I was reminded of these feelings recently when I totally screwed-up on live t.v.
It was the night of Super Tuesday. I was at the chic-chic Biltmore Resort in Phoenix covering a big John McCain bash as the results from primaries around the country came pouring in.
I was on t.v.--doing a live-shot--talking about the large and enthusiastic crowd that was there supporting the home town candidate John McCain--when suddenly a producer whispered gruffly through the little plastic devise that was jammed into my ear that I needed to "STRETCH!"
That of course is t.v. talk for "keep talking knucklehead!"--because for some reason at that moment we have nowhere else to go and we need you to fill up time.
So seizing the opportunity--I immediately launch in to one of my rapid-fire rants. Suddenly I'm all over the map--at one moment speculating wildly about possible cabinet positions in a McCain administration and some of Senator's Arizona buddies who might be asked to serve--next moment I'm talking about the "lovely Mrs. McCain" and her stoic support of her husband over the many months out on the grueling campaign trail--and then I'm rifting about McCain's other frequent traveling companion, Conn. Senator Joe Lieberman.
And it's while I'm gabbing about Lieberman and his history that I make my big mistake of the evening. I said something to the effect that while Leiberman is now one of most high-profile and enthusiastic supporters of Republican candidate John McCain, just four years ago he was the running mate of Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerrey

OUCH!!!!!!!!!

That of course is completely incorrect. Joe Leiberman was at one time a Democratic vice presidential candidate. But as every political-geek and armchair historian knows it was eight years ago and his running mate was Al Gore.

OUCH!!!!!!!!

My bad!
I actually know better--I spent a very memorable week in Palm Beach Florida back in late 2000 as that year's presidential election and indeed the future of the entire country dangled precariously from a thing called a "chad."
But there on Super Tuesday 2008 in that motor-mouthing moment I hit that mistake head-on on live t.v. and didn't even look back in the rear view as I obliviously continued to roaring down the road.
No it wasn't until I finally got "off air" that my cell phone started vibrating in my pocket. And no it was not some know-it-all producer telling me that I'm a dummy or some wiseguy viewer going off on how stupid "the media" is--no it was my 12-year-old son.
"Hi dad......how's it going?......just saw you on t.v....I think you made a mistake."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah...you said Joe Leiberman was John Kerrey's running mate....I don't think that's right....it was Al Gore"

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

From the mouths of babes! Of course my son was absolutely right and the realization that I had just made a nincompoop of myself on the air landed in my gut like a low blow from Mike Tyson.
"Dad....you o.k.?" my sweet son asked. "When are you going to be home?.....will you wake-up me and say good-night?.....love you dad.....bye."
And there it was.....the stone cold truth.....politics are confusing.....I'm an idiot......I'd just looked foolish on live television.....but more importantly my beautiful son had called me (not I am convinced to be critical or condescending but instead because he cared about the old man and he didn't want to see me make a mistake).
A few minutes later when I got back "on the air" I very awkwardly stumbled and fumbled my way through a public correction of my error.
But that's not really what this story is all about.
There are a million reasons that I love my son--he is a smart, wonderful, big-hearted kid--and one of the many reasons I love him so much is that he is always honest with his old man. And even though I'd sort of fallen flat on my face that night--he still called me up and told me that he loved me.