Is this really the worst thing a candidate can do in a debate?

“And I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone,” he said. “Commerce, education, and the — what's the third one there? Let's see .... OK. Commerce, education, and the —” He looked helplessly toward the elderly Ron Paul, standing next to him on the stage, who added helpfully: “The EPA?” Mr. Perry replied: “EPA, there you go.” The moderator pressed on, asking if, indeed, he was proposing to cut the Environmental Protection Agency. He said no, but admitted he could not name the third agency. “The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops.”

I haven't seen the video but surely this was an opportunity to make a joke or at least a chance to give a guy a break for a brain fart. Nothing more. Or is it a case of kicking the candidate to make sure a dead campaign is really dead. Shouldn't "oops" come with a little dignity, the waving of a small white flag? Otherwise, isn't it a bit like kicking the dog that only did what a dog does? Shouldn't recourse to "oops" mean witness ye all the human condition, judge not lest ye, too, be judged?