Perry: 'We fought the revolution in the 16th century'

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry says debates aren't his strong suit, but apparently history isn't either.

Speaking at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity on Dartmouth College's campus after Tuesday night's The Washington Post/Bloomberg presidential debate, Perry missed the date of the American Revolution by about 200 years.

"Our Founding Fathers never meant for Washington, D.C. to be the fount of all wisdom," the candidate explained. "As a matter of fact they were very much afraid if that because they’d just had this experience with this far-away government that had centralized thought process and planning and what have you, and then it was actually the reason that we fought the revolution in the 16th century was to get away from that kind of onerous crown if you will."

The American Revolutionary War was actually fought in the last half of 18th century, from 1775 through 1783.

"I just try to get up every day and do my job and you know debates are not my strong suit but you know, we get up and do them and we just try to let people see our passion and I think that’s what we did tonight," Perry told KTRK following the debate.

Watch this video from NBC, broadcast Oct. 12, 2011.

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(H/T: Talking Points Memo)