Top 10 Awkward Political Moments

#10: Vladimir Putin Offers Shawl to Chinese First Lady (2014)

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10 Vladimir Putin Government Facts - WMNews Ep. 20

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions may have been considerate and gentlemanly at the 2014 Apec summit, but social media and Chinese censors thought otherwise after his warm gesture on a chilly Beijing night was captured on tape. During the opening dinner, Putin wrapped a blanket around China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan while China’s President and her husband, Xi Jinping,chatted politics with Barack Obama. While she graciously accepted the offer, she also attempted to quickly defuse any potential awkwardness by exchanging the shawl with one from an attendant. Jinping’s neglect of the cold sparked fires across China’s social media, with people criticizing China’s President of being socially inept and inattentive. Luckily for Jinping, he could raise The Great Firewall of China anytime he wants, and he did just that – pulling the video from the web.

Russia’s first democratically elected President, Boris Yeltsin, was known for living life large. He frequently expressed this through the international diplomatic language of dance. Indeed, the dancing Russian bear’s been known to get footloose in public, perhaps one too many times. After reportedly enjoying a few glasses of bubbly, Yeltsin snatched the orchestra conductor’s baton and took over the brass section while serenading the crowd. Yes, this man had one of the world’s largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons at the time. Think about that.

Like Richard Nixon before him, UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, made people uncomfortable with his aloof social skills. And like Nixon, Brown fell victim to the live microphone. During an on-camera street interview, Brown had a conversation with an elderly widow concerned about debt and immigration. When Brown left, his pin-on microphone was still on and he was overheard calling the 65 year-old a “bigoted woman,” while barking at his staff for putting him up to it. Instead of sounding off, Brown probably wished it was his mic that was sound off, especially considering how big the story became in the media thereafter and the Brown’s multiple subsequent apologies.

The former crack smoking mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, has been known to put his foot in his mouth on many occasions, and apparently a lot more than that at home too. While the beleaguered mayor was responding to interrogations outside his office by TV reporters about prostitution and drug abuse allegations, Ford then addresses claims that he allegedly propositioned a female policy adviser, Olivia Gondek, for oral sex. His response to clear the air was masterly… and understandably, shocked and disgusted the Canadian city.

#6: Gerald Ford Falls Down Leaving Air Force One (Twice) (1975)

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Gerald Ford Biography: U.S. President and Congressman

During his U.S. presidency Gerald Ford became known for being a bit of an oaf - and he blamed his accident-prone behavior on an old college football knee injury. This may explain the first time Ford fell down a flight of stairs while he was getting off Air Force One, after which he got up and shook hands with a hesitant Chancellor of Austria. But this wouldn’t be the last time he’d trip – he even fell going up the stairs! It seems a career in college football prepared Ford for two things in politics: to pick yourself up after you fall and to have a thick skull.

While on an Australian radio program answering listeners’ questions, conservative Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was berated by an elderly woman about his austerity policies that forced her into poverty and working on an adult sex line. Appearing amused by the woman’s business down under, Abbott looked to the radio host off camera, winked and smirked seemingly in response to the woman’s profession. The show’s producer took to Twitter tweeting he was totally “surprised” by Abbott’s insensitive gesture. Abbott received widespread backlash and was vilified for being a “total creep.”

One day, in 2008, former U.S. President Bill Clinton had a dream. Just not in the right place or at the right time. While attending a 2008 memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Clinton took a little catnap while he was on stage in the background of a speech that was being given on King’s struggle for racial tolerance in America. Not only did Clinton fall asleep, he also quite noticeably woke himself up midway throughout the oration while a packed audience, as well as the entire world, watched uncomfortably on TV.

Old White Faithful, classy smokin’ Joe Biden, has been known as an old reliable goldmine of political gaffes. Perhaps no other instance perfectly embodies Joe Biden than this: during a campaign rally in 2008, the VP nominee asked Missouri state senator, Chuck Graham, to stand up to be applauded in a room full of campaign supporters. Unfortunately, Biden didn’t know or had forgotten Senator Graham was a paraplegic in a wheelchair – making for quite the embarrassing incident.

It was the most spectacular third-place finishing speech in the history of presidential White House races. During a 2004 Iowa Caucus rally, former Vermont Governor and presidential contender, Howard Dean, doubled down on defeat during a monster truck rally-like speech. The media shortly dubbed it Dean’s “I Have a Scream” speech. In it, Dean builds up the crowd and brings down the house before concluding awkwardly with a loud and high-pitched yelp. Afterwards, the crowd faded away and heckles shortly set in. Since then, the moment has often been cited as the media gaffe that basically terminated his campaign. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Rick Perry’s Memory Loss During the Republican Presidential Debate (2011) - Is Nicolas Sarkozy Drunk During First G8 Press Conference? (2007) - Al Gore and Tipper Make Out at Democratic National Convention (2000) - Jeremy Paxman Interviews Michael Howard (1997) - Sarah Palin Can’t Name A Newspaper She Reads (2008)

#1: Every George W. Bush Stuttering Speech (1990s-2000s)

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George H.W. Bush: Biography of the 41st American President

From a shoe being thrown at him to putting his foot in his mouth, George Walker Bush would’ve probably benefited from a speech therapist - like King George VI of the UK did - for his two terms as U.S. President. On several occasions, George Bush Jr. has fallen victim to speech impediments and cringing Bushism phraseology. His speeches almost deserve a Top 10 list of their own. Regardless, no other politician has, by far, caused as many face-palming analogies, mid-speech mental blanks and half-baked statements over the decades than the 43rd President of the United States. Do you agree with our list? Which awkward political moments belong on our list? For more awkward Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.