

What about you? Do you remember being appalled, shocked or amazed at something a local public figure said?