Newly elected Rep. Bob Turner (R–Marine Park) made his first gaffe in Congress the fist time he opened his mouth — addressing the entire House of Representatives before Speaker John Boehner (R–Ohio) acknowledged his presence.
Once Rep. Charlie Rangel (D–Harlem) introduced Turner to the Speaker, the former television executive went right into a brief speech. He had gotten about a half dozen words out before Boehner, who was seated behind him, loudly corrected him down for not following protocol.
“The Gentleman from New York, Mr. Turner, is recognized,” Boehner belted out, cutting Turner off mid-sentence.
Knocked off his game, Turner paused and looked back at Boehner as laughter rumbled through the House chamber.
“Now?” he asked Boehner, awaiting the Speaker’s approval. When Boehner gave him the nod, he went on.
“It is with true humility that I accept this awesome responsibility,” Turner said in his remarks. “And I pledge not to forget how I got here. It was truly a bipartisan election. That’s the only way it can be done in New York City.”
Turner, a Republican, bested Democrat Assemblyman David Weprin by getting 54 percent of the vote in heavily Democratic — although right-leaning — district that includes Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach and Bergen Beach. Turner trounced Weprin on the Brooklyn side of the bi-borough district as he scooped up the seat left behind by sexting scandal-scarred Rep. Anthony Weiner.
Turner focused his campaign on President Obama’s performance and the Commander In Chief’s belief that Israel should give some of its land back to the Palestinians — chords that resonated with the district’s Jewish residents.
