Critics attack President Obama for Buffalo Mayor gaffe, who joked about his age

The crowd at the University of Buffalo on “hooted” as President Obama praised “Mayor Brian Higgins,” began the USA Today coverage describing his gaffe as a “flub.”

Brian Higgins is a member of Congress from the Buffalo area; Byron Brown is the mayor of Buffalo. After the awkward pause, a search for a telepromter, Obama quickly corrected himself, then threw in the old age joke.

“This is what happens when you get to be 52 years old,” said Obama, whose birthday fell earlier this month. “When I was 51, everything was smooth.”

 Watch the video below 

Conservatives weren’t so kind, but Higgins made light of the error tweeting “I’ve been called much worse. At least he didn’t call me the Mayor of San Diego.”

Transcript:

A number of other people I want to acknowledge here — first of all, our Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who’s doing a great job. (Applause.) One of the finest governors in the country, your Governor, Andrew Cuomo, is here. (Applause.) Your outstanding Mayor, Brian Higgins, is here. Give him a big round of applause.

AUDIENCE: Congressman!

THE PRESIDENT: What?

AUDIENCE: The Mayor is Byron Brown!

THE PRESIDENT: Byron Brown. That’s — I’m sorry, Byron. (Applause.) What I meant was — your Congressman, Brian Higgins, is here. (Applause.) Your Mayor, Byron Brown, is here. (Applause.) This is what happens when you get to be 52 years old. (Laughter.) When I was 51 everything was smooth. (Laughter.) But your Congressman and your Mayor are doing outstanding work. We just rode on the bus over from the airport, and they were telling me that Buffalo is on the move. That was the story. (Applause.)

Full transcript here