Michelle was quoting the book, and incorrectly thought Chris had bothered to read it.
But the clear understanding I always had was that he was inexperienced and nervous, totally understandable, and was lucky when he only got pelted with rice.
But Chris did not pursue anything except conversational shutdown.
Your reasonable concern that self-infloicted could = shot himself in foot was not pursued for clarity. He demanded Michelle either categorically say yes or no on something she had not in fact studied beyond reading the book.
And it was Chris who steered the conversation into the SBV vs. Kerry issue.
Ed