Bert Bigelow tells the story of the snappiest comeback ever:
On Wednesday, March 1st, 2006, in Annapolis at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at AU, was requested to testify.
At the end of his testimony, Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs said: “Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?”
Raskin replied: “Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible.”
The room erupted into applause.
Via Pharyngula.
Though the very snappiest comeback ever may well be this one:
Once at a social gathering, Gladstone said to Disraeli, “I predict, Sir, that you will die either by hanging or of some vile disease”. Disraeli replied, “That all depends, sir, upon whether I embrace your principles or your mistress.”
I’ll have to paraphrase the most famous, and I believe best, one I know:
Winston Churchill was being hounded at a social function by a female socialite who was not very attractive nor approving of his conduct of the moment:
“Mr Churchill, you are drunk.”
“Yes, my lady, I am…but you are ugly. In the morning, I shall no longer be drunk.”
Thanks Scott – that one goes on the “man, I wish I could think that fast” list.