Perry goofs badly during CNBC debate, can only recall 2 of the 3 agencies he wants to eliminate (with video)

Gov. Rick Perry stumbled badly in tonight’s CNBC presidential debate when he couldn’t remember the three government agencies he wanted to eliminate.

"It's three agencies of government when I get there that are gone: Commerce, Education, and the uh...what's the third one, there? Let's see."

The crowd groaned and giggled.

Finally, another of the candidates suggested the third agency was the Environmental Protection Agency. Perry agreed that he would eliminate the EPA too, then quickly said he wouldn't.

A CNBC moderator then asked if Perry couldn’t remember the three agencies he wanted to eliminate. Perry seemed to be searching his brain but then couldn’t come up with the answer.

"The third agency of government. I would do away with Education, with Commerce and let's see ... I can't," Perry said sheepishly. "The third one I can't. Oops."

Several minutes later, when Maria Bartiromo asked Perry another question, Perry began by addressing his goof.

"And by the way, that was the Department of Energy I was reaching for a while ago," Perry said.

Here's the video of Perry's initial fumble:

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

-Aman Batheja

Comments

[msa goki]

I think his campaign is done,Rick, come back home to Texas where you have mastered the art of evading debating and survives. Definitely he is not national leadership material. As a human being,at that very moment of his memory loss,i felt sincerely bad and sorry for him.

[Dpalmisano1]

Thank God, Rick Perry's true colors are showing. Not fit for a President nor a Governor!

[Yesenia]

It is terrible to see something like that happening to someone. I feel very sorry for him. It has happened to me in several occasions, but of course I am not trying to lead a country!

[carebear_tx]

as a teacher i think it was just desserts for how he has treated the teachers in Texas.

[kirch]

Forget a name, not that big of a deal. Forget how many states are in the Union that you want to be President of, PRICELESS! "I've now visited 57 states with one left to go". hmmmm.... so there are now 58 states?