Fumble: Stink over comments

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid marred the otherwise well-staged opening of the new Washington Capitol Visitors Centre, created to accommodate U.S. taxpayers and citizens who wish to visit their seat of government. It was outfitted with air conditioning, which prompted Sen. Reid to comment: “My staff tells me not to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway. In the summer because of the heat and high humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. It may be descriptive but it's true.” Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, is known for being the first member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to serve as Senate Majority Leader, according to Wikipedia. Reid set the blogosphere aflame with commentary about his remarks. It’s a Fumble because his staff was right. The comment was dumb. Voters didn’t send Reid to Washington to pass judgment on tourists’ personal hygiene. They sent him there to work on major issues, like the economy. As a longtime Senator, Reid should have known better. Even veteran communicators can Fumble and stumble, usually when they begin to ignore the advice of their well-meaning staff.