What the f---did you just say Brooks?
Ladies and gentlemen, from today's Meet The Press I give you the facepalm moment of the year so far. From everyone's favorite Very Serious Person, David Brooks.
No further words are necessary. Discuss.
Transcript below the stale Chee-to
CHUCK TODD:
David, I wanna start with Chuck Hagel. You heard what Leon Panetta said, the political knives were out. How much of it was politics and how much of it was a poor performance by Chuck Hagel?
DAVID BROOKS:
It was him. You ever have this nightmare, you're back in college, you've been nominated d-- defense secretary, you haven't done any of the studying all term, and the confirmation hearing is in five minutes? It looked like--
(OVERTALK)
DAVID BROOKS:
It looked like that. A guy unprepared. (THROAT CLEAR) Unprepared even to defend himself, look strong. He's being attacked, his integrity is being attacked, his honesty's being attacked. Hit back. Demand some time. Defend yourself. You gotta do that because you gotta have c-- the confidence of the president when you get the job, and I think he's gonna get the job.
You gotta have the confidence of the generals in the building. And-- and so this is-- a problem. If I were Chuck Hagel, I'd go to the president right now and I would say, "Do you still have confidence in me? Do you think I can do the job?"
CHUCK TODD:
You-- you would offer--
DAVID BROOKS:
Probably.
CHUCK TODD:
--to potentially withdraw?
DAVID BROOKS:
I think you've got to if you think you're not gonna be effective because of what's happened. Now I'm not saying the answer is yes, but I think you gotta go back and ask privately the-- that question.