Word: Island-tipping

Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, typically a deliberate and subdued presence in any setting, garnered an unusual amount of national attention last week after a video clip surfaced of the Congressman taking part in a March 27 House Armed Services Committee hearing. The subject at hand was a proposal to shift troops from Okinawa to Guam.

“My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize.”

— Rep. Johnson to Admiral Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet

“We don’t anticipate that.”

— Adm. Willard, in reply to Johnson

“The subtle humor of this obviously metaphorical reference to a ship capsizing illustrated my concern about the impact of the planned military buildup on this small tropical island.”

— Rep. Johnson, in an April 1 press release

“How can you expect morons who think Sarah Palin is a ‘leader’ to understand that he was speaking metaphorically?”

— “atlpaddy,” commenting on the AJC’s Political Insider blog

“In looking at other YouTube videos of the Rep in action, this wasn’t necessarily his worst day.”

— “face palmer,” commenting on CL’s Fresh Loaf blog