The House Oversight Committee has been on fire lately what with all the subpoenas and whatnot. But today it seems they may have gotten a bit of comic relief when Trump’s Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson didn’t know the difference between a foreclosure acronym and a tasty cream-filled chocolate cookie — ultimately needing schooling by none other than a Democratic congresswoman.
Carson, who has served as President Donald Trump’s HUD secretary since early 2017, was completely dumbfounded by basic terms and acronyms used by Rep. Katie Porter as she grilled him on foreclosures and other pertinent housing issues.
Porter, a former University of California-Irvine professor and public interest lawyer asked Carson, “Do you know what an REO is?”
Carson, seemingly perplexed asked, “An Oreo?”
It was then that Porter had to slowly spell out the difference between the acronym and the popular name brand cookie.
“No, not an Oreo,” she explained. “An REO.”
“Real estate,” Carson took a shot in the dark.
“What’s the ‘O’ stand for?” Porter grilled.
“Organization?” he guessed.
Porter explained to the housing secretary that REO stands for real-estate owned property — a term used when a property goes into foreclosure. She then attempted to get back to questioning Carson about important housing issues concerning her constituents.
She later tweeted about her shock that Carson so blatantly lacks such basic, common knowledge about his job.
“I asked @SecretaryCarson about REOs – a basic term related to foreclosure – at a hearing today,” Porter tweeted. “He thought I was referring to a chocolate sandwich cookie. No, really.”
I asked @SecretaryCarson about REOs – a basic term related to foreclosure – at a hearing today. He thought I was referring to a chocolate sandwich cookie. No, really. pic.twitter.com/cYekJAkRag
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) May 21, 2019
Of course, because Twitter can sometimes be a really fantastic place, Carson was properly dragged.
Does any Trump Cabinet Officer know anything about their jobs?
— LaneBrooks (@lanebrooks) May 21, 2019
Stormy Daniels is the only person trump ever hired who was qualified for the job.
— AlbusDimpledots (@MuttsNuts) May 21, 2019
Can we check those brain surgeon credentials on Ben? pic.twitter.com/JUsDLuk0GZ
— InHisOwnWrite (@Inhisownwrite_) May 21, 2019
Sorry, I am in an Arby’s and almost fell off my chair laughing. This is so sad it’s ridiculously funny. Perhaps the bank can foreclose on his home and he’ll learn something. Naw, he’s hopeless! Education is a terrible thing to waste! And a doctor too!
— Ed Stensjo (@ed080850) May 21, 2019
This administration takes nothing seriously. @SecretaryCarson couldn’t even fake it. Oreos? Resign.
— Tararella (@taraelleclark) May 21, 2019
Perhaps he should focus on eating Oreos and leaving the housing business to those that actually know and understand basic terminology.
Featured image via screen captureÂ
