(Image credit: Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON - Texas Gov. Rick Perry had a bit of an "oops" moment today when he mistakenly referred to the administration's response to the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi as occurring in Lebanon instead of Libya.

"I fear where we've come to in America, where our administration won't make one phone call to save our men and women in a embassy in Lebanon," Perry said at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference.

Earlier in his speech, Perry referred to his brush with forgetfulness during the 2012 Republican presidential primary and shared with the crowd why he personally relates to Peter the Apostle.

"It was the same Peter whose mouth sometimes ran faster than his brain," Perry said. "Let me tell you I can relate to Peter.

"I've learned a little bit about humility, particularly on national television," Perry said. "But the fact is, God hadn't called the perfect to go into the arena of public service. He's called people just like you and just like me."

Despite the mistake in his speech today, Perry urged Republicans to adopt the demeanor of a "happy warrior" and doled out a simple piece of advice for conservatives.

"Smile when you disagree with a liberal," Perry said. "Shake your head as Ronald Reagan once said, he said you know, liberals know so much that isn't so."