Introducing Obama bin Laden...
You might think that - of all people - the chairman of the Associated Press would have the name of the democratic frontrunner down pat. In Washington today the AP chairman Dean Singleton asked Barack Obama whether he would send more troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, where the Taliban is gaining strength - and "Obama bin Laden" is still at large.
The room, packed with journalists, fell quiet as everyone wondered if they had really heard what they thought they'd heard. Obama certainly did and after pausing a moment, he smiled and said "I think that was OSAMA bin Laden." Singleton covered his face in shame as he said: "If I did that, I'm so sorry!"
To which Obama deadpanned: "This is part of the exercise that I've been going through over the last 15 months, which is why it's pretty impressive I'm still standing here." Thunderous applause followed at the discomfort of the AP boss.
Singleton joins a long line of people who have managed to confuse the two. Even Teddy Kennedy got it wrong.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer found himself apologising to Obama in person for what he described as "a typo" which confused the two famous men.
I thought he was Osama
Posted by: USA | 20 April 2008 at 02:49 AM
Hands up who thinks CNN got this 'Obama' Bin Laden thing wrong ACCIDENTALLY? Gee, no one!
Posted by: V. Waller | 15 April 2008 at 11:31 AM