Oh, yeah. We definitely have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
What he intended to say was "misconstrued," and in any event it simply came out wrong.
Audio is available here.
The 17-year-old high-school girl said she liked the fact that through her work with the science center, she could help other people, including adults, overcome their fear of snakes.
Rep. Hewitt said, "If you’re bashful I got a snake sitting under my desk here."
What he actually meant to say was, "If you are shy, then I have an acre of land in the Everglades."
It just somehow came out wrong.
Who you calling "we" Kimosabe? I said "I". YMMV
What he really meant to say was, “If you’re bashful I got a BIG snake STANDING UP under my desk here.” Anyway, the snake came out wrong.