# Let's suppose a Republican had said this \[Rep. Hank Johnson's Guam gaffe\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 1, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602 "2010-04-01T17:25:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/81 "2010-04-03T21:04:55Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > … but a drug misdosage would explain a temporary state. Or it could lead one to say brilliant and incisive things that other people are just too narrow-minded to understand! Just sayin’, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Maple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jeff\_Maple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Maple)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/82 "2010-04-03T22:09:55Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > [Oh really](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq-eeWow_WU)? He’s as close to the presidency as Quayle was. Eh, this guy IS the President. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EpGH02DtIws/hqdefault.jpg "Obama Claims He's Visited 57 States") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws) Another version, for giggles: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EpGH02DtIws/hqdefault.jpg "Obama Claims He's Visited 57 States") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws) ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/83 "2010-04-04T02:33:20Z")
> [@Jeff\_Maple](#): > > Eh, this guy IS the President. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws) > > Another version, for giggles: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws) Oh lord. Another person who literally believes that the Harvard-educated president of the United States thinks we have 57 states. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Maple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jeff\_Maple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Maple)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/84 "2010-04-04T02:43:38Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > Oh lord. Another person who literally believes that the Harvard-educated president of the United States thinks we have 57 states. What’s his excuse, then? Not having TOTUS yet? His hand-picked VP thinks jobs is a three letter word. Who are these clowns? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/85 "2010-04-04T04:10:26Z")
He meant to say 47. He was exhausted. It was a normal, human slip of the tongue. It stretches credulity beyond all reason to think a Harvard educated law professor, US Senator and eventual POTUS didn’t know how many states there were. Trying to pretend something like this is akin to Quayle’s “potatoe” gaffe just comes off as straining, not as cutting. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/86 "2010-04-04T04:14:04Z")
“Potatoe” is not a common misspelling for a Vice President of the United States. My understanding is that there was more than just the misspelling written on the card. Dan Q. would officially qualify as one who got left behind in my grade book. And I do not care what his political affiliation is. At the time he was selected to run with G. W. H. Bush, the scuttlebut was that he was chosen to appeal to the ladies with his good looks. How disgusting. If Johnson’s problem is caused by hepatitus or the resultant depression with its symptoms of lack of concentration and other problems that affect this ability to think straight, he needs to step down. That is what I did when depression affected by concentration. I knew that my job was important. I talk over 100 students every day and I couldn’t do it right. I first took a sabbatical and then after a few weeks applied for disability. What bothers me is that the Congress is getting to be a bunch of ya-hoos. Did Johnson ever wonder how Manhattan stayed afloat? Finally, I’m getting a little tired of this “If this had been a Democrat/Republican…” nonsense. We had a President who had an affair lied about it to his country and lied under oath. What did we do? We impeached him. We had another President who lied to the people and lied to the Senate about the necessity of war. And ignored a drowning, dying city. And lied about torture. And sent this country into financial chaos. And what did we do? They were treated just the same. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/87 "2010-04-04T04:16:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The difference is we don’t think our idiots are presidential material. Might not be a sound line of argument given the current VP. Here’s another from the [Biden archives](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hrQABAlo8g&feature=related): > [@Joe Biden](#): > > When the stock market crashed Franklin Roosevelt got on television and didn’t just talk about the - you know - the princes of greed, he said “Look - here’s what happened” … ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/88 "2010-04-04T04:20:34Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He never said he invented the internet. The quote was “I took the initiative in creating the internet.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/89 "2010-04-04T04:28:48Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > The quote was “I took the initiative in creating the internet.” Which, in context, was a reference to legislation he sponsored that opened up the technology commercially, in effect “creating” a public internet. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/90 "2010-04-04T04:29:58Z")
Arguably true. Close enough for bragging on. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/91 "2010-04-04T14:18:54Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Finally, I’m getting a little tired of this “If this had been a Democrat/Republican…” nonsense. We had a President who had an affair lied about it to his country and lied under oath. What did we do? We impeached him. > > We had another President who lied to the people and lied to the Senate about the necessity of war. And ignored a drowning, dying city. And lied about torture. And sent this country into financial chaos. And what did we do? > > They were treated just the same. Right? So far as most of the nation is concerned, one is realpolitik and the other is adultery. For a politician to practice realpolitik isn’t really considered amazing nor reprehensible by a large percentage of the population. In fact, they might just consider it to be his profession. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/92 "2010-04-04T15:48:26Z")
Realpolitik would assume that Bush lied about the Iraq and torture and let New Orleans and Wall Street collapse for political advantage. It’s hard to see where he came out ahead on these things. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/93 "2010-04-04T16:24:53Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Danny boy was wrongfully lambasted for making a common misspelling which in fact he read off a card. This was unfair. Quayle did a lot of simultaneous stupid and more humorous things, this wasn’t one of them. Not even close. The second part is what resulted in the first. He was already being beat-up for not being smart enough/qualified enough for being “a heartbeat away”; correcting a child who had spelled it correctly (which get perceived differently than just making the mistake on your own does), gave a video clip to go with that extant and widely held perception. Biden, OTOH has a pre-existing image for being a very very bright guy who doesn’t control his mouth. (Hence the humor of his answer in a debate as to whether or not he could control himslef from talking too much: “Yes.”) His making a stupid mistake doesn’t play to the image; him swearing on mike does. Just like how his pre-primary Obama comment as clean and well spoken was. The premise of the op is, however, silly, sort of like: “My local dog catcher, a Republican, said that the earth is flat! Why is this not being reported across the internet like this Democrat’s stupidity is!” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/94 "2010-04-04T18:38:42Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He meant to say 47. So he actually meant to say that there were 48 states? So the “correct” quote was “I’ve been to 48 different states, with one to go. My staff wouldn’t let me go to Alaska and Hawaii.” So there are 48 states, and Alaska and Hawaii are the same state. Gosh, I can’t imagine why anyone would question that. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/95 "2010-04-04T18:52:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So he actually meant to say that there were 48 states? No. He meant to say he’d been to 47, with one more scheduled to visit. He wasn’t saying there was only one state left in existence, he was saying he only had one left on his itinerary (because, as he explained, Alaska and Hawaii had been _excluded_ from his itinerary). This is quite obvious to absolutely anyone with an IQ above room temperature. Do you honestly believe that Barack Obama didn’t know how many states there were? The answer is no, you don’t. You just hope that other people will. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/96 "2010-04-04T19:06:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So he actually meant to say that there were 48 states? No, good grief, he was expressing that his itenerary was 48 states and he had one state remaining (I’ll do the legwork and go ahead and tell you that makes 47). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/97 "2010-04-04T19:09:07Z")
The whole point of that, and the Teleprompter meme too, was reassurance that their guys aren’t either smarter than our guys, no matter all the mean things they say about our Dubya. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/98 "2010-04-04T19:31:06Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Realpolitik would assume that Bush lied about the Iraq and torture _and let New Orleans and Wall Street collapse for political advantage_. It’s hard to see where he came out ahead on these things. (italics added) That’s incompetence, not malfeasance. You can’t impeach the president for being a poor president. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/99 "2010-04-04T19:57:46Z")
Sure. You can impeach for any reason you damn well feel like. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-suppose-a-republican-had-said-this-rep-hank-johnsons-guam-gaffe/534602/100 "2010-04-04T20:52:59Z")
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