Politician doesn't know the difference between Great Britain and England
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
December 1, 2011 10:09pm CST
This the season for political gaffs. A prominent politician criticized the Iranian Government for not protecting the English Embassy. England does not have an embassy, England is not a nation or country. It is part of Great Britain and it was the British Embassy that was attacked by the Iranians. Image not knowing the difference between England and Great Britain. Such a gaff rates up there with not knowing the leaders of the countries that end in ...stants. The media was right on the story of not knowing the names of the leaders of countries that most people can't even pronounce or locate the countries on a map. Just like the media was all over Gov. Perry for not remembering the three departments he would cut, or Herman Cain who wanted some time to collect his thoughts before answering a question in an interview.
Somehow the media overlooked this gaff similar to the gaff this politician made when he said he had campaigned in 57 States. This is just one more example of the press overlooking gaffs of certain politicians and making a mountain out of gaffs by other politicians. President Obama appears to be getting a pass on any gaffs he makes and the media piling on Conservatives.
3 responses
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
2 Dec 11
Yeah, I can't ding him on this one. The 57 states is a big deal. But this one, not so much. Most Americans mix up England and the UK. The media does it all the time. The media can't criticize him on the exact same mistake they make.
At least, he didn't try to name the political parties over there. That would have been a disaster.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
3 Dec 11
They get mixed up when things are on British soil. Then it becomes an England/British mix-up. Most Americans get this mixed up as well.
But like I said, this isn't that big of a political gaff when compared to others. There is just so much more gaffs that are bigger such as the 57 states.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
4 Dec 11
Um, England is a country (as in London, England). The reason the embassies are British and not English is, the ambassador represent England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales (The UK).
However, you are right, this was a major gaffe. It is just the latest of a long string of insults to our biggest ally. Some of the insults have been small, but others huge. All go to show how little Obama respects our allies, and how stupid the Coward in Chief truly is.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
3 Dec 11
I guess it's a matter of opinion whether or not sometimes inaccurately interchanging "Great Britain" and "England" is a major issue or not but if it IS then there are certainly a lot of us frequently guilty of a huge gaffe! Personally, I don't think it's a big deal at all, barely - if at all - worth mentioning.
Regarding the "57 states" nonsense, Bob, I know you're an intelligent, well-informed guy so I also know you're well aware of the TRUE story behind what was a very simple misspeak! However, since this lie from Fox News is repeated so often here and elsewhere I'll repeat the truth again since there are probably some myLotters who actually believe our President doesn't know how many states there are:
During the campaign it was decided it wasn't feasible for Obama to visit Alaska or Hawaii; therefore, the plan was to visit the remaining 48 (out of 50!) states. In that infamous speech Obama said "57 down, 1 to go." Obviously he meant "47", not "57" but somehow he made an unforgivable mistake and it came out wrong.
As for Herman Cain, thank God he's out of the race! For the record, my view on why it was a fairly big deal for him to make his foreign policy gaffes is that he showed he wasn't taking it seriously enough. Nobody knows EVERYTHING, not a candidate or a sitting President but for someone to aspire to the highest position in the world he or she should at least have the intellectual curiosity to want to learn as much as possible.
Annie
