NEWSMore Osama/Obama Mix-Ups Flood the Media
May 3 2011, Published 11:08 a.m. ET
It's bound to happen. Media outlets have been on overdrive covering Osama bin Laden's death by U.S. forces, giving rise to the unfortunate, yet understandable flub of mixing up Osama's name with President Barack Obama.
President Obama confirmed Osama's death Sunday night in his moving national address, which incited a renewed sense of patriotism from the American public.
An unfortunate result from all the up-to-the minute news coverage — the Osama/Obama confusion.
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With only one letter different, various media outlets slipped saying Obama when they meant Osama and vice versa.
MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell slipped, Tweeting “Obama shot and killed."
This morning, MSNBC also made the slip with a chyron reading: “OBAMA ADM: ‘WATERBOARDING DIDN’T LEAD TO OBAMA DEATH’ ”
New York Magazine points out a number of media flubs including a Tweet by CBS's Mark Knoller: "Surprised if Hollywood types not up late putting together deals for a movie on the 'Raid on Obama.' "
CNN also fell victim to the mistake reporting yesterday that there was "no indication Obama tried to surrender," the magazine noted on its Daily Intel blog.
Even director Spike Lee slipped, Tweeting: "DNA MATCH IS CONFIRMED. It was Osama Bin Laden who was killed. I think pictures being released of the Body of Obama is next."
