"You Indians Speakie English?"

Rethuglican Party voters in Florida's 19th Congressional district keep sending real gems to Washington.  In 2012, they sent former Rep. Trey "Snow Nose" Radel, who had a recurring problem with cocaine that ended his brief career as a teabagger know-nothing.  Replacing the resigned Radel last month was newly-elected Rethug teabagger Rep. Curt "Namaste" Clawson, whose main work experience appears to have been heading an auto parts company.

Flash forward to Thursday's hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Asian and Pacific subcommittee.   Testifying before the subcommittee were Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Arun Kumar, whom Namaste assumed were representing the government of India, but who are both senior U.S. officials.  Namaste launched into a goofy recitation of how much he liked India and Bollywood movies, and how he hoped relations could be improved upon, addressing the stunned witnesses as if they just got off the plane from New Delhi.  Embarrassed silence ensued.  This, despite the fact that witness lists are routinely provided by staff to Congressmen so that they know the names and titles of those who are testifying.

Namaste later apologized for the gaffe.  Well done, voters of Florida's 19th district.  Check out the bemused look on Assistant Secretary Kumar's face at about 33 seconds into this video: