Obama vs. Osama
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller Reports: Barack Obama has described himself as a "skinny kid with a funny name" but being confused with the world’s most notorious terrorist isn’t all that amusing.
"Can you describe the differences between yourself and Osama Bin Laden?" a voter asked Senator Obama, D-Ill., on Wednesday during a town hall in Dover, New Hampshire.
Laughing of the voter’s question, Obama replied, "Well, you know, Mitt Romney’s been very confused about this," referencing a recent gaffe committed by Mitt Romney in which the former Massachusetts governor and potential Republican rival repeatedly used Obama’s name instead of Osama Bin Laden’s name during a discussion of terrorism at an event Tuesday in South Carolina.
You can watch that video here.
But then Obama, who intially seemed to shrug off Romney’s comments, continued, "And I think when Romney starts saying this stuff — sometimes it might be honest mistakes, sometimes no. You don’t know."
"But I have no doubt that there will be some of that, trying to make me into this foreign, you know, odd, clearly black person. And to scare people," Obama concluded.
The Illinois Senator Obama produced two distinct differences between himself bin Laden: "I don’t have a lot of facial hair" and "He lives in a cave," Obama joked.
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Gov Romney is running for president and he doesn’t even know the name of the terrorist who killed our fellow Americans on our own soil? It’s a shame. Then he is NOT even fit to be a Gov.
after all Gov Romney is using his personal money to fund his campaign. We all know whenever a businessman spends his money ,he will do everything to get his money back. As a business man he fears that Senator Obama may be an abstacle to him not getting his money.
Posted by: Andrew | October 24, 2007, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
We who have lived in this culture for a number of years clearly understand what ex-Govenor Romney is doing. He is adding to the process that the Senator from NY started. They both understand what they are doing and it goes beyond common decency in my mind.
Posted by: murl41 | October 24, 2007, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Senator Clinton and Govenor Romney would do well to speak to real issues i.e. the war,the budget,lack of jobs for low and middle income americans, lack of afforable healthcare and reducing the impact of lobbyist controlling our goverment. Perhaps the should listen to the wisdom of the young man from IL. They may come to understand how to be the “President” of this nation.
Posted by: murl41 | October 24, 2007, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Remember people, think for yourselves in this matter. Mr. Romney is a great candidate for the Presidency and just made a mistake. It just shows he’s human. Unlike the “perfect” Hilary Clinton…HA. He slipped up. Everyone makes mistakes. If you want to know more about him, research him in good sources. You’ll find out he’s a great guy and a great candidate.
Posted by: Jeffrey W. | October 24, 2007, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
I recall that the esteemed drunken senator from MA couldn’t say Obama’s name without butchering it a number of times as “Osama.” It’s amazing that after he butchered it, I didn’t hear a belch. I think the American public is much smarter than Obama makes us out to be. I think after six years, we know who Osama is.
Posted by: Getalife | October 24, 2007, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
Osama Obama There is a difference
Posted by: BTL musings | October 24, 2007, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
Sorry but, Obama’s running from al Qaida in Iraq shows that Obama won’t do much to fight al Qaida, his protests to the contrary notwithstanding.
Posted by: jade02008 | October 24, 2007, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
I am afraid to vote for Obama …. and Hillary, Giuliani, McCain, and Romney. I read their platforms and records. That should scare everyone.
Posted by: Royce | October 24, 2007, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
Anyone who knows anything about the mormon religion would know that Rick_VT has no idea what he is talking about.
Posted by: bball3212 | October 24, 2007, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm
sorry I meant “m” anyways attacking Romney on this issue makes no sense…it was a mixup, Tenny Kennedy did the same thing. Get a grip people
Posted by: bball3212 | October 24, 2007, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
Jeffrey, simply put he is an ex or former Govenor of Ma. I also think he is a smart person and know’s exactly the impact his statement will have on some of the electorate. Just as Senator Clinton understands the impact of her comments. For the record I am not a liberal. I am simply tired of subliminal politics and politicans excusing themselves for their behavoir.If you are afraid to vote for Senator Obama. Then you must feel that the country has been heading in the right direction for the past sixteen (16)years and we have had simply great leadership in the “Executive Branch” during this period.
Posted by: murl41 | October 24, 2007, 11:11 pm 11:11 pm
So the only differences Obama can come up with re: the enemy of Western Civilization is his hairstyle and his address? Yikes, maybe they’re more alike than we thought?!
Posted by: HS | October 24, 2007, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
He was lightening the mood HS. ;)
Posted by: Jeffrey W. | October 24, 2007, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
It is funny how the media is trying to make a big thing out of this. It is not Romney’s fault that Obama has a name like Osama. Even Ted Kennedy confused them. How soon we forget. And remember this?
“Barack Obama, caught up in the fervor of a campaign speech Tuesday, drastically overstated the Kansas tornadoes death toll, saying 10,000 had died.
“The death toll was 12.
“In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died—an entire town destroyed,” the Democratic presidential candidate said in a speech to 500 people packed into a sweltering Richmond art studio for a fundraiser.
Posted by: Hardy | October 25, 2007, 1:28 am 1:28 am
Hard to say which is more frightening: Obama’s inexperience and insistence on greeting card type responses to questions and his underestimation of the intelligence of voters, or Hillary’s wild-eye, command and control to force her agenda… Nothing in the other party that is catching my attention as well.
Posted by: Getalife | October 25, 2007, 1:40 am 1:40 am
Come on? A mistake? Republican tactics taken to a new low! Make your fellow american into an enemy. Spy on your next-door neighbour. THE SKY IS FALLING!
It’s all GOP, FYI! CYA, etc!
Good luck with Iran!
Posted by: JK | October 25, 2007, 2:17 am 2:17 am
Attention: Corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack press……..GROW UP! Stop trying to prop up your Democrat pals that aren’t even qualified to be President of the USA and that applies to all the Democrat candidates running in this election cycle. This is a NON-STORY. Really sad indeed………….
Posted by: Allen Ridge | October 25, 2007, 8:48 am 8:48 am
From the 2005 National Press Club on the future of the Democratic party, Senator Kennedy’s response to a question on why Senator Obama was so successful in the polls;
KENNEDY: There you go.
Why don’t we just ask Osama bin — Osama Obama — Obama what — since he won by such a big amount. Seriously, Senator Obama is really unique and special.
Posted by: roguelantern | October 25, 2007, 10:04 am 10:04 am
If Romney can’t see the difference between “Barrack Obama” and “Osama Bin Laden”, how does he expect to find him in the mountains of Pakistan. His gaffe sounds like a line Colbert would use.
Posted by: Uniblogger | October 25, 2007, 11:14 am 11:14 am
Yeah Good luck. bush already screwed america even clinton is a screwball
Posted by: Diesel | October 25, 2007, 11:53 am 11:53 am
That question came from a voter in New Hampshire???? The people of New Hampshire are either really stupid or that person was a Clinton or Edwards plant. They are scared of real change and that is just what Barack will bring: secure the boarders, build a strong economy and military, reclaim personal liberty and bring the nation together. No other candidate can do this.
Posted by: PJ | October 25, 2007, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
One of the real differences between Obama and Usama is Usama is spelled with a U and not an O and the other difference is maybe Romney should go search the cave Usama’s in and therein he will truly learn who’s who and what’s what and will squelch all his ‘so-called’ confusion!! AND, when is Romney going to apologize to Senator Obama, this is not the firt time he KNOWINGLY called Senator Obama a terrorist, or is it that all people of non-white persuasion look alike to Romney!
Posted by: RuthieM | October 25, 2007, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
I listened to the video, and played it several times. Each time Romney would Begin to say OSAMA in fact he did, but then he would quickly change it to Barak Obama.
That to me is a clear indication of DIRTY POOL!
Romney is using the DIRTIEST Trick in the book of mind control.
He is Putting in the WHOLE NAME of Barak Obama after saying OSAMA when he is talking about what the terrorist OSAMA BINLADEN said.
Where is the ethics. He thinks he has everyone fooled, but he does not have me fooled. At 54 no one can pull the wool over my eyes!
Posted by: angelheart80153 | October 25, 2007, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
Roomey dont deserve anywhere near the whiteHouse….
He is a DUBIOUS NONENTITY…..
Americans would be the most IDIOTIC people in the whole wide world if they
elect Roomey, because he will be just another Bush admistration…..
Posted by: Sly | October 25, 2007, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
My brothers and I have completely different names, yet, my mom will confuse us with one another. I think that her simple mistakes make her a horrible person and I am submitting this to ABC News so that they can do a story on it that will tarnish her reputation. Come on…Osama, Obama. The first time I heard of Obama I thought someone was mis-prouncing Osama.
Posted by: Jeremy | October 25, 2007, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
When looking at Obama’s first response to Romney’s “mistake,” what I saw was one man giving another the benefit of the doubt. Mistakes do happen, but Romney clearly started out to say Osama, then changed to say Barack Obama–the full name, not Osama bin Laden. I hardly think this faux pax can be compared to a mistake in numbers (Hardy-Obama did not start out saying 12 and then change it to 10,000–that would be an honest mistake). This kind of thinking–not demanding more from leadership–is what got us into the mess we are in. My fear is not terrorists, but unethical leaders.
Jeremy, I am getting to the age where I sometimes mix up my daughter’s and granddaughter’s names, but what I never do is start off using the right name and switch it to the wrong one and then state the full name midway. Furthermore, I apologize when I make the name mistake and then I correct it.
Posted by: 24k | October 26, 2007, 2:02 am 2:02 am
I am a six foot four African American who faces discrimination on the level of Romney everyday. If USA is afraid of tall intelligent African Americans then they should have left us in Africa where we were minding our own business. Oops, I forgot, thewy don’t know how to do that. What the clearly cowardly Gov. did was typical of such.
Posted by: Tall, Black and Scary | October 26, 2007, 2:46 am 2:46 am
TBS, it was common knowledge that after the failed war of Southern Independence that there was a push to have the former slaves move back to Africa. However, after seeing the success of Liberia, your leaders decided to live in the USA. Lincoln, had he not be killed, would have started to two part program. First, there would have been mass returns of Africans to Africa. Second, Lincoln wanted to start African reservations, like the Indian reservations. Last, Obama isn’t a true AA. His mother was white and his father is a Muslim.
Posted by: Jefferson Davis | October 26, 2007, 10:01 am 10:01 am
Romney had a slip of the tongue, but not the one people are assuming.
He said:
“Actually, just look at what Osam — uh — Barack Obama, said just yesterday. Barack Obama….”
He PLANNED to say:
“Actually, just look at what Obama — uh — I mean Osama bin Laden, said just yesterday. Osama bin Laden….”
His ‘slip of the tongue’ was saying the correct name first, so he got mixed up and then said Barack’s name twice. Confuse Obama and Osama? Okay, they sound alike. But NO ONE could honestly confuse ‘Barack’ with ‘bin Laden’.
Posted by: Tom J | October 26, 2007, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm