“Oops.” That’s how Rick Perry concluded his cringe-inducing remarks about eliminating three government agencies at last night’s GOP presidential debate in Michigan. The problem? Well, first, there’s the embarrassing fact that he could only remember two of the three departments (Commerce and Education) he wanted to abolish.

What’s gotten less attention is the fact that Perry eventually did remember that he also wants to eliminate the Department of Energy. I guess it is easy to forget your policy positions when they are nothing more than talking points fed to you by the polluters bankrolling your campaign. It’s much harder to forget carefully considered, common-sense solutions like those being implemented at DOE.

Certainly, DOE is not a perfect agency, but it is home to important programs that support energy efficiency and promote new clean energy technologies. Eliminating DOE would slow progress of renewable energy technologies like wind, solar and geothermal, on fuel-efficient vehicles, and on energy-saving appliances and buildings. Of course, that’s exactly the goal of Governor Perry and his Big Oil supporters who want to keep us dependent on the fuels of the past.

Perry’s biggest mistake? Thinking that the American people would be fooled by his dirty message. Oops.