It happens to all of us eventually… a slip of the tongue, a mixing up of one or two letters, a brief lapse of concentration and out it comes… a parapraxis (the dreaded Freudian slip)!
This week, while explaining how Voter Owned Elections will work in the town’s local races, Brian told our Chapel Hill Town Hall audience (as well as ALL of the folks watching on TV from home) that, “Once a candidates collects a minimum number qualifying contributions, he or she will get the runs for the rest of their campaign.” Um, yeah, Brian. If that doesn’t convince candidates to opt into the program, nothing will!
Obviously, Brian mean to say “funds” but also had the word “run,” as in “run for office” in his mind and out came the… well, you get it.
This slip caught me so off guard that I laughed out loud, perhaps the greatest compromise of my professionalism since the staff holiday party. I’m just EXTREMELY glad Jonathan wasn’t with us in Chapel Hill that night, because it would have been “That’s the WORST!” all over again!
Several people in the audience struggled (and failed) to suppress their giggles, including one older woman who almost fell out of her seat trying to hold back a cackle. Way to connect with the older generation, Brian!
Luckily, Brian recovered quickly, despite his own chuckle at his mistake, and went on to give a great presentation.
Durham team: Thanks for another GREAT week!
oh my gosh, I just laughed until I cried — and I needed that!!! Thank you for sharing this story… and THANK YOU for having a sense of humor about the whole thing. It will serve you well in the long, dare I say it, run(s).
-Katy