In politics what you don’t know could hurt you but if you spin it right, it can actually help.

One of the most embarrassing moments for an elected official is to admit he or she does not know something. For some reason the public super imposes on them a standard that nobody can meet, i.e. to know everything about everything.

Over the years there have been a number of poignant moments when some big shooter politicians had to swallow their pride and confess they were drawing a blank.

Flash back to the first debate for governor involving three Democrats who met in Marquette. On the Public TV statewide stage were former Congressman David Bonior, former Gov. Jim Blanchard trying for a comeback and the state Attorney General Jennifer Granholm seeking to become the state’s first female governor.

The trio battled back and forth as the two guys unsuccessfully tried to make mince meat of you know who and then all three were stopped dead in their tracks with this inquiry.

“What’s your position on sinking funds?”

Say what?

The trio, to their credit, conceded they had no idea what that was. (It’s money for schools for non-educational costs.)

Then there was another trio of Democrats running for governor. This time, former East Lansing mayor and seasoned veteran Larry Owen was on stage with fellow seasoned Democrat Doug Ross and flamboyant and non-career politician Geoffrey Fieger.

It was clear the other two had forgotten more about state government than the trial lawyer ever knew. He proved it when asked during another statewide televised debate, “What is your position on the MEDC?”

Fieger was quickly relegated to a deer in the headlights stance which was foreign to him.

He thought for a second and whimpered, “I don’t know what that is.”

Like two second-graders bouncing up and down with their hands for the teacher to see, they not only knew it was the Michigan Economic Development Corporation but they both supported the idea of doling out cash to attract business to the state. Fieger was smart enough to bounce back with this rejoinder that his ignorance was proof he was an outsider and if voters liked that he was their guy.

Afterwards he complained off camera to the moderator that, “you set me up with that question. You knew I would not know it.”

Poor Geoffy. The goal of the question was to see if he did know and whether he would tell the truth or try to wiggle his way out of it. To his credit he said he didn’t know which played right into his hand. He went on to win the nomination.

Which brings us to a more recent self-described non-career politician who never saw the Fieger performance because when confronted with stuff he did not know, he simply sat there, admitted it, and did not try to turn a negative into a plus.

Making his first statewide Public TV appearance, Shri Thanedar, the Mr. Money Bags business guy from Ann Arbor, tried to convince the panel that even though he lacked hands-on governmental experience, his 36 years as a businessman qualified him to be chief executive. (Sound like somebody else from Ann Arbor who said exactly the same thing before Rick Snyder became governor?)

Then the roof fell in.

Who is the Republican leader in the state Senate?

He paused. Then admitted he didn’t know.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

Same pause. Same answer.

He did know that Rep. Sam Singh was the House Democratic leader but drew a blank on the senate Democratic leader. He went one for four and then missed the chance to pull a Fieger.

Mr. Thanedar could have said, I just told you that I was not a career politician and my inability to answer those questions is proof I was not lying. Voters want an outsider and I’m it. Besides once I become governor I will know whom I’m working with.

Instead he said he would have breakfast once a week with the leaders if he was elected and then, sensing that his client was in trouble, his senior adviser fired off a post program missive suggesting that the candidate was too busy “meeting real people” and in effect did not have time for politicians.

To be sure, the faux pas was not fatal unless his opponents try to make it so.

If there is a silver lining here, candidate Rick Snyder drew a blank when asked to name the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. He could not but he went on to win.

Perhaps Mr. Thanedar is hoping that the same mistake will lead to a win for him, too.