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They Said What? Jesse Jackson Now Joins This List of People Who Committed “Hot Mic” Blunders
There’s an uproar all over the news about Jesse Jackson (thinking that his mic was off) expressing his desire to chop bits off Barack Obama. However, is he the only one who has embarrassingly committed this blunder? Well, no actually. Below is a list of many people who were honest (maybe for the first time in public) with the added bonus of their mics accidentally being left on.
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany
In a massive hot mic blunder, Gyurcsany was overheard saying to another MP, “We screwed up. Not a little, a lot. Evidently, we lied throughout the last year-and-a-half, two years. You cannot quote any significant government measure we can be proud of. Nothing.”
President Ronald Reagan
While warming up his voice for a speech, he announced that he was about to bomb the Soviet Union in a few minutes. Imagine the hush in the room.
John Prescott, England’s Deputy Prime Minister
John Prescott was overheard on his microphone which he thought was turned off, using expletives to describe how he’d messed up an interview during which he became lost for words.
Dick Cheney and George Bush
These two buddies were overheard talking about a New York Times correspondent, thinking their mics were off, they called him a major league —hole. This was at a Labour Day parade in Illinois in 2000.
Kyra Phillips, CNN Anchorwoman
In an embarrassing hot mic episode, she was heard going to the toilet. In 2006, during the broadcast of George Bush’s Hurricane Katrina anniversary speech, she was heard on her mic which she obviously thought was off, calling men —holes and her sister-in-law a control freak.
Ron Atkinson, Ex-Football Manager and Player
Atkinson made a terrible hot mic blunder when he was overheard referring to a black Chelsea football player (Marcel Desailly) as a “lazy thick n*****r” (with expletetives). Needless to say, his TV and Journalistic career came to an end that very day. Before this incident he was also overheard saying (on another microphone incident) that player Francesco Totti looked like a little twat (jerk, idiot)
Jose Maria Aznar
With microphone still on at the European Pariliament 2002, Spain’s former Prime Minister said, “Vaya conazo que he soltado” (“What a load of —- I’ve just delivered.”)
Pat Cash
Pat Cash in 2005 was overheard saying, “I bet she is up the duff” (I bet she’s got a bun in the oven -pregnant) about the fiancee of talented Aussie tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.
George Bush
George Bush is in a different league when it comes to public embarrassing gaffes. He’s got his own page of things I’m sure he wished he had never said. At the G8 summit in 2006, he was heard, on a hot mic, addressing the Prime Minister of England, “Yo Blair!” You can’t get classier than that.
So the next time you read about Jesse Jackson and picture him, knife poised, take comfort that us lowly folk are not the only ones who place our big fat foot, firmly in our wide gaping mouths.
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8 Comments
Some blunders are just aweful to hear. George Bush seems to be the one with the most…
I agree, George Bush has an awful lot of tongue slips doesn`t he?
Quite interesting! That goes to show that to think first before speaking is good advice, because we might be heard.
Good coverage, Anne, but I think it is particularly troubling that a man who calls himself “Reverend” would be caught talking in that fashion.
You are right, What they say when they think the mike off is likely the only truthful thing they have said.
…Hi there, well done. Quite a
collection of interesting verbage.
The news person, using the bathroom
with her mike open, is troubling,
very embarrassing. Take care
Thanks everyone, for your encouragement and delightful comments.
Lovely! Definitely lol-ed up my morning.
I especially liked the Bush/Cheney one.
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