Why should anyone have trouble distinguishing Obama from bin Laden?

[LiberalFighter]

If they quit referring to bin Laden as just Osama (Obama) there shouldn't be a problem.

Obama is Barack's last name. bin Laden is Osama's last name.

[Lasher]

1. Cuz day R stooped.

[emulatorloo]

2. Or willfully ignorant. They know better, but they choose to pretend they don't

Just like Donald Trump. There is no way in hell he believed the Birther crap.

[PatSeg]

11. Even Ted Kennedy made that mistake

and he endorsed Obama. I've heard the mistake coming from very liberal people on TV every day. I figured the best way to avoid it was to refer to Osama as Bin Laden, which is pretty much what I've always called him.

[pnwmom]

3. I don't think it's an accident. I think the Republicans have always

liked to highlight the similarity of the names.

They don't call Quaddafi by his first name, so they shouldn't call OBL by his first name either.

[napoleon_in_rags]

4. Its all about the inability to discern BS.

I mean literally, the inability to discern 'b/s' as in O(b/s)ama.

[NavyDem]

5. Shameless Confession:

I have to type "Bin Laden" when I post to prevent myself from accidentally typing "Obama". I too would agree that those on the right do it on purpose.

[Sherman A1]

7. I use OBL or Bin Laden.

I sometimes get tongue tied in conversations with the two names, so I, like you find a workaround.

The media apparently doesn't understand the concept, of trying to take steps to prevent an error.

[PatSeg]

12. It has happened so often for so many years

that one would think professionals would be make the extra effort as you have. I never use the name Osama, always Bin Laden.

[boppers]

6. Some people can't tell communism from socialism.

They have even less letters in common.

Some people are below average. Actually, half of them are.

[patricia92243]

8. Refer to the President as "the President" - not his name - problem solved.

Bush was always referred to by the press, all republicans, and a LOT of people here on DU as the President. We should show as much courtesy to the current President - IMHO.

[Ter]

9. Way back in 2004 when I first heard of Obama, I said to myself...

The ignorant would never vote for him for president due to his last name. Thankfully, I was wrong.

[tekisui]

10. Here's a full three minutes of reporters getting it wrong:

http://funnyvideos.todaysbigthing.com/funny-videos/2011/05/05

[slackmaster]

13. Automatic spell-checking/correcting software is the culprit

HTH