Screen shot of closed-caption gaffe at Code Talkers Ceremony. November 20, 2013

Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), the Speaker of the House, apologized for a closed-caption gaffe at the Code Talkers ceremony on Wednesday.

As representatives of 33 tribes were being presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, the word "Alcoholic" was displayed on a screen in front of the entire audience. Apparently, the person who was transcribing the event misheard the word "Choctaw."

"Closed captioning services for all major congressional events are provided by a private company that has no affiliation with the House or Senate. Unfortunately, the individual transcribing today’s event apparently mis-heard the word “Choctaw.” The transcription company was given a list of the tribes before the ceremony, so this should not have happened, and we will make a full inquiry,” Michael Steel, a spokesperson for Boehner, told Indian Country Today in an e-mail.

“Obviously, the Speaker deeply regrets this offensive error by the transcribing service," Steel added.

ICT said it was trying to contact the private company that provided closed-captioning service for the event.

Get the Story:
A Tribe Named Alcoholic? Closed Caption Gaffe at Code Talker Ceremony (Indian Country Today 11/21)

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Code Talkers to receive Congressional Gold Medal at US Capitol (11/18)