Like the 3 branches of government. Lets all be honest, if Bush, Palin, Christine O'Donnell or any other conservative made this gaff, the media would have a field day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG0Jpu9geWY

2/5/2011 10:29:42 AM

I think the main difference between this and the other three you mentioned is that he will almost certainly, if he hasn't already, say something along the lines of "Whoops, I misspoke, I'm a retard." Bush would never concede that he said it, Palin would double down, and Christine O'Donnell would remind you that she is not a witch.

Hey, remember when Dick Cheney repeatedly insisted that the office of the Vice President was actually part of the double-secret fourth branch of the federal government? Like, over and over again?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1636435,00.html

2/5/2011 10:44:39 AM

I expected a thread about trying to drive a Civic.

2/5/2011 3:04:10 PM

^^ Eh, while it's stupid to be up in arms about either way, Schumer is the type of asshole who wouldn't apologize.

That said, are we really surprised anymore that our politicians don't actually know civics or the constitution? I thought it was pretty much a given that 98% of these guys pretty much think the government is and can do whatever they want it to.

2/5/2011 4:04:51 PM

I'd hope he doesn't literally mean "The" three branches and just made a gaffe, but it wouldn't surprise if he literally meant it.

2/5/2011 4:27:43 PM

Watching media coverage, it's too easy to think that the three branches of the Federal government are the House, the Senate, and the Presidency, and that the judiciary merely acts as a sort of auxiliary brake while the various agencies and departments are mere underlings who aren't integral to the major role of government: Debating and passing bills.

2/5/2011 5:15:39 PM

Quote :

"I think the main difference between this and the other three you mentioned is that he will almost certainly, if he hasn't already, say something along the lines of "Whoops, I misspoke, I'm a retard." Bush would never concede that he said it, Palin would double down, and Christine O'Donnell would remind you that she is not a witch."

irrelevant. the media still isn't having a field day with it. so the original point is still valid

2/5/2011 5:23:47 PM

OMG, I LOVE FIELD DAYS

2/5/2011 5:39:02 PM

Quote :

"That said, are we really surprised anymore that our politicians don't actually know civics or the constitution? I thought it was pretty much a given that 98% of these guys pretty much think the government is and can do whatever they want it to."

Nailed it

2/5/2011 6:50:24 PM

MOst people don't know who chuck schumer is.

They might pretend to laugh at him just to seem cool, but really they'll be thinking, "who's charles schumer?"

Where as for Palin or Bush, most people know them. Not sure about O'Donnell, i doubt most people would know her, but more people for sure than schumer.

2/5/2011 7:15:20 PM

1. It's Chuck Schumer, not Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.
2. It doesn't represent ignorance. If given a moment to think, he would most likely have immediately changed his statement to "three groups involved" or just added the judiciary to the list.
3. It doesn't represent malice. He is not trying to deceive people into forgetting about the judiciary branch.
4. The gaffe doesn't represent the crux of his argument or a major part his world view.
5. Joe Biden. He's a gaffe factory, and everybody loves to bash him.
6. Megyn Kelly did a segment on his gaffe, which got a video post and a write-up in the Atlantic Wire:

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Video-How-Come-We-Didnt-All-Make-Fun-of-Chuck-Schumer-6847/

Kelly suspects it is sexism that leads folks like Palin and Bachmann to get called out and not Schumer. Why don't we take a look at one of Bachmann's "gaffes" and see if we can't figure this thing out:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=81734

2/5/2011 8:32:13 PM

Quote :

"3. It doesn't represent malice. He is not trying to deceive people into forgetting about the judiciary branch. 4. The gaffe doesn't represent the crux of his argument or a major part his world view."

are why its not the same as o'donnell, palin, or bachmann

2/5/2011 8:36:49 PM

There is a difference between smart people misspeaking and stupid people saying stupid things.

No one who isn't a complete partisan hack thinks Chuck Schumer doesn't know what the three branches of government are, or, for that, matter, that Barack Obama thinks there are 52 states or whatever.

This is a different category of gaff from the Palin/Bachmann/O'Donnell model, which is an actual reflection of real ignorance and/or conspiracy-minded paranoia.

[Edited on February 6, 2011 at 1:35 PM. Reason : ]

2/6/2011 1:30:52 PM

Bridget pretty much nailed it

2/6/2011 2:19:34 PM

Gaffe or not, Chuck Schumer can go to hell.

2/6/2011 4:46:21 PM

is it because he's a jew

2/6/2011 5:00:41 PM

Bridget wins.

2/7/2011 1:33:45 PM

Quote :

"This is a different category of gaff from the Palin/Bachmann/O'Donnell model, which is an actual reflection of real ignorance and/or conspiracy-minded paranoia. "

Come on, man.

Let me be clear: If Palin, Bachmann, or O'Donnell run for anything I can vote on, I will vote against them.

But still, the broad implication that they are too stupid to recognize the branches of government is not helpful.

[Edited on February 8, 2011 at 12:47 AM. Reason : ]

2/8/2011 12:47:16 AM