SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Who among us hasn't hit the send button too soon - before we noticed a misspelled word, a wrong number or sentence that's incomprehensible? Whatever your politics, it's hard not to feel for Derek Myers, who was running as what he called the America First candidate for the Republican nomination for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District.
At 3:19 p.m. Tuesday, primary voting day in Ohio, Mr. Myers sent out a statement that began, tonight, did not go as we hoped, and conceded defeat, except the polls were still open until 7:30. People who wanted to vote for him or any of his 10 opponents, still had 4.5 hours to do so.
At 3:30 p.m., Derek Myers posted on X, attention press, my campaign comms team has sent out an email in error. As we prepare for both possible outcomes tonight, please disregard the email. Thank you.
Then at 4 p.m., Derek Myers had another post to explain, quote, "the concession email was sent in error as it was being loaded into the media distribution portal. Accidentally, the send now button was clicked instead of draft." "Anyone who works in communications," he added, knows it's not uncommon to have speeches and releases prepared in the event of each outcome, "especially on such an important (ph) night," except whoever entered the keystrokes on Derek Myers message left out the R in important and put an E after the first T, which turned important into an altogether different word.
Do I need to spell it out for you? The post was fixed, but enshrined by screenshots. Does seem all too easy these days to miss or misstrike a key or wind up saying something unplanned and awkward.
Imagine if historical figures had written some of their best-known phrases in hurried tweets.
Lincoln might have posted from Gettysburg, four sore and even years ago.
Franklin Roosevelt might have tried to rally the nation during the depression by posting, the only thing we have to fear is beer itself.
Richard Nixon might have tried to assure the country during the Watergate investigations, well, I'm not a cook.
Derek Myers finished 11th in a field of 11 candidates. There are many politicians who have lost elections but gone on to win high office later. If Derek Myers chooses to run again, he'll certainly have an asset next time because of a few slippery-fingered keystrokes - nam recognition.
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