Osama, Obama: Mitt Romney's Gaffe?

Mitt Romney, while addressing the Chamber of Commerce in Greenwood, South Carolina, made a reference to Illinois Senator, Democrat Barack Obama. The only problem is that he actually meant to refer to Osama bin Laden. Here is what he actually said, "“Actually, just look at what Osama…Barack Obama said just yesterday. Barack Obama calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield."

Kevin Madden, campaign spokesman for Romney was quick to cover up the incident. He defended Romney, and dismissed the incident as a "brief mix up". "Gov. Romney simply misspoke," he said. "He was referring to the recently released audiotape of Osama bin Laden and misspoke when referencing his name."

Now it has to be admitted that "Barack Obama" and "Osama Bin Laden" do ring somewhat similar. However, it is still hard to imagine how a presidential candidate could switch to the name of a rival candidate instead of the name of an infamous jehadist, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

There are critics who suggest that Romney would do anything to become president. According to them, he intentionally switched the names to make the similarity between them apparent, and in that process, to take an unfair swipe at his rival. However, it has to be pointed out that in 2005, Ted Kennedy is reported to have made the same blunder. Even CNN once displayed a graphic reading "Obama?" referring to bin Laden.