Ed Gillespie’s Rick Perry Moment

Shot: In a cringe-worthy moment during Wednesday's Republican presidential debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry couldn't remember the third federal agency he had pledged to eliminate.

Perry was discussing his jobs plan and his flat tax plan when he said: “And I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, Education, and the… what's the third one there? Let's see.” CBS News, Nov. 10, 2011

Chaser: Gillespie said that “there are a number of functions that the federal government performs that would better be performed by individuals in the private sector and by the states. I think the federal government over the past five years, in particular, has encroached on state prerogatives.”

When asked to name three federal programs that he would like to see eliminated, however, the GOP Senate candidate would name only one, the Export-Import Bank, which is due to be reauthorized in September. “One that I have said already that I believe should not be reauthorized and doesn't deserve to be continued in funding is the ExIm Bank,” Gillespie said, “but we'll roll out more details later as we go along.” Charlottesville Libertarian Examiner, July 6, 2014

“Ed Gillespie’s Rick Perry moment demonstrates yet again that he offers soundbites instead of substance. He is unable to name even three federal programs he would be willing to cut, and the only one that came to mind — the Export-Import Bank — actually makes money for the taxpayers and is a key export tool for dozens of Virginia businesses,” said David Turner, a spokesman for the campaign. “Rather than offering sensible policy solutions for Virginia, Ed Gillespie yet again has shown that all he offers are gimmicks, not solutions.”