November 11th, 2011
06:20 PM ET

Oops! Share your stories of Rick Perry-style brain freeze

Let's face it. We've all had our flubs or gaffes or "stepped in it" before. But when you're running for president of the United States, it just seems a whole lot worse.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been the butt of just a few jokes since his failed attempt Wednesday night to name three federal agencies he'd like to get rid of. His last word on the matter has been dubbed "the 'oops' heard round the world."

Sure, many a politician before him has frozen in front of the camera, from Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to former President George Bush, who stared into space in a fruitless effort to name his "biggest mistake." There's even a scientific explanation for it: a "retrieval failure" in a moment exacerbated by stress, according to The Washington Post.

Now in damage control overdrive, Perry has been trying to make people laugh with him as he smiles and jokes his way through interviews, culminating in an appearance Thursday on the Tonight Show with David Letterman.

His campaign even sought to do some fund-raising off the gaffe, encouraging supporters to send $5 for every government agency they "would like to forget."

How about you? What's been your most embarrassing pregnant pause? We promise not to tell!

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Filed under: Rick Perry
soundoff (207 Responses)
  1. bookgirl

    Clearly related to Sarah Palin. Brainless ninny.

    November 12, 2011 at 9:46 am | Report abuse |
    • palintwit

      Yes indeed.

      November 12, 2011 at 9:56 am | Report abuse |
  2. Dot Keller

    And maybe it is the sign of something much worse. Maybe it is Alzheimer's disease and maybe he needs to be screened. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides.

    November 12, 2011 at 9:50 am | Report abuse |
  3. tensor

    Need to first have a brain for it to freeze up. None in the GOP line up is big on brains, heart, or soul.

    November 12, 2011 at 9:59 am | Report abuse |
  4. Ytiruces

    Yeah, we all have flubs, gaffes, and brain freezes from time to time, but we're not all RUNNING FOR FREAKING PRESIDENT.

    November 12, 2011 at 10:14 am | Report abuse |
    • Asleep in Minnesota

      And, are not on a CNN live debate that is set to be broadcast around the country – along with the world. God help us all!

      November 12, 2011 at 10:55 am | Report abuse |
    • Southerner01

      Didn't seem to hurt Obama. 57 states, intercontinental railroad, Navy corpse-man, "I don't know what the term is in Austrian, "John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith" saying he was in St. Louis when he was in Kansas City, "Israel is a strong friend of Israel's", "10,000 people died" in the tornado in KS that killed 12. I could go on, but I think the point is clear.

      November 12, 2011 at 10:57 am | Report abuse |
    • Jay

      I'm with Ytiruces. Why do you people insist on apologizing for Perry's gargantuan flub? Yes, everybody misspeaks once in a while. Yes, Obama said "57 states" once. But Obama knew the right answer was 50. Ask me which three agencies Perry would ax, and I might forget one, but I haven't been carefully considering my own draconian plan to greatly modify the U.S. government. The problem here, I think, is that neither was Perry.

      November 12, 2011 at 10:59 am | Report abuse |
  5. Kerry

    Lets face it.....Perry is not the only GOP candidate to make a fool of himself. I would say they are all equally ridiculous in their own way. Thank goodness for the Tea Party, they forced the GOP to admit their true agenda and beliefs....and the world shuddered in response. The majority of Americans do not want extreme behavior. Moderation is the key....something the GOP does not have an abundance of.

    November 12, 2011 at 10:19 am | Report abuse |
  6. Ted greene

    I understand....but not for ......Presi?ent.......is that a "D" or "G"...help me!

    November 12, 2011 at 10:29 am | Report abuse |
  7. Scottish Mama

    And the gaffes just keep on coming!

    November 12, 2011 at 10:31 am | Report abuse |
  8. CDaeda

    Brain freeze for Texans is caused by oil refinery pollution. Sulphur gets in the air from refinery operations and causes all kinds of senility symptoms. The brain freeze in his case happened at a bad moment while encouraging elimination of pollution standards.

    November 12, 2011 at 10:32 am | Report abuse |
  9. petena

    Now lets see: Obama wants a jobs bill, has given us medical insurance, taken care of Osama Bin Laden, passed don't ask don't tell, has put a hispanic on the Supreme Court, has not let the economy tank. has positioned the US back as a respected country around the world. What is Perry, Bachman, Romney Cain and the rest of the GOP circus offering?

    November 12, 2011 at 10:32 am | Report abuse |
  10. Martin

    The tone of this article is off. Not everyone has a brain freeze a la Rick Perry when they have a major public appearance. Some people prepare themsleves adequately, have notes, and know how to recover when it happens. The man doesn't have natural grace and intelligence and isn't prepared for national public off. Stop acting as if it happens to everyone...

    November 12, 2011 at 10:35 am | Report abuse |
  11. Scottish Mama

    @petena Gaffes?(laughs)

    November 12, 2011 at 10:35 am | Report abuse |
  12. N49

    Consider this a job interview. You screwed up...sorry...next.

    November 12, 2011 at 10:39 am | Report abuse |
  13. Texan

    People forget things. It is just human. Politicians are human, hopefully.
    The current president is not perfect either. Check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws

    November 12, 2011 at 10:40 am | Report abuse |
  14. Paul Hammett

    Lets not refer to this as a Rick Perry moment or oops. It deserves its own historiic phrase. The brain freeze should be referred to from now on as the "Perry Pause".

    November 12, 2011 at 10:49 am | Report abuse |
  15. Asleep in Minnesota

    That Sarah Palin wrote something in her hand to remember something reminds me of my 15 year old son. If he needs to remember something OR even if he needs to write down a phone number and has no paper, he uses his hand or his arm. It's quite funny. Who knows what Sarah Palin wrote on HER hand...what's for dinner...what anniversary gift to get hubby...remembering to change Trig's diaper...to stop at the dry cleaners on the way home...any number of things. So, Rick Perry? An option is to write it on your hand but, please, don't confuse it with anything your wife wants you to pick up on the way home. >.<

    November 12, 2011 at 10:53 am | Report abuse |
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