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Rick Perry's Gaffes: What Was His Biggest 'Oops' Moment? (SLIDESHOW)

  Posted: 12/10/11 01:32 PM ET

No candidate in the GOP presidential field has had quite as many notable gaffes as Governor Rick Perry (R-Texas). From his infamous forgetfulness at a November debate to his apparent lack of historical knowledge, Perry's frequent flubs have become a mainstay of his campaign. He has even used his mistakes as fundraising fodder, airing an ad that referred to his "oops" moment and sending an e-mail to supporters that stated, "We've all had human moments."

Most recently, Perry forgot the name of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor during an interview with the Des Moines Register editorial board, referring to her as "Montomayor."

Here are some of Perry's memorable mistakes:

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  • "Oops"

    At the CNBC debate on November 9, Perry <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/rick-perry-oops-video_n_1085336.html" target="_hplink">famously forgot</a> one of the government agencies he would eliminate if elected: <blockquote>"It's three government agencies when I get there that are gone: Commerce, Education and the um, what's the third one there. Let's see," Perry said. He turned to Texas Rep. Ron Paul, looking for some help, but got nothing but a remark from Paul that he would eliminate five agencies. "Oh five," Perry said. "So Commerce, Education, and, uh, the uh, um, um." "EPA?" offered former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. "EPA, there ya go," Perry said as the room exploded in laughter. CNBC moderator John Harwood honed in and pressed Perry: "Seriously? Is EPA the one you were talking about?" "No sir. No sir. We were talking about the, um, agencies of government," Perry said. "The EPA needs to be rebuilt." "But you can't name the third one?" Harwood persisted. "The third agency of government," Perry said. "I would do away with the education, the um, Commerce, and let's see. I can't think of the third one. I can't. Sorry. Oops."</blockquote>

  • Voting Age Flub

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/rick-perry-gets-voting-ag_n_1119126.html" target="_hplink">During a campaign stop</a> at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, Perry got both the voting age and the date of the 2012 presidential election wrong. "Those of you that will be 21 by November the 12th, I ask for your support and your vote," he said to the students. The legal voting age has been 18 since the 26th Amendment was adopted in 1971. The general election is scheduled for November 6, 2012.

  • New Hampshire... Caucus?

    During a November <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/30/rick-perry-new-hampshire-caucus_n_1120304.html" target="_hplink">interview </a>with Fox News, Perry mistakenly referred to the New Hampshire "caucuses." When asked about the emergence of front runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, Perry responded, "Americans haven't decided yet at all who they want to lead the Republican nomination, and we're going to be talking about that and we're going to be talking about it in harsh and strong terms over the course of the next four to five weeks as we get ready for those New Hampshire caucuses." New Hampshire holds primaries, not caucuses.

  • Minimum Age To Run For President

    While speaking to Catcher Jones, a seven-year-old from Greenville, South Carolina in December, Perry flubbed the minimum age to run for president. "I'm glad you're not 21," Perry told Jones, who was wearing a t-shirt that said "Future President: Accepting Campaign Donations Now." Perry realized his mistake and added, "Or actually 35."

  • War With Iran

    After a woman in South Carolina asked Perry what he thought about current United States military operations, Perry mistakenly started talking about the wars in Afghanistan and Iran. When an audience member alerted Perry to his error, he joked that his comment "will be on the front page."

  • Revolutionary War

    Following a debate in New Hampshire, Perry met with fraternity brothers at Dartmouth College. When someone asked him about the issue of states' rights, Perry said that one of the "reasons we fought the revolution in the 16th century was to get away from that kind of onerous crown." The Revolutionary War occurred in the 18th century.

  • Decade Mix-Up

    <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OMK7La2721Y" target="_hplink">In an interview</a> with CNN last year, Perry got stuck in a time warp. "Washington has abused the Constitution. You go back to the, a decade ago, with Woodrow Wilson..." Wilson was president from 1913 to 1921.

  • Bizarre Campaign Speech

    In October, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/29/video-rick-perrys-unusual-speech-performance_n_1065571.html" target="_hplink">an unusual performance</a> at a speech in Manchester led many to question the candidate's sobriety. Perry later made a statement to dispel rumors that he was drinking or using painkillers during the speech.

  • Bush Was Good At "Defending Us From Freedom"

    During an interview with the <em>Today Show</em> last November, Perry told host Meredith Viera that "Bush did an incredible job, in the presidency, defending us from freedom."

  • "Montomayor"

    While speaking with the editorial board of the <em>Des Moines Register</em>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/09/rick-perry-gaffe-sonia-sotomayor_n_1139541.html?1323463939" target="_hplink">Perry struggled</a> to remember Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's name: <blockquote>"Do you really think he [President Barack Obama] is waging a war on religion?" asked an editorial board member, referring to Perry's recent ad pledging to "end Obama's war on religion" and "fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage" as president. "I do because when you see his appointment of two -- from my perspective, inarguably -- activist judges, whether it was," he said, then trailing off for about six seconds trying to recall her name. "Montomayor," he said. Someone on the editorial board said Sotomayor's name. "Sotomayor and [Elena] Kagan, who are both activist judges," he continued.</blockquote>

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No candidate in the GOP presidential field has had quite as many notable gaffes as Governor Rick Perry (R-Texas). From his infamous forgetfulness at a November debate to his apparent lack of historica...
No candidate in the GOP presidential field has had quite as many notable gaffes as Governor Rick Perry (R-Texas). From his infamous forgetfulness at a November debate to his apparent lack of historica...
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06:55 AM on 12/13/2011
What does Brittney Spear & Rick Perry have in commion??? Oops I did it again!!!
12:27 PM on 12/11/2011
Perry needs to explain to Republicans that the problem he has is common in states that impede EPA. As long as we get oil out of the deal it OK, right Texas.
Mort Adela
Was a trapeze artist. Until I got dropped.
09:46 AM on 12/11/2011
Every time Rick Perry opens his mouth, he takes votes away from - Rick Perry.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
08:37 AM on 12/11/2011
Many voters don't care if a candidate is dumb. Because they are dumb themselves and they want to support someone who reminds them of themselves. An extended sort of ego. And they can't see the harm in it.

The thing to do is to show people the real world link between being dumb and disaster. Dumb people like their fellow dummies. But if they can be made to see how their fellow dummies will pursue policies that could lose them their job or SS then they may not be so keen.

Democrats need to draw a clearer link between Dumb = Disaster for YOU
11:51 AM on 12/11/2011
You are exactly right . F&F
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
goodmarina
Most People use Religion to justify their bias!
08:15 AM on 12/11/2011
Yall are just now witnessing the "Oooops" us Texans have been stuck with for 10 years!

Of course, here in Texas -- history, intellectual capacity, the ability to debate and make one's political philosophy known to the Constituents hasn't always been necessary ... to most Republicans, anyway.

Sweet mercy ... after all the suffering we've been through with two back-to-back-intellectual lightweights ... it sure is nice to see Perry finally being "exposed" -- even broke-back style -- on the National stage!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Cailleach Echo
09:25 AM on 12/11/2011
I've heard that Texas is in mourning because they're getting him back. Sorry, but we will all be safer if he's someplace where we can keep an eye on him.

Would you be willing to take any of the other Clown Car Candidates? We might be able to work out some sort of payment if you could ...
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mjune
08:12 AM on 12/11/2011
Is anyone asking about Rick Perry's erratic behavior? What could cause that?
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
goodmarina
Most People use Religion to justify their bias!
08:19 AM on 12/11/2011
nerves - that he'll be outed ?
08:25 AM on 12/11/2011
Drugs? Alcohol? early on-set Alzheimers? or just plain stupidity?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ShinjiIkari
Do you understand how stupid it is to be afraid?
07:49 AM on 12/11/2011
Okay--eight SCOTUS justices, the Revolutionary War was in the 16th century; Woodrow Wilson was POTUS a decade ago ... I'm picking up on a pattern.

Has Perry been diagnosed with dysnumeria, the mathematical equivalent of dyslexia? It could be an organic or genetic condition, not just a bad case of the dummies. Still, would anyone trust a man this clumsy with numbers to make up his own budget?
05:46 AM on 12/11/2011
Too many "oops" Ricky. As Archie said to Edit, "you're a ding bat."
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02:25 AM on 12/11/2011
This guy is God's gift to comedians.
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somebody9191
At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
01:56 AM on 12/11/2011
Actually, his biggest "oops moment" was when he said, I am a candidate for President of the United States.
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stephan67
Eternity and a day
01:33 AM on 12/11/2011
Perry, we feel sorry for you.
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wolfml1
making sense out of a senseless world
01:27 AM on 12/11/2011
I'm surprised he remembered the name of the Supreme Court.
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02:35 AM on 12/11/2011
Sorry to bet off topic, but I have to ask, why do so many people use the water drop for their picture? Is it some kind of club or what? I rarely see the same icon used for two people but there must be 20 people at least on Huff-Puff with that same picture.
08:27 AM on 12/11/2011
The water drop? Means that "still waters run deep"
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wolfml1
making sense out of a senseless world
01:47 PM on 12/11/2011
Good look and it was easy. I'm literate, but not interested in becoming computer literate to the point of generating my own Avatar.
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01:22 AM on 12/11/2011
The physical and intellectual similarities between RICK PERRY and JETHRO BODINE from the old Beverly Hillbillies TV SHOW are so alike ,its hard to distinguish the 2 from each other !
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gr8abz
01:21 AM on 12/11/2011
It's sickening that a candidate could flub up so pathetically in practically every single debate and in so many public appearances then simply lean back and assume he can coast to the head of the line by way of a TV attack ad saturation campaign. Perry is a completely bought-and-paid-for puppet to big oil and big chemical. Never have I seen an emptier suit running for President. Rick Perry is a candidate incapable of intelligent decision making under pressure. If he were to sit in the oval office (which he won't) all of America would all be in for a perilous ride.
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blinkthink
Tax Wall Street Trades Now
01:09 AM on 12/11/2011
He's Confuddled, again.
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goodmarina
Most People use Religion to justify their bias!
08:20 AM on 12/11/2011
ROTFLMAO!!