Mixing-Up Obama With Osama Bad For Barack's Campaign?

February 21, 2008

Somehow the media cannot differentiate between Osama and Obama. On Monday, TV personality Chris Matthews did a segment on Barack Obama, while an image of Osama bin Laden played in the background! A while back, CNN's Wolf Blitzer discussed a story about Osama bin Laden, while a graphic reading, "Where's Obama" displayed on the screen.

I can imagine both of these slips being honest mistakes, yet there still seems to be a trend of incidents linking Barack Obama to America's foes. Whether it's a benign image slip, or the use of Barack's middle name "Hussein," do you think such references in the media can hurt Obama's chances of becoming the next president?

53 Comments

kikidawn 5 years 3 weeks

Very well said Jude C and Indielove! I totally agree with you both! :)

Trixie6 5 years 13 weeks

Wow, Indielove. Thanks for that personal attack. You have your opinion on Obama and I have mine. Was jumping on me personally really necessary?

Trixie6 5 years 13 weeks

Wow, Indielove. Thanks for that personal attack. You have your opinion on Obama and I have mine. Was jumping on me personally really necessary?

janneth 5 years 13 weeks

It's like JFK checking all of his decisions with the Pope. That really was an issue in a lot of people's minds.

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

Implying that a group of people is inherently un-American based on their religious beliefs, is actually one of the most un-American things I think people could do.

indielove 5 years 13 weeks

Well said, Jude. I couldn't agree more. I bet the McCain campaign is milking these falsities because I'm sure it's most of their supporters who believe this swill in the first place. Some people can be so close-minded, it's unbelievable. It's really a dangerous thing especially when they try to make attacks on the basis of their distorted beliefs, which has greatly impaired their judgment.

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

Yeah, isn't it kind of like saying that anyone with anything Muslim or Arabic in their background is automatically not to be trusted with any kind of national security or issue of importance?I vaguely remember reading someone saying that even Obama's (or any other person with a Muslim background's) record is meaningless, since this person believes that anything a Muslim does might just be a lie to cement his/her covert position in the U.S. government. So it's like saying that no matter what you do, no matter how you vote, for how many years of your life, just having any kind of Muslim background automatically makes you untrustworthy and--dare I say it--inherently un-American.Which, among other things, would disqualify most of our counterterrorism Arabic interpreters from their jobs.I find this infuriatingly ignorant and sad. I have had some good friends who have been Muslim--all the way Muslim, not just with some Muslim background like Obama--and they have been some of the nicest, most generous, most trustworthy friends I've had. Of course all Muslims are not evil; in fact, the majority of them are not evil. Just as all Americans are not Confederate-flag-waving bigots with secret fantasies of lynch mobs and a return to slavery.

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

Yeah, isn't it kind of like saying that anyone with anything Muslim or Arabic in their background is automatically not to be trusted with any kind of national security or issue of importance? I vaguely remember reading someone saying that even Obama's (or any other person with a Muslim background's) record is meaningless, since this person believes that anything a Muslim does might just be a lie to cement his/her covert position in the U.S. government. So it's like saying that no matter what you do, no matter how you vote, for how many years of your life, just having any kind of Muslim background automatically makes you untrustworthy and--dare I say it--inherently un-American. Which, among other things, would disqualify most of our counterterrorism Arabic interpreters from their jobs. I find this infuriatingly ignorant and sad. I have had some good friends who have been Muslim--all the way Muslim, not just with some Muslim background like Obama--and they have been some of the nicest, most generous, most trustworthy friends I've had. Of course all Muslims are not evil; in fact, the majority of them are not evil. Just as all Americans are not Confederate-flag-waving bigots with secret fantasies of lynch mobs and a return to slavery.

indielove 5 years 13 weeks

"My only real point here is that I don't think we should automatically distrust anyone who has anything Muslim in their background, even as a statesman or President. Obama's record speaks for itself. But anyway--I don't think this is something we'll ever agree on Smiling and I understand where you're coming from.However, this does remind me of jokes from some Muslim comics I've seen, talking about how the American perception of Islam is based on the "crazy Arabs with hooks" that are all they have to go on from the media, and how that would be like the Muslim world only having KKK Grand Dragons to go on as representatives of the U.S."It's close-minded perception that allows many Americans to believe EVERYTHING the media portrays to us. ALL Muslims are evil, hate Americans and are terrorists or at least agrees with terrorist acts against the U.S. There's no possibility whatsoever that some of them can be civil people who do not believe in killing others just because those people's(Christian) religious beliefs differ from theirs(Islam).

indielove 5 years 13 weeks

"My only real point here is that I don't think we should automatically distrust anyone who has anything Muslim in their background, even as a statesman or President. Obama's record speaks for itself. But anyway--I don't think this is something we'll ever agree on Smiling and I understand where you're coming from. However, this does remind me of jokes from some Muslim comics I've seen, talking about how the American perception of Islam is based on the "crazy Arabs with hooks" that are all they have to go on from the media, and how that would be like the Muslim world only having KKK Grand Dragons to go on as representatives of the U.S." It's close-minded perception that allows many Americans to believe EVERYTHING the media portrays to us. ALL Muslims are evil, hate Americans and are terrorists or at least agrees with terrorist acts against the U.S. There's no possibility whatsoever that some of them can be civil people who do not believe in killing others just because those people's(Christian) religious beliefs differ from theirs(Islam).

indielove 5 years 13 weeks

Somehow, somewhere..I believe that this statement:"...but my Dad used to say 'knowledge is power'..."COMPLETELY CONTRADICTS THIS ONE:"The fact is that this man has the Islamic religion in his background. He has relatives that are Muslim. We are at war with a Muslim enemy. Will his background and the fact that he does have Muslim relatives make him more sympathetic to the Muslims we're fighting? Will those facts influence his decisions if he's elected? I don't know, but I'm not taking the chance that they might."So yeah, this 'knowledge' you speak of....why hasn't it TRULY allowed you to be more open-minded about Obama and his non-existent affiliation with Islam?

indielove 5 years 13 weeks

Somehow, somewhere..I believe that this statement: "...but my Dad used to say 'knowledge is power'..." COMPLETELY CONTRADICTS THIS ONE: "The fact is that this man has the Islamic religion in his background. He has relatives that are Muslim. We are at war with a Muslim enemy. Will his background and the fact that he does have Muslim relatives make him more sympathetic to the Muslims we're fighting? Will those facts influence his decisions if he's elected? I don't know, but I'm not taking the chance that they might." So yeah, this 'knowledge' you speak of....why hasn't it TRULY allowed you to be more open-minded about Obama and his non-existent affiliation with Islam?

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

:ROTFL: Nice one, City Girl!

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

:ROTFL: Nice one, City Girl!

The City Girl 5 years 13 weeks

I can't believe this is even an issue!!! Are people so, so stupid and brain-dead that they hear WORDS that rhyme and think that that makes them the same THINGS? Tell me this is not possible. I'm not talking about people who accidentally slip up and say Osama instead of Obama (although, c'mon. . .), but people who are like, "His name sounds like Osama?? Well then he must be a terrorist, too!" My name is Chloe, which rhymes with Joey. Does that mean that I'm an Italian American guy who likes to pick up chicks just because that's most famous 'Joey' most of us know?? I mean SERIOUSLY now, people! A 2 year old has been critical reasoning skills than that.

The City Girl 5 years 13 weeks

I can't believe this is even an issue!!! Are people so, so stupid and brain-dead that they hear WORDS that rhyme and think that that makes them the same THINGS? Tell me this is not possible. I'm not talking about people who accidentally slip up and say Osama instead of Obama (although, c'mon. . .), but people who are like, "His name sounds like Osama?? Well then he must be a terrorist, too!"My name is Chloe, which rhymes with Joey. Does that mean that I'm an Italian American guy who likes to pick up chicks just because that's most famous 'Joey' most of us know?? I mean SERIOUSLY now, people! A 2 year old has been critical reasoning skills than that.

Trixie6 5 years 13 weeks

Jude C - I do see your point. I so know what you mean about things not being civil. :-P I don't know - I just don't see a point in being antagonistic. I just try to be open minded and respect other people's opinions. I know it's kind of corny, but my Dad used to say 'knowledge is power' and I've found that I can learn from listening to other people even if their views are different from mine. (Amazing, huh?)

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

Trixie6--actually I didn't even have you in mind at all! :pMy only real point here is that I don't think we should automatically distrust anyone who has anything Muslim in their background, even as a statesman or President. Obama's record speaks for itself. But anyway--I don't think this is something we'll ever agree on :) and I understand where you're coming from.However, this does remind me of jokes from some Muslim comics I've seen, talking about how the American perception of Islam is based on the "crazy Arabs with hooks" that are all they have to go on from the media, and how that would be like the Muslim world only having KKK Grand Dragons to go on as representatives of the U.S. :)Thanks for keeping this thread civil and friendly, lately feelings run so high on CitizenSugar that that's not always the case! ;)

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

Trixie6--actually I didn't even have you in mind at all! :p My only real point here is that I don't think we should automatically distrust anyone who has anything Muslim in their background, even as a statesman or President. Obama's record speaks for itself. But anyway--I don't think this is something we'll ever agree on :) and I understand where you're coming from. However, this does remind me of jokes from some Muslim comics I've seen, talking about how the American perception of Islam is based on the "crazy Arabs with hooks" that are all they have to go on from the media, and how that would be like the Muslim world only having KKK Grand Dragons to go on as representatives of the U.S. :) Thanks for keeping this thread civil and friendly, lately feelings run so high on CitizenSugar that that's not always the case! ;)

Trixie6 5 years 13 weeks

Jude C - I'm going to guess that you're referring to me. :-P I don't think Obama is a terrorist. The fact is that this man has the Islamic religion in his background. He has relatives that are Muslim. We are at war with a Muslim enemy. Will his background and the fact that he does have Muslim relatives make him more sympathetic to the Muslims we're fighting? Will those facts influence his decisions if he's elected? I don't know, but I'm not taking the chance that they might.

Trixie6 5 years 13 weeks

Jude C 5 years 13 weeks

Unfortunately, we already know from some threads on this very blog that there are still people who already believe that, based on his background (despite his being a Christian anyway), he could really be a terrorist or somehow a danger to the country that a person without his background wouldn't be. People can be very suggestible when they haven't a solid base of knowledge to work from, and it's exactly this kind of thing that will promote a completely wrong and damaging impression of a perfectly electable and trustworthy candidate.

Princesskitty22 5 years 13 weeks

I heard someone say a few weeks ago that they weren't going to vote for him because he's a Muslim, so obviously some people still think that. If these are honest mistakes, then oh, well, but if they're on purpose, shame on them.