When Tom Brokaw asks McCain whether he agrees with Rush Limbaugh when he says Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama was based purely on race, McCain reverts to his standard talking point that he's honored to have received the endorsement of five other Secretaries of State. Unfortunately for McCain, he completely bungles it when he cant seem to remember the name of that last guy whose endorsement he's so honored to have...
MR. RUSH LIMBAUGH: It was totally about race. The Powell nomination, or endorsement, total, totally about race.
MR. BROKAW: Do you agree with Rush Limbaugh?
SEN. McCAIN: *No...I'm disappointed in General Powell, but I'm very, very happy to know that five former secretaries of state who I admire enormously -- Henry Kissinger, Jim Baker, Larry Eagleburger, Al Haig, ummm.. [Laughs] Ummm...Jim Baker, Henry Kissinger, Al Haig, Larry Eagleburger [sigh] and one other.... and over 200 retired flag general --generals and admirals are supporting my campaign. I'm very proud of their support...
MR. BROKAW: Senator, we opened today with a--how you're doing in Iowa. The Des Moines Register has endorsed...
SEN. McCAIN: George Shultz! George Shultz is the other one.
MR. BROKAW: George Shultz, right.
I guess McCain doesn't realize that winning the endorsement of five Republican Secretaries of State isn't exactly that impressive. Especially when he can't even name them all. Chalk it up to another one of those "senior moments."
* Corrected transcript
