Chris Matthews Calls Osama Bin Laden "Obama" During Terror Discussion

Today on MSNBC's "Hardball," which aired live at 5pm, Chris Matthews was joined by Andrea Mitchell and Chuck Todd for a discussion about Charlie Black's comment that McCain would benefit from a terrorist attack. A weary-looking Matthews accidentally referred to the "Obama headquarters" when talking about Osama bin Laden. He instantly apologized and got a word of encouragement from Mitchell. In February, a picture of bin Laden popped up on "Hardball" during a mention of Obama, which Matthews apologized for later in the program.

Watch Tuesday's slip:

Comments

[Fudgefase]

Look, this is easy to get right. Pronounce it like you would an Irish 'O' - say O'bama in your head and there is no chance of mixing the two.
It just makes you hesitate a little longer on the O sound for this name.
Try it - it works.
Now, if only I could persuade O'Reilly (see?) et al to adopt this....

[xargaw]

Chris Matthews and David Gregory, Karl Rove's dance partner, (Race for the Whitehouse) do not discuss the candidates policies at all. They treat politics like celebrity gossip. They create stories and rumors out of nothing of substance. It is sport. It is pathetic and a mis-use of the media and a dis-service to the public.

[Amennyc]

Surprised this could happen. Considering you never hear about Osama from the President. But expect to hear more, as the election gets closer. As to try to coin the two together and embed in people's mind the Obama-Osama connection.

[presto]

If this page is going to turn into a dumping ground for imaginary hysteria it will be a disservice. Chris Matthews is not my favorite person. He makes a lot of mistakes. Like in this example. Calling it fearmongering is absurd.

[clearthinker2008]

Off topic, but didn't 9/11 happen on Bushies watch? I don't think another T attack would help the repugs.

[Seven7s]

It was clearly a slip of the tongue and anybody could have made that mistake.

Hell I'm an Obama supporter and I have almost said "Osama" when I meant Obama, myself.

It's just one of those things.

[the964kid]

I stopped watching Hardball a few weeks back. They're leading stories are just too sensationalized. Somebody calls me when it turns into a real news show again.

[Marketingal]

Anyone who watches Chris Matthews knows that it was a slip of the tongue. He clearly likes Obama, and has little patience for the right-wing nuts who come on his show to spew their illogical pea-brain venom at Barack or Michelle Obama. Matthews totally gets a pass for this.

Speaking of illogical pea-brain venom, I'd love to see a showdown between Chris Matthews and Sean Hannity. What a pleasure it would be to see Chris Matthews expose Hannity for the simple, low-life that he is.

[pattyrenee]

Obama is always called Obama.
Osama is always called Osama Bin Lauden. Usually three names, for Osama.
So calling Obama, Osama, is not a mistake. Chirs Matthrews is against Obama, obviously.
He is too smart to make stupid mistakes. MSNBC should pay more attention to their, so called ,"newscasters". They should ALL keep their opinions to themselves, including Keith O.

[clearthinker2008]

Kind of hard to do on an opinion type of show. Keith and Chris are not "newscasters." The are talk show host.

[presto]

Chris Matthews is too smart to make stupid mistakes? Bet that's bringing on a lot of giggles.

[iswideopen]

How many times more, Chris? Do you want that terror attack so McBush can win the election? Just a thought since that is all you seem to talk about these days; Iran and "we the people" being afraid. Well, get this, I am not afraid. No man can keep me safe from any harm except GOD HIMSELF. He uses other vessels (humans) to get the job done. I will vote for Barack Obama no matter what. If McBush keeps up the Bush Cowboy Diplomacy, rest assured, we are going to be attacked anyway. We are hated around this world because of their "above the law" attitudes. In my opinion, just because McBush was held prisioner doesn't give him the necessary wisdom and diplomacy skills to properly affect the current foreign policy. He, like Senator Obama will rely on military generals. With one exception, Senator Obama will listen to the opinions of many and not think he has all of the answers, which is the most wise. McBush, he'll just drop a bomb. Our troops can't handle it.

[JJaye]

Perhaps more people should associate Obama with the name Osama, because Obama is the only one who seems concerned with finding him and bringing him to justice. Bush with his perpetual ADHD has gotten so far off who was really responsible for 911 I don't think he'll ever find his way back. Now, because we didn't finish what we started in Afghanastan, it is once again a total mess. Obama, go find Osama. Back to the Chris Matthews slip, I think most of us are over the name thing now. That's why I find it so funny how some right wingnuts still come on this post and call Barack "Barry" or Barack Hussein Obama like it is some sort of insult. Barack Hussein Obama is his name and his mother and grandparents used to call him Barry. It is what it is.

[BigLib]

Osama, Obama, tomato, tomato...

[Fudgefase]

Let's call the whole thing..........off, and just donate it to McCain?

[JTyroler]

Matthews probably needs some time off. On today's Hardball (in addition to his statement about Obama releasing a tape just before the 2004 election), he said, "Will Barack Obama choose Hillary Clinton to be HER running mate?"

[JTyroler]

He said Obama released a tape on the Friday before the 2004 election when he was speaking with the two "political strategists". He didn't apologize for that one.

[kellygrrrl]

well, at least he apologized and corrected himself immediately -- more than you can say for others

Chris, grab a nap, dude -- you're not looking well

[ballerinaX]

As Sctt859 said below, Chris Mathews did this again today 6/25, he did not apologize again however.
shall we make this a drinking game yet?

[VOTER]

If he wanted to change this" bad unintended" habit, he would only speak about

Barack Obama by his title as Senator.

I believe he is doing this deliberately and he has no intention of stopping.