News exec has a name-recognition problem with Barack Obama

Appearing before a roomful of newspaper editors and publishers in Washington today, Barack Obama began with a slight (some might say strained) joke about the coverage he generated over the last couple of days because of his now so-well-known comments about small-town America.

As he was wrapping up, he had to parry a stumble by one of the nation's leading news executives, who conflated his name with that of a certain terrorist.

If he's not in the best of humor at the moment (despite his effort at jesting), it's easy to understand why.

Taking the podium at the annual meeting sponsored by the Associated Press, Obama slyly noted that he had "kept a lot of you guys busy over the weekend." He added, with a trace of a smile, that "some of you might even be a little bitter about that."

Polite laughter greeted the play on words (and Obama himself surely knows the brouhaha that continues to rage about him is no laughing matter for his political prospects).

In his speech, Obama made clear -- as he has repeatedly the last few days -- that he would welcome a debate with presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain over "elitism." And he had some mild scolding for the media, saying the propensity to get "caught up in the same cycle of political silliness" distracts from a serious focus on the nation's problems.

"We feed on controversy. We feed on conflict," he told his crowd. "It's not that interesting to say, 'I disagree with the guy, but I see his point.' "

Then came a brief Q & A, highlighted by a gaffe by William Dean Singleton, chairman of the AP board of directors and head of ...

one of the nation's largest newspaper chains. Asking about redeploying troops from Iraq, Singleton asked Obama if, as president, he could envision shifting "a substantial number to Afghanistan, where the Taliban has been gaining strength and Obama bin Laden is still at large."

"I think that was Osama bin Laden," the candidate corrected.

Singleton immediately apologized for the error. But Obama, whose name periodically has become part of the political dialogue, had two cents he wanted to add.

"No, no, no, this is part of the -- part of the exercises that I've been going though over the last 15 months," he said. "Which is why it's pretty impressive that I'm standing here."

The Times' Ben DuBose was at the appearance, and reports that this retort drew loud applause from the crowd of journalists.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Prantha]

It IS impressive that he is still in the race and that he is AHEAD!
But, why doesn't the press know that Bill Clinton made the same remark years ago in his own book?

"If [Republicans] could cut funding for Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the environment, middle-class Americans would see fewer benefits from their tax dollars, feel more resentful paying taxes, and become even more receptive to their appeals for tax cuts and their strategy of waging campaigns on divisive social and cultural issues like abortion, gay rights, and guns."

-- Bill Clinton, in his 2004 memoirs, My Life, making the same argument as Sen. Barack Obama.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/04/13/historical_quote_of_the_day.html

[Marks]

It proves Obama listens and understands. People clown his name but he leads in the Democratic nomination. Clinton still can't believe it!

Go back to Geraldine Ferraro's stupid comments, Obama has never had advantage from his name or background.

The actual wording is Usama Bin Laden in the Muslim world.

From Wiki

Because there is no universally accepted standard in the West for transliterating Arabic words and names into English, bin Laden's name is transliterated in many ways.

The version often used by most English-language mass media is Osama bin Laden. Most American government agencies, including the FBI and CIA, use either Usama bin Laden or Usama bin Ladin, both of which are often abbreviated to UBL.

[dane]

It was pointed out on another blog that Clinton, in the LA Times and (I believe) The Sunday Times,1991, also made remarks that were elitist. I am proud that Obama put the reporters slip into context. His response was certainly not what we would have heard had the reporter/director or anyone else, for that matter, made a slip about Hillary - we would have heard about it from weeks on end how the questioner didn't really slip but that he/she had an unterior motive because all media and everyone else, picks on her. Good job Obama

[Anee]

What an arrogant.... Just like the current snide, snickering guy we have in office...

[Roy]

How can we in general say we want change and still buy into old politics?
Ms. "issues" Clinton is in a desperate state, no one can deny that, so much so that she doesn't rely on the issues at all anymore.

[stan]

I'd vote for Barack even if his name were Osama---who cares? He's the best candidate for the job.

[freedom_diva]

Obama's named in Rezko trial

FEDERAL COURT | Senator Obama attended bash for Iraqi crook Nadhmi Auchi
April 15, 2008

BY NATASHA KORECKI, CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was again drawn into Tony Rezko's corruption trial on Monday, when the prosecution's star witness placed Obama at a party for an Iraqi-born billionaire who was later barred entry to the United States.
Stuart Levine testified under cross-examination that Obama and his wife, Michelle, attended the April 3, 2004, reception for Nadhmi Auchi.

The government's star witness testified Monday that Sen. Barack Obama (left) attended a party four years ago at the home of Antoin ''Tony'' Rezko (top right) that was held to honor Iraqi-born Nadhmi Auchi

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Rezko's billionaire buddy 'CI4' -- the mystery figure who helped jail Rezko Gov's fundraiser got loan from Iraqi billionaire Obama's answers about Auchi from a March 14 Sun-Times interview Eye on Rezko Updates from our blog

An Obama connection?
News reports and now court testimony have linked presidential hopeful Barack Obama with Iraqi-born billionaire Nadhmi Auchi through Tony Rezko. Here's a rundown:
March 11, 2004 -- Obama met Middle Eastern bankers at the Four Seasons hotel in Chicago at a reception hosted by Rezko, who was courting potential investors for a 62-acre South Loop development. Auchi later took control of that project but did not attend, sources say.
April 1, 2004 -- Auchi flew in to Midway Airport on a private plane and attended a Four Seasons reception hosted by Gov. Blagojevich. Rezko planned the event and was there. Obama was not.
April 3, 2004 -- Auchi attended a dinner party at Rezko's Wilmette mansion. Obama and his wife, Michelle, also were there, according to testimony Monday at Rezko's corruption trial. The Obama campaign's response: "Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending any such event."
Oct. 11, 2006 -- Charges against Rezko announced.
Jan. 28, 2008 -- Rezko was jailed for withholding details of his finances -- including a $3.5 million payment from an Auchi company in April 2007.
Auchi -- who lives in London -- had been convicted of fraud in France in 2003. After visiting Chicago and Detroit in 2004, he wasn't allowed back into this country in 2005, according to a prosecution filing in the Rezko case.
The April 3, 2004, gathering for Auchi took place at Rezko's mansion in Wilmette, with about 100 people attending, Levine testified.
"Mr. and Mrs. Obama were there, were they not?" Rezko's lawyer, Joseph Duffy, asked.
"Yes, sir," Levine said.
Later Monday, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said: "As he has said previously, Senator Obama does not recall meeting Nadhmi Auchi at any time or on any occasion, and this includes any event that may have been held for Mr. Auchi. Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending any such event."
But according to two sources familiar with the gathering, the Obamas attended the Wilmette reception, which came less than a month after Obama's Democratic primary win for his U.S. Senate seat. Rezko had been a key fund-raiser for Obama, who has since given to charity nearly $160,000 in Rezko-linked contributions.
Levine testified he was invited to the reception after meeting with Rezko and his family days earlier, during a spring vacation in Puerto Vallarta.
Auchi couldn't be reached Monday. His lawyer, Alasdair Pepper, told the Sun-Times in February his client "has no recollection of meeting Senator Obama." Auchi is appealing his French conviction. His 15-month sentence is suspended as long as he commits no new crimes. He is not accused of wrongdoing involving Rezko.
Obama is not accused of any wrongdoing. But his relationship with Rezko -- who is accused of demanding kickbacks from people seeking Illinois government business -- is under a microscope as he seeks the presidency. Obama particularly has drawn fire for buying property from Rezko's wife -- a strip of land adjacent to Obama's Kenwood home -- at a time Rezko was already known to be under federal investigation.
Levine testified Rezko had to leave Mexico early to host Auchi. So Levine chartered a private jet to fly Rezko's wife and children -- as well as his own family -- back to Chicago on April 3, 2004.
That night, Levine testified, he attended the reception, which was arranged to interest Auchi in investing in Illinois.
Gov. Blagojevich hosted a separate dinner party for Auchi two days earlier, at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Chicago, the Sun-Times has reported.
Auchi was named by prosecutors in the January court filing that led to Rezko's bail being revoked and his being jailed. Last April, an Auchi company wired Rezko $3.5 million in connection with a valuable 62-acre South Loop site, which Rezko didn't disclose to authorities. Auchi's General Mediterranean Holding now controls the land at Roosevelt and Clark.
Prosecutors said Rezko appealed to the State Department in November 2005 to allow Auchi to enter the United States, after Auchi was unable to do so.

[NinaK]

What an arrogant.... Just like the current snide, snickering guy we have in office...

Posted by: Anee |
---------------------
Just how was Senator Obama being arrogant? He corrected Mr. Singleton on the proper name for Bin Ladin, there is nothing arrogant about that. If someone missaid you name, would you not correct that person? Some of you are so quick to make judgements whether you are correct or not...you use anything to bash a good and decent man. Your hatred is coming from someplace else deep within yourself.

[foo]

Politicians today are all about being politically correct, so much so that they don't say or do anything meaningful anymore.

If we want them to go back to solve real issues and take real actions, then WE need to stop picking on their every last word. If we can't face the truth if it's slightly unpleasant, if we get very offended over a tiny sense of disagreement, then we can't expect our politicians to tell the truth.

[RaferJanders]

Obama, McShame, Hillary, Obama reminds me of the well educated child, 12 to 15 they have it all figured out, so just shut up and let me do it! But when it's dark... Mommy. Hillary, God, it's like you want to elect MommyDearest, No and No Mrs. Klinton I can think for myself thank you very much, McShame. This Country does not need to have angry short guy, who would love to draft your kids in the war with Iran, and is as dirty as the day is long. Really is the best we can do as a Nation? This not America, Guess I will go cling to my copy of the Constitution, Light a smoke and wonder what the hell happend.

[fred]

Conservative Republican here -

Barack HUSSEIN Obama (who can take my gun from my cold, dead hands if he dares to duck sniper fire) showed graciousness and humor when this happened.

That is the final word on the subject.

[Charles Talaros]

Iraqi born Rezko is Obama’s friend of 17 years and a well known mob figure.

Rezko served on Obama’s U.S. Senate campaign finance committee and raised more than $14 million, according to Federal Election Commission records, helping send Obama to Washington in 2004.

The Chicago Sun Times reports: ‘As state senator Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko's successful bid to get more than $14M from taxpayers to build apartments’.

Obama told the Chicago Tribune that, in all the years he's known Rezko, "I've never done any favors for him.''

[Crabby Golightly]

CRABBY IS SUFFERING FROM WHIPLASH DUE TO THE daily contradictory stories on the race between Democratic presidential candidates Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. To wit, a sample of headlines:

"Obama Surges on Electability, Challenges Clinton on Leadership"
"Poll Shows Obama Ahead as Candidate Dems See as Most Likely to Win in November" -- From ABC News online, April 16, 2008.

"Quinnipiac Poll: Clinton Has Stopped Obama Momentum In Pennsylvania"
From The Moderate Voice, which describes itself as a "moderate" online political website.

"Obama moves to largest lead yet in Gallup tracking poll"
"Three days' worth of polling after the news broke that Sen. Barack Obama said some small-town voters are "bitter," he has edged out to his largest lead yet in Gallup's daily national tracking survey." -- from USA Today, April 15 at 1:40 p.m.

"New poll shows Barack Obama tanking in Pennsylvania"
"...The findings could hardly be worse for the Democratic presidential contender." -- From the Los Angeles Times, April 14, 2008.

"Poll: Obama 'bitter' comments haven't hurt" -- from United Press International, April 15 at 7:51 p.m.

"New Poll: 'Bitter' Controversy Actually Helped Obama"
From The Huffington Post, April 16.

"Editorial: Obama's lapses make him vulnerable."
From the Dallas Morning News, April 15 at 12 a.m.

"The Hillary Deathwatch -- "The "bitter" flap fails to ignite."
From Slate, April 15 at 3:15 p.m.

"Bitter people, yuppies, root for your candidate and take your pick! .

Check out CrabbyGolightly.com for more contradictory headlines!

[oldphilosopher]

OP-eration CHAOS!!!!!!!

YEE-HAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alex]

I am a republican who is personally disgusted by the grade-school-level attempts to attack Mr. Obama over his name or presumed ties with Islam. I understand that a lot of the attacks are nothing more than race-baiting, pure and simple.

As a Republican, I never would vote for Obama on ideological grounds, but I respect the man nonetheless because of his points on the viciousness and immaturity of politics today. But I definitely think he lost the independent voters with his comments over religion and guns.