the perils of not watching “Goldfinger”

We’re just in the middle of it, but I’m nominating Mitt Romney’s airplane comment

for his Most Notable Mistake of the Week.  He said that he didn’t know why plane

windows couldn’t be rolled down, referring to an incident in which his wife Ann’s

flight filled with smoke, forcing an emergency landing.

It was really a goof more than his standard gaffe.  Reporters at the event where he

said it clarified that it was meant as a joke.  However, it was feasted on as a straight

line by the media.  Scientific American took time away from its busy schedule to

explain to Romney why it’s a fatally bad idea.

Mitt, I’m one of the 47 percent of Americans you’ve given up on.  Nonetheless, I’m

trying to take some responsibility for my life, so I want to offer you some advice:

leave the humour to the professionals.  When you deliver a punch line, it comes off

as stiffly as the brand new jeans you put on only to meet the working class for a

photo op.

Spinning tragedy into comedy is tricky business.   I know.  I’ve had countless joke

attempts blow up in my face.  At a time when you can’t seem to stay on message,

do you really think you should be multi-tasking?

And just in case you really don’t know why planes need to maintain cabin pressure,

allow me to remind you about the ending of Goldfinger.  You remember how the

villain met his demise, don’t you?  You don’t?  Here it is.