Did Jay Carney Forget Name of Slain Border Agent's Family During Presser?

During a press conference Thursday, Press Secretary Jay Carney defended the Obama administration's decision to assert executive privilege for the first time yesterday in regard to "Fast and Furious" documents, not skipping a beat as he methodically went through his talking points.

(Related: Jay Carney Attacks Fox Reporter During Presser: You're Engaging in 'Selective Listening')

However, when the conversation shifted from Obama's policies to the family of slain U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, who was killed by one of the guns from operation Fast and Furious, Carney seemingly had some trouble coming up with his last name. At first glance, it appears that the press secretary may have actually forgotten it.

"We absolutely agree with the need to find out the truth about why Fast and Furious happened, why the tactic, again, was employed in the previous administration, in different operations and was stopped by this Attorney General, why it came about," Carney said.

"That's why the Attorney General referred it to Inspector General. That is why we have provided Congress every document that pertains to the operation itself that, uh, is at issue here when you talk about, uh, the family, uh, that you referred to."

"The Terry family," ABC's Jake Tapper interjected, who just before mentioned the Terry family in his question.

"The Terry family," Carney confirmed.

While some will certainly argue Carney forgot the dead Border Patrol agents name, it could also be that the press secretary simply lost his train of thought or got tongue-tied -- which can happen while speaking on the fly. He also didn't seem to pause for an odd amount of time as if searching for the name and gnerally tends to use "uhs" in his responses.

Whatever the reason, the GOP has used it as fodder. Almost immediately after the mistake happened the party had turned it into a YouTube video (seen above) with the header that suggests the answer it believes to be true: "WH Press Secretary Forgets Name of Slain Border Patrol Agent."

The Terry family has been in the news this week with Fast and Furious dominating the headlines. And they have been critical of the administration. Yesterday, they released a statement after the president asserted executive privilege concerning documents involved in the case:

Our son, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, was killed by members of a Mexican drug cartel armed with weapons from this failed Justice Department gun trafficking investigation. For more than 18 months we have been asking our federal government for justice and accountability.  The documents sought by the House Oversight Committee and associated with Operation Fast and Furious should be produced and turned over to the committee.  Our son lost his life protecting this nation, and it is very disappointing that we are now faced with an administration that seems more concerned with protecting themselves rather than revealing the truth behind Operation Fast and Furious.

 

(H/T: Real Clear Politics)