10 Of The Most Outrageous And Idiotic Statements By GOP Hopefuls

Republicans say some of the most absurd things, especially when campaigning.

Here’s a roundup of some of the most outrageous, ridiculous and idiotic statements made by GOP hopefuls in the 2012 campaign cycle.

1) “Well what I want them to know is just like, John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa. That’s the kind of spirit that I have, too.” —Michele Bachmann, June 2011, getting her John Waynes mixed up during an interview after launching her presidential campaign in Waterloo, Iowa, where she grew up. The beloved movie star John Wayne she was referring to was born in Winterset, Iowa, three hours away. The John Wayne that Waterloo was home to is notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

2) “He who warned, uh, the British that they weren’t going to be taking away our arms uh by ringing those bells and making sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be secure and we were going to be free and we were going to be armed.” Sarah Palin, June 2011, incorrectly explaining that Paul Revere warned the British.

3) “I will tell you: It’s three agencies of government, when I get there, that are gone: Commerce, Education and the — what’s the third one there? Let’s see. … OK. So Commerce, Education and the — … The third agency of government I would — I would do away with the Education, the … Commerce and — let’s see — I can’t. The third one, I can’t. Sorry. Oops.” – Rick Perry, Nov. 9, 2011, forgetting about his plan to cut the Department of Energy during a GOP debate.

4) “When they ask me who’s the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan I’m going to say, ‘You know, I don’t know. Do you know?’” – Herman Cain October 2011

5) “There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. … My job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” – Mitt Romney May 2012

6) “First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” – Todd Akin August 2012

7) “I should tell my story. I’m also unemployed.” — Mitt Romney, 2011, speaking to unemployed people in Florida. (Romney’s net worth is over $200 million.)

8) “They [China] have indicated that they’re trying to develop nuclear capability and they want to develop more aircraft carriers like we have. So yes, we have to consider them a military threat.” –Herman Cain, October 2011, warning that China could develop nuclear weapons, even though they’ve them since 1964.

9) “Before we get started, let’s all say ‘Happy Birthday’ to Elvis Presley today.” — Michele Bachmann, August 2011, while campaigning for president in South Carolina on what was actually the anniversary of Elvis’s death.

10) “George W. Bush did a incredible job in the presidency, defending us from freedom.” — Rick Perry, November 2010

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