Cowen makes incredible gaffe at White House function

[mccafferty cat]

Cowen White House speech follows Obama lines - The Irish Times - Wed, Mar 18, 2009

Mr Cowen, who was meeting President Barack Obama on St Patrick's day, was only a few paragraphs into a speech when he realised he was repeating the speech that Mr Obama had just given.

As the Taoiseach was to speak twice at the White House last night - there were two different parties going on there - he was to give the same speech to the two different audiences.

But 20 seconds into his second address, when it dawned he was giving the speech the US president had just read from the same teleprompter, Mr Cowen stopped and looked back at the president to say: “That’s your speech.”

Really inspires confidence, doesn't he?

[revereie]

(Yawn!)

Yes - as gaffes go, this really really really is right up there ! Sheesh !

[mccafferty cat]

Well it reminds me of that bit in "Naked Gun 33 1/3" when Leslie Nielsen poses as the presenter of the Oscars, then goes on stage with Elle McPherson (or someone like that) and proceeds to read out all the lines from the teleprompter, including his co-hosts lines, and the pieces like "pause for applause".

Classic

[Anonymous Source]

Did you see Cowen with his tongue hanging out of his mouth like a fecking wolfhound licking his lips when President Obama was making his speech !!

I was embaressed for our nation.I loved Berties "appeal to us common people" but he was also a great statesman.Cowen has the charm of a brick.

[SPQR]

250K per year and the kn0bhead can't even read the right speech and does not realise it for 2 paragraphs??

Dear God, I beg of you, get rid of these fools!

[Verhofstadt]

Not earth shattering but it is very embarrassing

Symptomatic of a disastrous premiership to date.

An Taoiseach, I cringe more when I see you representing me evn more than I did when your predecessor, which is saying something.

[Anorakphobia]

"Ah the good old Oirish always good for a bellylaugh"

And we dared hope that Ahern and his spiv heavy entourage would have been the end of our Washington embarssment.
Not so, just goes to show you that this current Government is determined to be the absolute market leader in every area of incompetence. To top Ahern in the gaffe stakes is an almighty achievement.

[Anonymous Source]

Sure it'll probably be Cowans last visit to Washington anyway as Taoiseach

[Anonymous Source]

Just take a couple of deep breaths now. Just think about where you've been today. I promise, if you think about it coolly and systematically, you'll remember where you left those tablets.

He was a great statesman...in comparission to Cowen.Although in fairness my pet dog is a better stateman ( less drool )then Cowen so its not kinda saying alot.

How can you fault a man like Ahern who had the forsight to blow the bottom out of the already sinking ship before he abandoned it.That took great planning.....:mrgreen:

[seabhcan]

Cowen is paid more than Obama, isn;t he. Maybe we could poach the US talent with our higher wages.