- LONDON (Reuters) - Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's curious statement at a press briefing was named
on Monday as the year's most baffling comment by a public figure.
-
- Rumsfeld, usually renowned for his uncompromising tough
talking, was awarded the "Foot in Mouth" award for a confusing
message which probably left his audience in the dark as to its meaning,
Britain's Plain English Campaign said.
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- "Reports that say something hasn't happened are
interesting to me, because as we know, there are known unknowns; there
things we know we know," Rumsfeld told the briefing.
-
- "We also know there are known unknowns; that is
to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also
unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
-
- John Lister, spokesman for the campaign which strives
to have public information delivered in clear, straightforward English,
said: "We think we know what he means. But we don't know if we really
know."
-
- Rumsfeld, whose boss President Bush is often singled
out by language critics for his sometimes unusual use of English, took
the booby prize ahead of a bizarre effort from actor-turned politician
Arnold Schwarzenegger.
-
- "I think that gay marriage is something that should
be between a man and a woman," was the odd statement from the new
California Governor.
-
- Previous holders of the award include U.S. actress Alicia
Silverstone and British chancellor Gordon Brown. Last year's winner was
actor Richard Gere.
-
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