Romney Confuses Obama With Osama

Mitt Romney today, in Greenville:

"

Actually, just look at what Osam, uh, Barack Obama, said just yesterday. Barack Obama calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. That is the central place, he said. Come join us under one banner."

Bill Burton, Obama's campaign spokesman, responds:

"Apparently, Mitt Romney can switch names just as casually as he switches positions, but what's wrongheaded is continuing a misguided war in Iraq that has left America less safe. It's time to end the divisiveness and fear-mongering that is at the heart of Governor Romney's campaign."

NBC/NJ's Erin McPike adds an apology from the Romney campaign:

Romney's South Carolina spokesman Will Holley told reporters several hours later that Romney misspoke when discussing Obama at another point in the speech, as the AP first reported, by saying "Osam-." It was a slip of the tongue," Holley said.

(Chaser...)

Comments

Have you seen a moron like Romney? This flipflopper tries to act too smart but comes out as a dumbshit.

Posted by tim | October 23, 2007 1:51 PM

Mitt is more of a vegas pimp than anything else. He has zero subject knowledge unless he is trained on it by his handlers.

Posted by Shelly in Tampa | October 23, 2007 1:54 PM

Romney is the same guy who as a Mormon believes that Jesus is the brother of the Devil. Romney also believes we all originate from a planet near a star called Kolob.

Romney is also the same guy who gave a wicked smile right after the heart-broken father whose son is serving in Iraq asked about Romney saying his five sons working on his campaign is same as serving in Iraq. Romney never apologized to the father.

Posted by Mormony | October 23, 2007 2:00 PM

Asked why none of his five sons are serving in Iraq, Romney says they're serving the country in another way: by working for his campaign for president!

"One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."

-- Romney, explaining today why it's ok that none of his five sons enlisted in the military.

America thanks you, sons of Romney, for your brave and noble sacrifice on behalf of this great nation.

Posted by Mormony | October 23, 2007 2:02 PM

Barack should point out that the Iraq War has been going on so long that when it began when Romney was pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-gay rights.

Posted by Ethan | October 23, 2007 2:06 PM

Oh really MittFlopper? This is how much Mitt cares about Bin Laden. When asked by AP about catching the man who killed 3000 people Mitt said:

"It's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person."

The clueless Mitt is shameless too.

Posted by Eddie | October 23, 2007 2:10 PM

"NBC/NJ's Erin McPike adds an apology from the Obama campaign:"

I think you meant an apology from the Romney campaign.

But then it is pretty easy mix up names sometimes.

Good thing you aren't a candidate, that would be an ignorant mistake that would show how unqualified you are to even run.

Posted by Peter | October 23, 2007 2:32 PM

The article was about a slip of the tongue, but many of the comments brought out their true colors of ignorance and hatred. Stick to the issue and do better research.

Posted by Savea | October 23, 2007 2:55 PM

It's funny because in my house the same thing happens all the time with Mitt Romney:

I constantly call him Asshole by mistake.

Posted by Betty in Baltimore | October 23, 2007 3:24 PM

Geeze the venom... Amazing how people full of biggotry and hate will attempt to extort the slightest "opportunity" to spew their bile. I think it's safe to say that every single person on the planet has done the same thing a thousand times over. Romney didn't even actually finish Osama's name and clearly corrected himself! Why do people work so hard to infuse intent or meaning into a comment that obviously carried no reference to Osama. If these people judge so harshly such simple errors, they too will be judged for their "slip-ups". And they call themselves Christians? Oh boy.

Posted by T Jones | October 23, 2007 4:09 PM

@T Jones,

Yes you are right...for the most part. The only difference is that every other person making that mistake is not some asshole hypocrite running for the most powerful office in the world.

Posted by horny mormon | October 23, 2007 4:53 PM

If these comments are typical of the Atlantic's readers, you will never find me as a subscriber.

Posted by Bot | October 23, 2007 5:09 PM

Fact still remains that Romney is smarter than all the candidates - Democrat & Republican!

Posted by dan | October 23, 2007 5:23 PM

This is an apology?

"Romney's South Carolina spokesman Will Holley told reporters several hours later that Romney misspoke when discussing Obama at another point in the speech, as the AP first reported, by saying "Osam-." It was a slip of the tongue," Holley said."

That might be an explanation, but certainly is no where near an apology. However, even the explanation is wrong. If Romney were referring to something Obama actually said it would be a fine explanation. But saying "Osam-" and then correcting to Obama when actually quoting Osama Bin Laden is not a slip of the tongue. It's a typical Romneyism which he has displayed in the past in associating himself with cheap shots at Obama's name.

Posted by Ken | October 23, 2007 5:24 PM

Right on point Ken!

Romney is a used car salesman and commentators like Savea and TJones are typical republicans who will go on their knees to buy a used car from their salesman.

Posted by wof | October 23, 2007 5:31 PM

Why is it that Romney only talks about Obama when he is down South? Seriously, he always pulls this Osama shit when he is in South Carolina -- is that part of the plan?

Posted by Keith | October 23, 2007 5:44 PM

The fact that Romney accidentally starts correctly with "Osama" and then changes, awkwardly, to "Barack" shows that the whole point was a cheap-shot on the name.

How do you mix up "Osama" and "Barack"? There's no similarity there.

Of a kind with all things Republican: lapel pins, Hillary name-calling, that "Democrat Party" line, and "Osama-Obama" jokes.

It's all they've got. A bunch of middle-school boys. Really pathetic.

Posted by lewp | October 23, 2007 6:03 PM

You guys are a bunch of babies...WaaWaaWaa...Romney called someone a name..WaaWaa. Who cares? I have heard countless people say the same thing on accident. The two are almost just alike and are commonly used in the political language. Get over your thin skin and your thick bias.

Posted by Micah | October 23, 2007 6:08 PM

Not that I would ever vote for the dude, but I'm willing to bet some money that Mr. Romney did that name mix-up "accidentally on purpose" as a subtle political tactic. In other words, "Whoops, Oh sorry everyone, I made a mistake, but notice how closely my political rival's name resembles that of America's most wanted criminal living today !!!"

Fact: I'm sure most people here realize that Obama's middle name is Hussein. NO ? Well now you know.

Nuther Fact: America has not had a President since John Fitzgerald Kennedy with more than three syllables in their last name....Johnson (2), Nixon (2), Ford (1), Carter (2), Reagan (2), Bush (1), Clinton (2), Bush (1).

America, it seems, doesn't like a President who has a name with too many syllables to pronounce.

It just might be that Barack's Presidential campaign will "tank" purely because of the letters in his name.

Sad. Very sad. It's sad to think that Barack would stand a better chance of winning if his name was, say, Brian Henry Smith, or something like that.

Posted by Pikop Andropov | October 23, 2007 6:08 PM

Hmmm, I wonder how many people on this post have all the facts about Mitt's positions. I really don't care about the mistake in communication. No big deal.

However, I do have issue about the uneducated individual who makes claims about the beliefs of Mormons. I hear those who call themselves Christians (including Mormons) believe that two 90 year old women gave birth (Sariah, the mother of Issaic) and (Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist). They also believe that this 600 year old man named Noah constructed an arch and that God flooded the entire earth. Or how about the idea that Moses opened the waters of the Dead Sea and the children of Isreal passed through on dry ground.

While I also believe all these things, I think Mormony above is misguided in how Mormons came to learn these things.

According to a translated book of Abraham (if anyone thinks he could be considered a prophet) taught most of what Mormony presents as nonsence.

Posted by David | October 23, 2007 6:38 PM

I also have some real issues about individuals who seem to think that going after a man who has killed 3000 people is worth spending billions of dollars for. What if we loose more that 3000 and spend billions of dollars for his capture, then is it worth it? I doubt it!

I am also amazed at just how crazy people get. Once the media tells them something that is something they want to hear, they believe it. There is no such thing as a "flip-flopper." There are only people who are "open-minded" and "close-minded." Hopefully, there are more people who are open-minded who participate in this election, then those who are closed-minded. Besides, if "flip-flopping" is real, I imagine most of us will have a change of opinion and beliefs more than once in our lives. If we don't, we have stopped learning!

Posted by David | October 23, 2007 6:50 PM

Nothing accidental about it, it seems calculated. What a big dope. He should go host game shows, or a polygamist dating game.

Posted by XraySpex | October 23, 2007 7:02 PM

Just so my comments above make sense, in the blog post as originally written, Marc Ambinder accidentally referred to an apology from the "Obama" campaign.

Marc was able to correct his simple mistake with a quick edit... Can't we give the same leeway to Romney?

Posted by Peter | October 23, 2007 7:07 PM

Mr Romney, I question why you are wasting your time and everyone elses time because you know and we know you will not be as good a leader as Obama. You are just a jeolous old Mormon and pls grow up and be a human being

Posted by pana | October 23, 2007 7:22 PM

Hussein is a common namesake that holds alot of prestige among Arabs. It makes sense that Barack's father, who is from Kenya--an African nation influenced a great deal by Arab colonization--would have chosen Hussein for his son's middle name.

The language used here is just like racism. I grew up in a very white-power state and I hated it.

To me there is no difference between calling someone the n-word and spewing out a bunch of prejudice remarks about somebody's church.

I personally know many Mormons and they are good people. What they believe is up to them and I really don't care. I'll be voting based on what the candidate stands for --not what church they belong to.

Posted by Aaron | October 23, 2007 7:24 PM

i love these sites! i am always curious where all the "qualified" candidates hang out as we approach election time...i think i may have found it!
couldn't care less about a personal choice of what god to worship. instead, i choose to focus on credentials, direction, real experience, etc...when trying to decide who best would run the country.
on a side note, i am quite impressed with romney's business savvy. comparing him to a car salesman is hardly accurate.
in any case, raising campaign funds by "small donations" is hardly something impressive. a powerful, solid leader would be very welcome at this point. maybe one of you all should run--it sounds like you have things figured out!

Posted by tx_is_always_sx | October 23, 2007 8:39 PM

I am aware that nothing I say here will alter the uneducated, predujiced and immature of many of those commenting here. Labeling others with profanity does not lend those who do so any credibility. Disagree if you wish but keep it to the issues rather than attacking someone's character of which you nothing about. People of unquestioned moral character are supporting Romney across this country. I doubt that any of us can claim even a portion of the accomplishments both in business, in taking on the Olympics or in politics of Mitt Romney. His intelligence is legendary, his personal discipline is well known, his dedication to his family and faith are solid. Disagree if you like but stop the ignorant, foul mouthed attacks.

Posted by Holz | October 23, 2007 8:59 PM

Apparently I must be on the Communist News Network (CNN) website.

Mitt is the most intelligent Presidential candidate we have ever had...he can work the Win-Win that our country needs. Distinguished grad, duel major, success in everything he's attempted.

Been in military 31 years and Mitt's the man we need. You radicals need to heed your words on tolerance to others smarter than you

Cheers to all you radicals
Oh, buy the way, I'm a 70's Univ of Calif grown up now.
vr
Ralph

Posted by ralph | October 23, 2007 10:12 PM

Apparently I must be on the Communist News Network (CNN) website.

Mitt is the most intelligent Presidential candidate we have ever had...he can work the Win-Win that our country needs. Distinguished grad, duel major, success in everything he's attempted.

Been in military 31 years and Mitt's the man we need. You radicals need to heed your words on tolerance to others smarter than you

Cheers to all you radicals
Oh, buy the way, I'm a 70's Univ of Calif grown up now.
vr
Ralph

Posted by ralph | October 23, 2007 10:14 PM

Since the president is the "Chief Executive", maybe we should consider looking for someone with executive skills. Hillary, McCain, Obama, and Thompson are not executives. Never have been. Legislating isn't the same thing as sitting in the desk where the buck stops. Legislators are good at talking and spinning and talking some more. Rudy, Romney, and to a lesser degree, Huckabee, are the only ones who bring those skills. Romney's resume is in a class by itself. Like the rest of them, he talks like a politician and he sounds like one. But there's one important difference: He actually understands what a budget is, and he's proven he knows how to balance one. He understands how the economy works. He understands business. Wouldn't it be nice for a change to have someone driving the bus who actually understands what those buttons and gauges on the dashboard are all about?

Posted by Paul | October 24, 2007 1:50 AM

American Voters are entitled to ask questions about Mitt Romney's faith since he is trying to position himself as the " values " candidate . Like everything concerning Romney his pretensions to being a Christian are phony . Why doesnt he tell the American people what he really believes eg Jesus being the DEVIL'S brother , humanity originating from a planet near a star called Kolob , God the Father being a polygamist etc ?

Another very important question is this - what was Mitt Romney's views as a mature young man in the 1970s when the Mormon organisation was saying the most terrible things about black people .
Was he for example protesting with others outside the Mormon univerity in Provo Utah ? I rather think not . I rather think he was just blindly following the Mormon leadership line .

If some extraordinary tragedy happens and Romney was elected President it would be inconcievable that the so called Mormon prophet would not have a hot line with him . Make no mistake a vote for Romney is a vote for Mormonism - and if he were to succeed the Mormons would milk it for all its worth .

Andrew from London

Posted by Andrew Price | October 24, 2007 5:40 AM

Yes Paul, it would be nice for a change to have "someone driving the bus who actually understands what those buttons and gauges on the dashboard are all about?"

Unfortunately, America will most likely elect another dimbulb (much like the one who has been wasting valuable space in the oval office for the last 7 years) who can't tell their butt from a biscuit.

Sadly, at this point there is so much mainstream media hype and spin around these elections that the vast majority of the populace ends up cheering for, and nominating the media "darling," of which Hillary seems to be the favored one at this point. Most of America does not research alternative choices and vote their conscience. Most of America is pretty lazy when it comes to voting and will rally behind the one who they think most other people will vote for because they can't accept the fact they might be voting for a candidate who has no chance of winning. They hate to think that they might be just wasting their vote. To press my point, ask around and find out just how many people have heard of, much less would ever vote for, any of the Green Party Presidential candidates, which just so happens to be 11 or 12 candidates at this time (Ralph Nader being one of them). Do a Google search for others in the Green Party lineup.

America, Vote Your Conscience !!! Vote for who you think will make the best decisions in the White House. Not for who you've been told most other people will be voting for.

There is a huge amount of choices out there for Presidential candidates. The 9 Republicans and 8 Democrats that you normally see on mainstream media is only a small percentage of the full lineup. Check out the full list at Politics1.com

Posted by Pikop Andropov | October 24, 2007 5:44 AM

"Mitt is the most intelligent Presidential candidate we have ever had."

Intelligent people don't strap the family dog in a pet carrier on the top of their car.

Sometimes the best clues to character are the way a person treats their own 'loved ones'.

If that's how a millionair treats his family pet, how much better will he treat a country of strangers?

Compassion and intelligence are NOT his strong points. And BOTH are qualities sadly lacking in the current White House gang.

Barry Obama will be getting my vote.

Posted by ByTheSea | October 24, 2007 11:07 AM

To Andrew from London:

Those are pretty wild conspiracy theories about the Mormon Church and they represent a narrow-minded prejudice that is no different from racism.

This kind of bigotry, especially toward my fellow Americans--no matter what religion they belong to--reminds me of the hatred demonstrated by the Islamic Radicals. Don't put yourself at that level just because you don't understand a group of people or don't agree with their beliefs.

Again, I personally know many Mormons. I've worked with them, I've had Mormon neighbors. There is nothing wrong with these people. So you don't like what they believe? Go find your own church and leave them alone.

If you really want to understand what they believe you can go to their website: www.mormon.org

Posted by Aaron | October 24, 2007 12:14 PM

If Romney really didn't mean to let that "slip" out, accidentely, (yeah, right...), why the hell hasn't HE issued a direct apology to Mr. Obama?--or to Osama -for that matter-, for mis-atrributing his statement?

Posted by seth Chodosh | October 24, 2007 12:58 PM

Its obvious the LDS people here called in the troops in an attempt to give Senor Flip Flop some credibility here. I lived in Utah for 20 years and know the culture well. It exceeds the per capita average of the United States for abortion,prescription drug abuse,suicide and sexual abuse. "You shall surely know them by their fruit" Don`t let this coffee cup that is filthy inside, with a nice shine on the outside, fool you.

Posted by David | October 24, 2007 2:07 PM

David, I wonder if you could cite a credible source for those claims about the abortion, abuse, etc. I highly doubt Utah of all places would top any of those kinds of demographics.

It's pretty funny that everyone is making such a big deal out of this. Check out the Democratic Party's own Ted Kennedy who did the
exact same thing

Posted by Aaron | October 24, 2007 3:31 PM

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635201873,00.html

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=954866

http://www.health.state.ut.us/vitalrecords/pub_vs/ia05/05md.pdf ( page24)

Heres a few to start... The point is "God chosen"
who claim to be "the only true chhurch" "The Mormons ", fare no better than the rest of the country in "Values" and in many ways. They come up wanting. The LDS Church is Republican ,and, just like the party it puts on a facade of purity in the face of easily illustrated hypocricy. Anybody that studies Mormonism,its temple rites,history and plagarism of the Bible can`t help but reach the same decision I did. Mitts comments were anything but accidental, they are as ignorant as al the racist and bigots out there who say
"Barack HUSSEIN Obama" like his name or family background is something to be afraid of. The Mormon church taught, for many years that Black people were inferior and their skin color was a curse. Mitts behavior is just an extension of the teaching of their "prophets" that has been modified to get more money into the coffers. Talk about "pandering"?

Posted by David | October 24, 2007 5:05 PM

The Mormon church is politically neutral, and its members are from all parties. Nevada Senate majority leader Harry Reid is Mormon and is a democrat for example.

I'm sure there will be members of the Mormon church voting for Hillary and Barack and there will be Mormons voting for Mitt Romney.

It is true, Mormons aren't perfect. Most of them openly admit that. It's those few, mostly Utahrds that give Mormons a bad image by projecting a self-righteous attitude.

There are many more though, that are just ordinary nice people.

Steve Young for example, the former quarterback for the SF 49ers and hall-of-famer is a Mormon.

The bass player for the Alternative Rock band Dishwalla is a Mormon and Brandon Flowers of The Killers is a Mormon.

Dan Truman, pianist for Diamond Rio is a Mormon.

Former basketball player Thurl Bailey is a Mormon.

Snowboarder Torah Bright is a Mormon.

Something that confuses me is that Everybody seems to embrace Islam-and even encourages the idea of talking to the terrorist extremist version of Islam. Why then, would an American-born church like the Mormon church--with members who serve in our military, who are successful in business and entertainment, and who are just decent people have to tolerate so much prejudice?

Posted by Aaron | October 24, 2007 7:23 PM

As far as I'm concerned, I don't give a hoot what faith a candidate practices. The person could be atheist or agnostic and it would not make the tiniest bit of difference to me. In fact, I'd prefer a President who was not too religious. Religious fanatics scare me to death. They always seem like loaded guns, ready to go off at the drop of a hat.

I'm a staunch advocate of complete and unequivocal "Separation of Church and State." Keep your Gods, Ten Commandment Monuments, crucifixes, bibles, prayer beads, and other religious paraphernalia out of public institutions like town halls and capital buildings. I'd even prefer to see "In God We Trust" completely removed from all American currency. It has no business being on there. If you want to worship your God, get yourself to church, not the town hall.

If you want articles, like Ten Commandment Tablets, displayed at the town hall or the capital building, well then I guess you're just going to have to share equal time with stuff from all the other religions out there. How about some Buddhist articles displayed around on walls and tables ? A few Hindu things hanging on hooks perhaps ?

This also applies to religious beliefs. A candidate's religious beliefs should have no place in the political arena. Unfortunately, these days it seems that it's taking on more and more importance....and that REALLY scares me. I don't want anyone sitting in the oval office making decisions based on orders given to him from an invisible man "upstairs."....."George, this is God, you must start a war with Iran because all Iranians are sons of Satan."

Vote for who you think will make the best decisions for the people, not what church he/she goes to.

Posted by Pikop Andropov | October 24, 2007 8:35 PM

Genesis 4:15. i had to look it up. i grew up with a baptist bible-thumping mother who also showed a particular distaste for those of another color, attributing it to the curse laid upon cain by god for killing his brother. that is the first part of the bible, david. anyone who buys into christianity will have some degree of belief in the bible, which means christians are racist, right? very wrong.
the military service issue is one of interest. are the children of every candidate expected to serve in the military? i never did--am i bad and un-american? instead, i chose to complete medical school, and have become an experienced surgeon, having had many occasions to repair our boys, pro-bono in almost every case.
don't take military service at face value. many people serve in many different ways. it is all good stuff.

Posted by tx_is_always_sx | October 25, 2007 4:37 PM

I commend you for your service.There is no room for racism in the teachings of Jesus Christ.The New Testament cannot be used to justify racism in any way shape or form.
Romans 3:22
That is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all those who have faith; and one man is not different from another,

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

I would also add that the beleif that the curse of Cain was in having black skin is just one of many theories regarding just what the curse really was. We don`t use theories to justify our opinions.

Posted by David | October 25, 2007 4:58 PM