Freshman Congressman Mistakes Senior Government Officials for Foreigners

[KamaAina]

Care to hazard a guess which party?

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/07/25/exclusive_freshman_congressman_mistakes_senior_government_officials_for_foreigners

In an intensely awkward congressional hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, freshman Rep. Curt Clawson misidentified two senior U.S. government officials as representatives of the Indian government.

The two officials, Nisha Biswal and Arun Kumar, are Americans who hold senior positions at the State Department and Commerce Department, respectively. Although both Biswal and Kumar were introduced as U.S. officials by the chairman of the Asia and Pacific subcommittee, Clawson repeatedly asked them questions about "your country" and "your government," in reference to the state of India.

"I'm familiar with your country; I love your country," the Florida Republican said. "Anything I can do to make the relationship with India better, I'm willing and enthusiastic about doing so."

Apparently confused by their Indian surnames and skin color, Clawson also asked if "their" government could loosen restrictions on U.S. capital investments in India.

[IADEMO2004]

1. What is more embarrassing than your congressman being busted with cocaine?

Replacing him with a tea party dumb ass.

Edit to add: Rep.Steve King prevents Iowa from claiming any superior qualities over other states elected officials.

[Roy Rolling]

2. half full

I look at the glass as half-full.

At least he didn't say "...anything I can do to make you people better..."

[spooky3]

14. At least he didn't call them "macaca."

That's a Fine Old Republican Tradition.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Allen_(U.S._politician)#.22Macaca.22_controversy

[PatrickforO]

3. Wouldn't it be nice if...

the people we elect to Congress:

a) really had our interests at heart
b) once in awhile passed laws that actually help us
c) actually had a good background in history and current events
d) were culturally literate, and
e) LEARNED TO LISTEN!!

[onethatcares]

4. as a Floridian, all

I can say is, "what do you expect? We have a governor that should be in prison and a gerrymandered set of districts that would confuse the pope.

[BlueJazz]

5. As a Floridian, I say "Amen to that"

[onethatcares]

7. it's really time

to get the villages out of the electoral process in the way they are used. I'm in St Pete and many of the folks I talk to want a better

government than we have, and that covers all demographics.

Pleased to meet ya fellow Floridian.

[BlueJazz]

8. Pleased to meet YOU.

I love the ad (from Scott) that tries to deflect his involvement with his sordid past. It goes something like this>
"Charlie Crist keeps talking about something that happened years ago." (referring to Scott's crimes)
"That happened YEARS ago"

Geez, so if you steal and cheat, you're somehow "clean" after a certain amount of time. ??

[mcar]

17. Fellow Floridian here

In a hard red district.

How did you guys get stuck with Jolly? OTOH, at least it was competitive. My district doesn't even run a Dem challenger to our Congress critter (Nugent).

[onethatcares]

22. the democratic party

wouldn't put up anything for Jessica Ehrlich. here in Pinellas it's kinda weird when it comes to things like that.

[madinmaryland]

6. What a dumbass. But it figures, that he is a repuke.

[Turbineguy]

9. That's why we vote for republicans

we like to be represented and embarrassed by morons.

[QuestForSense]

10. So dumb I'll bet he isn't even embarrassed.

[Divernan]

11. None of his fellow GOPers bothered to correct him, even the Chair.

Perhaps they too were not even listening. The story mentions it is unclear whether he ever even realized his egregious errors. I suspect he is too arrogant, egotistical and stupid to even be embarrassed. The question of the hour is, regarding the dumbing down of America, "How Low Can You Go?"

Now that Tea Partiers are being elected to Congress, the briefings for newly elected members should cover basic reading and listening skills. He had a list of all witnesses, including their agency affiliation and title, right in front of him.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. To them...

"hearings" mean "you will hear me"

[BumRushDaShow]

12. That smiley is too kind

[niyad]

13. nobody bothered to slap this cretin?

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Good news! They love his country too!

I hope that the Congressman apologized publicly for the gaffe, but I'm not optimistic about that.

[Historic NY]

18. Its really time for Congress to represent the diversity and multiethnic

make up of America.

[KamaAina]

19. Actually, an Indian-American is running in CA17.

Alas, Ro Khanna is a district-shopper and $iliValley big-bucks fundraiser who is running against Mike Honda, one of the most progressive Dems in Congress. Both are Dems; this is possible under California's new, bizarre top-two primary system.

[DirkGently]

20. Yeah, that sounds like the FL GOP. n/t

[whistler162]

21. Needs a nice come back like

"we would welcome your help but unfortunately the legislative body of our country is useless and is unwilling to do anything!"

[KamaAina]

23. DUzy!!

Subtle, yet effective.