Perry reminds backers of Ford’s Texas tamales gaffe

After Wednesday’s debate “Oops,” Rick Perry’s crew sent out a fundraising letter spinning it forward by asking supporters, “So, what agency would you most like to forget?”

The letter makes mention of a few famous gaffes from politicians who made it to the White House, including this: “Gerald Ford ate a tamale without removing the husk.”

For those who weren’t around, here’s a look back at the “Great Tamales Incident” of 1976, offered up here as a side dish to our quick look at debate statements that reminded us of previous fact checks.

Then-President Ford tucked into a plate of tamales during a San Antonio visit, unaware the good part comes wrapped inside a less-edible corn husk. The “Incident” tickled the public fancy enough to make national news — probably helped by Ford’s image on “Saturday Night Live” as a serial bumbler.

Perry is taking the bull by the horns with a planned appearance Thursday on David Letterman’s show, but Saturday night he may want to turn off his TV.