Ron Paul: I Wasn't Trying To Embarrass Rick Perry With 'Oops' Moment At GOP Debate

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Ron Paul said he didn't mean to embarrass fellow Texan Rick Perry when Perry forgot, during a debate, one of the three federal agencies he wants to abolish.

Paul held up five fingers as Perry groped for words, and the video has been viewed thousands of times online since Wednesday's Republican debate.

Paul, a Texas congressman, said in an interview Saturday with The Associated Press that he wasn't piling on and that Perry had "a human reaction." Paul said he was trying to bring up his own proposal to abolish five federal agencies.

"But when he talked about three departments, the thing that flashed through my mind was, `But I'm for five.' That's why I held up five fingers. Only three?" Paul said.

Paul has heaped plenty of criticism on Perry, the Texas governor, and did so again during Wednesday's debate. But Paul said he offered sympathy as the candidates left the stage.

"I said: `You know, we all do that, you know,'" Paul said. "But I said: `You're not supposed to do it on national television.'"

Paul spoke to a crowd of more than 200 Saturday at a veterans event in Spartanburg, where he and Perry and other GOP candidates were appearing at a debate on foreign policy in the evening.

Comments

[Heru1]

08:29 PM on 11/13/2011

Aw...poor dumb oppressor

[minusjason]

07:36 PM on 11/13/2011

I didn't really need this article... it's clear that Paul wasn't trying to embarrass him. Paul hasn't really tried to embarrass anyone. Unfortunately he doesn't get into the debate mentality of interrupting and berating people. It hurts him in most peoples' eyes.

[Alfonzo Bigote]

02:38 PM on 11/18/2011

I see his soft spoken modesty as something of a plus, but it's true that most people do not. More people will notice Bachmann yelling at the moderator so she can get a word in, or Santorum jumping all over everyone's speaking time like a rude fool

[minusjason]

08:45 PM on 11/21/2011

I know. And I hate it. I see them all bickering, and I see Paul, calm and patiently waiting his turn. Not submissive, but simply respectful. I love it about him, but honestly I think it's hurting him more in this race than even his more extreme ideas.

[Gough Lewis]

07:15 PM on 11/13/2011

Our elites cannot let Ron Paul win the presidency - He represents all of the qualities that made this country great to begin with. If he were to win, it would literally set back their agenda 100 years. They are desperate to undermine any chance he may have of victory. If necessary, they wouldn't hesitate to assassinate Paul if he comes too close to winning. Ron, if it becomes obvious that you are winning, watch your back!

[Heru1]

08:31 PM on 11/13/2011

Yeah he's proslavery!

[brandonslayton]

10:01 AM on 11/14/2011

example? That is obviously a fabrication.

[had410]

10:10 PM on 11/15/2011

you're proignorance

[somewhatodd]

07:07 PM on 11/13/2011

ron paul looks like corpse that escaped from a mortuary.

[Jason Crittenten]

07:52 PM on 11/14/2011

You'll probably be dead at his age.

[somewhatodd]

08:09 PM on 11/14/2011

most people are.

[Alfonzo Bigote]

02:41 PM on 11/18/2011

I thought people liked their leaders to be older and more experienced. there's probably a reason you don't see too many sleek and young presidents in their mid twenties

[somethinggood]

01:45 PM on 11/13/2011

RP is half wit, 10% of what he says makes sense and is what other politicians would not say, so consequently a lot of disenfranchised and marginalized people (mostly uneducated white men) flock to him with gullible eyes eating up his populist platitudes and self serving constitutional double speak... he preys on the white poor and their often ra cist sensibilities. Ron Paul is not a serious man.

[brandonslayton]

10:04 AM on 11/14/2011

You post is filled with detail examples of how Ron Paul is not serious. My only question is, are you serious? WOW.

At least qive us an example of something real. The military takes Ron Paul seriously. He receives more donations from those in the military than any other candidate combined. Google it.

You, are more than a half wit. You are the real deal.

[Alfonzo Bigote]

02:43 PM on 11/18/2011

I call shenanigans on your statistics. there's no such thing as an uneducated white man...But if I could be serious for a second, if you can only appropriate 10% of what he's saying as sensible and original, you're clearly not paying attention.

[chuck nathaniel]

12:44 PM on 11/13/2011

Want some insight into GOP politics? Talk to former President of the Spartanburg county Republican party, Rick Beltram about how the libertarians and tea party wingnut's have taken over the party. Look him up.

[RecreationalPilot]

12:00 PM on 11/13/2011

He's starting to remind me of Grandpa, from The Munsters, more and more.

If you see him wearing the Fregosi Emerald, beware!

[Swiftyfish]

11:11 AM on 11/13/2011

Ron, don't worry about the embarrassment Perry does it all by himself. By the way, his comment uh,umm,umm was the best, most congruent, productive comment by any of you since the debates started! Cups half full!

[Koiquoe]

10:51 AM on 11/13/2011

I think when Perry was initially stuck and could not name the third agency, Paul handed him a life-line by the five-agency gesture. It automatically became a funny moment when Perry jokingly agreed with Paul and everybody laughed and that embarassing moment was supposed to be over with. I, in fact, thought Paul did this deliberately to save Perry from an awkward moment. It would have been less severe at that point, but It was pressing of the issue by the moderator that really highlighted Perry's failure. Whether intentionally or otherwise, Paul's gestured helped Perry.

[Hardyman1966]

10:46 AM on 11/13/2011

If I were a Republican, I'd be looking for scotch right about now. 

[chuck nathaniel]

12:45 PM on 11/13/2011

If I were a Republican, I would wonder why none of the candidates are electable, while all the electable ones like Christie dont want to run.

[cassini1]

07:00 PM on 11/13/2011

I'm just fine looking at all these losers. It'll probably come down to the king-flipper Mitt Romney, but he is so unoriginal and bland, that Obama will quite possibly prevail for another 4 years. I frankly wish we had some better choices in the democratic arena as well.

[wikwox]

10:35 AM on 11/13/2011

I have a dream: Impose what Ron Paul wants for the federal government and America on his district in Texas. See how they like it and if thier dumb enough to vote for it yet again.

[sajc05]

11:01 AM on 11/13/2011

ummm, not only did you use the wrong word, but you spelled it incorrectly. Please don't call other people dumb if you can't complete simple sentences.

[Alfonzo Bigote]

02:47 PM on 11/18/2011

Not only does that literally make no sense, but it contradicts itself in only one sentence! Even if he did have the power to impose his libertarian ideology, how could his views for FEDERAL govt be applied to his DISTRICT?? I ask you to please think things through before saying such nonsense. I fear your future may depend on it.

[consindenial]

10:26 AM on 11/13/2011

Liar...Ron Paul was more than happy to pile on Perry, and he should. It was a debate, not a mutual admiration society meeting. The Teapublicans are such a bunch of liars...

[chuck nathaniel]

12:46 PM on 11/13/2011

pile on?

MEthinks you have no basis for input.

[Stephen McAbee]

05:33 PM on 11/13/2011

Ron Paul will when on the issues. He doesn't need to pile on.

[somewhatodd]

10:16 AM on 11/13/2011

ron paul looks like an animated corpse. and rick doesn't look much healthier, and mitt's eyes are sunken and dark like a goule, which in a way, he is.

[lebec]

11:15 AM on 11/13/2011

well, you look like a cow... so there

[chuck nathaniel]

01:24 PM on 11/13/2011

Any kind of informed, substantive rebuttal of Paul's ideas, or just his age?

[oliver clothesov]

10:16 AM on 11/13/2011

5 departments, Ricky! Department of Energy, Education, HUD, Commerce, Interior and the Orwellian TSA!

Rick Perry treats this like a memorization class. Ron Paul believes in his policy and knows what he is talking about. Big difference

RON PAUL 2012

[pcflamingo]

11:24 AM on 11/13/2011

Of course Ron Paul believes in his policy. He's a true believer just like the guy in my town that stands outside Safeway and argues with invisible people. Both are equally likely to be elected President.

[Maria Pellio]

12:35 PM on 11/13/2011

no we elect people that start wars and kill brown people, sign executive orders to assassinate American citizens, then their awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, it's like the more people you kill the better chance you have to win that award. Sick joke being played out globally.

[somethinggood]

01:46 PM on 11/13/2011

"black males age 13 who have been raised on the streets and who have joined criminal gangs are as big, strong, tough, scary and culpable as any adult and should be treated as such." - Ron Paul”

[Stephen McAbee]

05:34 PM on 11/13/2011

Source please?

[mpilkanis]

10:00 AM on 11/13/2011

I'd say you both made asses of yourselves, fingers notwithstanding.