John Ashcroft Mistakes Obama for Osama

Did You See This? Ashcroft Makes a Osama/Obama Flub

April 6, 2008

At Skidmore College last week, Former US Attorney General John Ashcroft made a terrible slip of the tongue — and got booed. Loudly. Check it out.

Oh dear. Well, he apologized immediately. Sort of. In an off-handed way. Wasn't John Ashcroft the one who lost his election to a dead man?

22 Comments

EkaterinaBallerina 5 years 6 weeks

It's incredibly ignorant to confuse the two names. They are from two vastly different parts of the world. You also have to be ridiculously ignorant to not realize how common a name like Hussein or Osama is in the Middle East. Hussein is apparently the equivalent of John or Smith over there. It just goes to show how unequipped the Bush administration has been in dealing with the Middle East. They think they'll solve 2000 yrs of conflict when they know NOTHING about the region. There are tons of Western names that mean some pretty bad things elsewhere. And if this is all the "right" can come up with to tarnish Obama, then you have to think if they are really equipped to lead this country.

EkaterinaBallerina 5 years 6 weeks

geohiker 5 years 6 weeks

How does this idiot still have a job????? I can not believe anyone hired him, after his unbelievably embarrassing (at the very least) stint as a special prosecutor. What a champ! What a guy! How could you not like someone who apparently only functions at the level of supermarket tabloid trash? He definitely dispels any notion people might have that government officials have to be intelligent and well-spoken.

remedios 5 years 6 weeks

That reminds me, during the first Gulf War, there was a kid playing basketball (I think) for a high school, and on the back of his shirt, he had Hussein written on it. He got harassed by the opposing team and their parents for wearing it. None of them bothered, apparently, to consider that this was, in fact, the kid's last name. I'm sure that crap happens all the time.

MarinerMandy 5 years 6 weeks

"There are poeple named Osama who aren't evil masterminds. Just like Mohammed, and Hussein. Those are common names." Not to John Ashcroft, to him EVERYONE is an evil mastermind! He is probably my least favorite of anyone who has had a position in the Bush Administration. I can't believe anybody actually wanted to hear him speak.

MarinerMandy 5 years 6 weeks

"There are poeple named Osama who aren't evil masterminds. Just like Mohammed, and Hussein. Those are common names."Not to John Ashcroft, to him EVERYONE is an evil mastermind! He is probably my least favorite of anyone who has had a position in the Bush Administration. I can't believe anybody actually wanted to hear him speak.

KrisSugar 5 years 6 weeks

There are poeple named Osama who aren't evil masterminds. Just like Mohammed, and Hussein. Those are common names. I agree it's pretty juvenile. I have a famous last name that stupid people have made fun of my entire life. It's like Oh great, gotta smile through another dumb joke.

KrisSugar 5 years 6 weeks

BRANDYNICOLE730 5 years 6 weeks

Don't find that surprising at all! The only way my mom can think of Obama's name is to say "Osama bin Laden, er Barack Obama." Great, huh? That'll be great if he's elected. You'll have all these people saying "The President of the United States: Osama bin Laden. Oops! I mean Barack Obama!"

Jillness 5 years 6 weeks

jimmalou, do you think his middle name has any effect on his ability to be president? That is kind of what it sounds like... I think these "accidental" slips of the tongue are so juvenile and 6th grade. How many times has this happened? Yes, we get it, his name sounds funny. Hillary has boobs, are we going to laugh at those too? Boobs! I think we have serious issues to resolve in the United States, and no one gets safer, healthier, or wealthier when we are distracted by absurd things that make no difference on policy. The key strategy of the machine that is the Republican party is to divide and conquer.(Please note I say machine, and not your average conservative). They know that if the competition was the upper class against the middle/lower class, they would lose because the upper class is a minority. Instead, they split up the lower and middle class by enflaming social issues that rally their base (and are of small priority in the big picture), and racism is one of these issues that rallies the base. They get people to vote against their own socioeconomic interests by pandering to the worst parts of people.

Jillness 5 years 6 weeks

jimmalou, do you think his middle name has any effect on his ability to be president? That is kind of what it sounds like...I think these "accidental" slips of the tongue are so juvenile and 6th grade. How many times has this happened? Yes, we get it, his name sounds funny. Hillary has boobs, are we going to laugh at those too? Boobs! I think we have serious issues to resolve in the United States, and no one gets safer, healthier, or wealthier when we are distracted by absurd things that make no difference on policy. The key strategy of the machine that is the Republican party is to divide and conquer.(Please note I say machine, and not your average conservative). They know that if the competition was the upper class against the middle/lower class, they would lose because the upper class is a minority. Instead, they split up the lower and middle class by enflaming social issues that rally their base (and are of small priority in the big picture), and racism is one of these issues that rallies the base. They get people to vote against their own socioeconomic interests by pandering to the worst parts of people.

jimmalou1978 5 years 6 weeks

Ha! Well, I think it's funny, anyway...but then again, I'm against Obama. Hussein Obama.

raciccarone 5 years 6 weeks

Now I understand the appeal of the corpse he lost to.

fuzzles 5 years 6 weeks

This guy needs to wrap his lower lip around his head and swallow. Hard.

kikidawn 5 years 6 weeks

ITA annebreal! And :ROTFL: about the loosing to a dead guy thing :)

kikidawn 5 years 6 weeks

ITA annebreal!And :ROTFL: about the loosing to a dead guy thing :)

tiabia 5 years 6 weeks

I agree annebreal. It's just getting a little bit TOO old!!!

OMGoshDramaQueen 5 years 6 weeks

I totally agree with you [annebreal]

remedios 5 years 6 weeks

Yes, yes he was the guy that lost the election to a dead man. No matter what he says, that should always be the response. You lost to a dead person! How can you take anyone seriously after that?