Obama Bin Laden?

Here we go again! Dean Singleton, a publisher, founder of the NewsMedia newspaper group and chairman of the board of the Associated Press news agency, had a question for presidential candidate Barack Obama about his policy on Afghanistan.

"Can you imagine shifting a substantial number (of US troops from Iraq) to Afghanistan where the Taliban has been gaining strength and Obama Bin Laden is still at large?"

I thought Obama handled it well as he calmly replied, "I think that was Osama bin Laden."

Mr. Singleton clutching his head, answers: "If I did that, I'm so sorry."

Now Obama could have said, "It's OSAMA you moron." But he did not. Or he could have fired back and screamed, "Now you know why people are bitter...because of idiots like you." But he didn't.

Anyways, Arab media was entertained...

Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report at Link TV

Watch: Obama a Winner in the Middle East

Follow Jamal Dajani on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamaldajani

Comments

[ckemp]

What I love about this exchange is what looks like the Senator's really valiant effort to keep from bursting out laughing. For people who wonder what he's going to be like under fire (as if we hadn't seen much of that already), look how still he is when the slip emerges. He knows he has to address this, he has to figure out in a few seconds how to do so as gently as possible, and in the mean time he has to repress completely what I am betting is a pretty robust appreciation for the absurd, because that's hard to translate, and he's been doing enough translation as it is these past few days. The thing about Obama is that the grand themes and marvelous delivery don't seem to interfere with his efforts not to take himself too seriously. Apparently included in this is a recognition that while this is his moment and he is the right guy for it, the universe is nevertheless having a good joke on him in that this moment is infested with an arch-villain whose name is one consonant away from his own. I thought he was about to crack up over this, and had to figure out how to channel it all into a teachable moment for everyone concerned. He succeeded, and it was fun to watch.

[TN]

I cracked up. He is soo cool though and funny.

[MsLiz]

Imagine if something similar happened to McCain.

[justice2008]

Was this intentional or utter stupidity? I admire Obama for his composure.

[OrionGal]

Yep, the man certainly has composure.­...and it's a great attribute to have !

[venicesurfer]

of course he's gonna laugh it off and have composure. how else did you expect him to act?

[ladygreenslippers]

he could have said something about how we should expect better from the AP - i wouldn't have blamed him.

[BadChristian]

"Dean Singleton, a publisher, founder of the NewsMedia newspaper group and chairman of the board of the Associated Press news agency..."

Thank goodness it's not a "bigwhig" or a "media elite."

If the Liberals were to lose the media, it'd be all over.

PS
would you rather buy the bridge I'm selling in Brooklyn or Minneapolis (some assemby required).

[Hullaballoo]

These people who make their living INFORMING the likes of us down here in the ignorant mud, can't even get the name right of a leading contender for the Presidency? Un-freakin­-believabl­e. It makes me so angry!

Just like when the "journalists" or the pundits call us the "Democrat" party - how insulting or ignorant or both. Just once on one of these shows (usually FOX), when a pundit starts going off on the "Democrat" party, I'd like the responder to stop them dead in their tracks. They should say hold on just one minute. You supposedly do this for a living. You are supposed to be informed and intelligent. And I for one can't sit here and have a serious conversation with you, or respect ONE thing you have to say unless and until you can PROPERLY pronounce the name of my party - the name of the party of a large chunk of Americans in this country. I can only give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are ignorant of the name of our party - otherwise I'd have to assume that you know better, and you are intentionally INSULTING a huge number of Americans in this country by refusing to address them by their correct affiliation. Say it with me, now Hannity and O'Reilly: Democratic party. Once more: Democratic party. There's a good boy, I knew you could do it. Now we can have an adult conversation.

[Desiderata]

How many times in 2004 did the pundits call Dean John instread of Howard?

[RButler]

Obama corrects someone who mispronounces his name and his fans fall all over themselves praising him for his composure, his intelligence, his wit, his grace under fire. SNL, The Daily Show, Mad TV, Colbert, Leno, Letterman, Kimmel. No one could satirize this episode any more than his supporters have. And, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO VOTE. Excuse me. Why are they allowed to vote?

[MissT]

The FOX news croud in particular and the republican in general are being just plain disrepectful. I think they would really like to exchange the "t" to a "p". At any rate they know what they are doing.

I saw the exchange today with the AP news person. I really think it was an uninterntional mistake. I hope I'm right. Anyway, Obama handled it with the utmost ease. I think he must laugh to himself in private moments. I believe he is really self-aware and yet is probably as in awe of the extraordinary thing that his camaign represents as are his supporters. We have in him, at least for now, someone who really makes us proud on so many levels.

[MsLiz]

The first right winger to refer to the "Democrat" Party was Joseph McCarthy. I don't know whether the Fox mouthpieces know the history (that may be presuming too much) but they know it is a petty annoyance. Don't let them rile you -- Obama wouldn't!

[Countess]

Hillary Clinton has been trying to buy the rights to this so she can use it on april 21 in Pennsylvania.