Another Interview Debacle

It is better to remain silent and have everyone believe that you are a fool than to open it and remove any doubt. A few weeks ago, Congressman Akin let everyone know that he had some views which were well out the mainstream, and this week, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of New York let the world know that not all the lights are on upstairs.

Last night, she appeared on the Colbert Report and Mr Colbert was joking with her about her district which encompasses Brooklyn. He referred to Brooklyn becoming a part of New York in 1898 as "the mistake in 98" as a joke. He then asked what she would do if she could go back in time and say anything to the people there, what would she say. What followed was a conversation that was as painful and awkward as anything you'll see on "The Office."

First, Congresswoman Clarke clarifies that she would still know everything she knew today on her trip back to 1898. She then asserts that she would ask them to set her free. When asked who was enslaving her in 1898, Congresswoman Clarke flatly asserted "the dutch."

Slavery was ended in 1865 after a small, little known homeland security contingency called the Civil War. Slavery in New York itself was outlawed in 1827. The Dutch lost control of its colonies in the area in 1674.

Now, I am as anti-Dutch as the next guy. However, I am can't for the life of me understand what would compel anyone to believe that the dutch were somehow running an underground slavery ring in New York more than 30 years after it was ended in the states.

The real question here is how big this will become. Will the media be as harsh on Congresswoman Clarke as they were against Congressman Akin? The video can be seen on a HuffPo page - and yes, you want to watch it. It has also been catalogued as a controversy.