TeaParty backed, U.S. Congressman, Mistakes U.S. Gov't Officials For Indian Officials

[cal04]

In an extraordinary -- and extraordinarily awkward -- failure of basic situational awareness, a U.S. congressman apparently mistook American government officials for Indian government officials during a congressional hearing.

As first reported by Foreign Policy magazine, freshman Rep. Curt Clawson (R-FL) spoke to State Department official Nisha Biswal and Commerce Department official Arun Kumar as if they were Indian government officials at a House Foreign Affairs hearing on Thursday.

"I'm familiar with your country. I love your country. And I understand the complications of so many languages and so many cultures and so many histories all rolled up in one," Clawson said. He added: "Anything I can do to make the relationship with India better, I'm willing and enthusiastic about doing so."

When he asked the American officials for cooperation from "your government," Biswal appeared rather confused. "I think your question is to the Indian government," she said, "and we certainly share your sentiments and we certainly will advocate that on behalf of the U.S. government."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/curt-clawson-us-officials-indian-officials

Freshman Congressman Mistakes Senior Government Officials for Foreigners

(snip)
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/07/25/exclusive_freshman_congressman_mistakes_senior_government_officials_for_foreigners?wp_login_redirect=0

During the hearing, he repeatedly touted his deep knowledge of the Indian subcontinent and his favorite Bollywood movies. None of his fellow colleagues publicly called him out on the oversight -- perhaps going easy on him because he's the new guy.

The Tea Party-backed lawmaker won a special election last month to fill the seat of Trey Radel, who resigned after being convicted for cocaine possession. Clawson pitched himself as an outsider with private sector experience and touted his role as chief executive of an aluminum wheel company.

http://vimeo.com/101737613

[HooptieWagon]

1. No surprise,

That district is infamous for electing some real morons to congress.

[NightWatcher]

2. I think there should be a basic civics course test before you can qualify for holding elected office

The "I can be a bigger teabagging asshole than the other guy" is a poor qualifier for office.

Remember Palin's "what exactly does the Vice President do?", that should have precluded her from office. There can be no poll tax or test for voters but candidates should be quizzed.

[Rex]

3. They are NOT racists.

Just the #1 party with racists!

[tanyev]

4. Just how stupid do you have to be to get elected as a Republican these days?

Geez.

[HooptieWagon]

8. That district likes them REAL stupid.

Its the district encompassing Ft Myers and Naples. Its been renumbered. Before current moron was Trey Reyburn (sp?) - arrested for cocaine possesion by DC cops. Before him was Connie Mack IV, famous outside Fl for marrying Sonny Bono's widow (divorced soon after both lost elections). Famous inside Florida for being a drunken lout. He lost an election to US Senate against Bill Nelson, otherwise was a shoo-in to be re-elected to Congress from the moron district. Before Mack (btw, his real name is McGillicuddy) was Porter Goss, who left to run the CIA when W was seeking to fill all govt positions with morons. I don't remember who was before Goss, but Im sure it was a moron. I lived there for 3 months about 35 years ago... its a shit-hole.

[Rex]

11. No doubt they have a group there to represent Naples.

You know how these foreigners like to congregate!

[JI7]

5. how does this even happen ? i'm not saying it's right but i can maybe

see someone doing this if they were just meeting some stranger for the first time so based on the only thing they have which is physical appearance they would assume things.

but in this case at least the woman did not seem to have an accent and they were already discussing things.

yeah, i know hte guy is a fucking dumbfuck teabagger so wasn't paying attention to any of it and just saw some brown faces
.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. Why does the sage advice ...

Better to remain silent and have people think you an idiot; then to speak, and remove all doubt!

Come to my mind?

[conservaphobe]

7. Another repercussion of having only an age requirement to seek political office. nt

[HooptieWagon]

10. That district likes them some stupid congressmen.

[Contrary1]

9. Just the first of many idiotic performances to come. n/t

[Turn CO Blue]

12. Eek, how embarrassing.

I mean, one can't know everything or have all the information in the world at one's fingertips but thewhole reason they're given a staff budget is to have staffers to assist in prep and research...and to have them around with "teh Google" so that they can all look reasonably informed.

[Divernan]

13. Procedure of committee hearings leaves the moron with NO excuse.

Each congressional member has in front of him or her the hearing agenda from the Chairman, detailing topic, starting time, complete list, in order, of every witness/speaker, including each one's name, official job title and name of the organization for which they are speaking, along with approximate time allocated. For example, speakers may be allowed a certain number of minutes for their presentation, and a certain number of minutes to answer questions from the sub-committee members. The Chair has authority to extend those times at his or her discretion. I sat through ten years of these hearings as a senior attorney/staffer, and believe me, committee members meticulously check off each witness as they appear, and keep that agenda right in front of them so they can address the witness by the correct name. The other items which members keep in front of them during the hearing are copies of the witness's remarks, which have been copied and distributed by the Chair's staff to each member. Those documents also prominently state the witness's name and affiliation.

The Chairman calls the hearing to order, makes introductory remarks, and then calls each witness up by name, using a damned microphone! Evidently this waste of oxygen Tea Partier can neither hear nor read.

What a clown! But you know how it works, right? He will manage to blame some staffer.