AFSCME, SEIU ... what's the difference?

Another Richardson gaffe.

It seems Bill Richardson has no shortage of gaffes. Addressing SEIU today, Richardson thanked them for their applause: "Thank you, AFSCME!"

That's right, Richardson named the wrong union. And it gets worse. SEIU, unfortunately, is an organizational rival to AFSCME in many states, and SEIU's audience responded to Richardson's opening line by shouting, "S-E-I-U!"

These aren't Howard Dean-style "gaffes", in which the pundits pound someone for telling the truth (like "capturing Saddam won't make us safer"). These are the sorts of mistakes that are made from poor preparation and lack of concentration. Or something.

All I know is that high-level politics requires a bit more care. I mean, look at the stage (here with Chris Dodd speaking):

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

There were only TWO SEIU posters pointed at the speaker, just in case the speaker forgot whose conference he or she was attending. And in the background, you can see the big purple SEIU banners hanging from the ceiling. And I am willing to bet that the stage is completely decked in SEIU purple with those initials all over the darn place.

Yet Richardson still somehow managed to screw it up. Wow.