Saturday, August 20, 2016

(Video) Illinois State comptroller says rival stinks at math, then flubs multiplication test

The Chicago Tribune reports:
Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger likes to suggest her Democratic challenger, Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, can't do math.

But when it comes to middle school multiplication, it's Republican Munger who might need some practice.

Chicago Inc. quizzed both candidates for the comptroller's office, charged with paying the state's bills, on their multiplication tables at the State Fair this week after Munger gave two stump speeches in which she got laughs by suggesting that as a former state representative, Mendoza shares blame for the state's terrible financial situation. "What's her deal?" Munger asked of her rival for the role of the state's chief fiscal officer. "Maybe she's not so good at math!"

The final scores in our off-the-cuff oral exam, though, told a different story: Munger, 33 percent; Mendoza, 100 percent.

Munger's impromptu exam, given to her on camera moments after she stepped off stage at Gov. Bruce Rauner's rally Wednesday, started confidently, with her boasting "my math is good — I have a master's in business" and pointing to her experience managing an $800 million company.

Then the math started, and things started going wrong.

Asked what eight times seven was, Munger shot back "Eight sevens is 72," before correcting herself, "no, 56."

Things got worse when the comptroller was asked what nine threes are: "53," she answered. "No. Nine threes? Why are you doing this to me?"
Watch the video. Master's in business but can't do simply multiplication!