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Barack 'Osama' on Rensselaer County ballots
Times Union ^ | 10/10/2008 | BOB GARDINIER

Posted on 10/10/2008 11:32:57 AM PDT by Tatze

TROY — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's last name is spelled "Osama" on hundreds of absentee ballots mailed out this week to voters in Rensselaer County.

The misspelling, which elections officials on both sides of the aisle insist was simply a typo, is causing embarrassment for the county.

''No question this is an honest mistake innocently done,'' said Edward McDonough, the Democratic commissioner. ''We catch almost everything.''

''This was a typo,'' said Republican Commissioner Larry Bugbee. ''We have three different staff members who proof these things and somehow the typo got by us.''

Officials say the flawed ballots were sent to approximately 300 voters. On row 1A Barack Obama's name is spelled Barack Osama.

Is it a Freudian slip, intentional act or a mistake? Voters are sure to have opinions, and one pol pointed out that the letters 's' and 'b' are not exactly keyboard neighbors.

But even the county Democratic election commissioner is apologizing for what he calls a terrible mistake.

McDonough said the absentee ballots went out to voters in Brunswick, Nassau, Sand Lake, Schaghticoke and Schodack with the error.

So far three people have called to point it out, he said. Those people will get new ballots sent to them.

One Sand Lake resident who caught the misspelling, and who asked to remain anonymous, was skeptical.

''It's a little suspicious and at least grossly incompetent,'' the voter said, wondering ''if I crossed out the name and wrote in the right spelling my ballot would be invalid?"


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: obama; oops; osama
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Oops!
1 posted on 10/10/2008 11:32:57 AM PDT by Tatze
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To: Tatze

Ooops indeed. I wonder what Dem operative was behind this one? They’re doing everything they can to get the election halted by launching preemptive strikes on the process.

Some of Barry’s fans also suggested that it might be good if he actually started early and took over right after the election. So I guess they’re pretty confident about either getting it, or having things in such a state of confusion that they will be able to take over the government in any case.


2 posted on 10/10/2008 11:37:39 AM PDT by livius
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To: livius
But even the county Democratic election commissioner is apologizing for what he calls a terrible mistake.

Butterfly ballots: Democratic election commissioner.
Hanging Chads: Democratic election commissioner.
"Osama" on the ballot: Democratic election commissioner.

Yet Republicans always are at fault.

3 posted on 10/10/2008 11:41:17 AM PDT by Yo-Yo
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To: Tatze

Obama or Osama. They both want to destroy America!


4 posted on 10/10/2008 11:41:48 AM PDT by ncfool ("Obama been lying. "Get it? Sounds Like "Osama bin Laden"?)
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To: Tatze

‘’This was a typo,’’ said Republican Commissioner Larry Bugbee. ‘’We have three different staff members who proof these things and somehow the typo got by us.’’

Heck, it would get past me too! But not because of the typo


5 posted on 10/10/2008 11:42:13 AM PDT by BornToBeAmerican (Sarahcuda = the dems worst nightmare)
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To: Tatze

Teddy Kennedy (D) had some verbal slips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APx2YJ-_jos


6 posted on 10/10/2008 11:43:05 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch (US Constitution Article 4 Section 4..shall protect each of them against Invasion...domestic Violence)
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To: SwinneySwitch

Teddy had it all right


7 posted on 10/10/2008 11:43:55 AM PDT by ncfool ("Obama been lying. "Get it? Sounds Like "Osama bin Laden"?)
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To: Tatze

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


8 posted on 10/10/2008 11:46:29 AM PDT by Travis T. OJustice (Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy.)
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To: Tatze
So far three people have called to point it out, he said. Those people will get new ballots sent to them.

only the 3 ? or the 300.

If it's only 3 and the other 297 send 'em back with Osama checked...will they count ?
9 posted on 10/10/2008 11:55:45 AM PDT by stylin19a ( Real Men don't declare unplayable lies)
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To: Tatze

Funny stuff, It feels good to laugh at this point.


10 posted on 10/10/2008 12:01:14 PM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: Tatze

That’s not a misspelling, it’s truth in advertising.


11 posted on 10/10/2008 12:02:19 PM PDT by 6SJ7 (Welcome PUMAs!)
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To: Yo-Yo

There is a Republican Commissioner as well.

I think this is hysterical. I’ll bet it’s a conspiracy among the clerical employees, such as the typesetter and the proofreader. We used to do that kind of stuff when I was a typist (although not usually for publication ;-).


12 posted on 10/10/2008 12:04:06 PM PDT by Tax-chick (GUNS are what real women want for Christmas.)
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To: Tatze

The truth conquers all.


13 posted on 10/10/2008 12:07:44 PM PDT by Notwithstanding (Obama/Biden: the "O" stands for Zero Executive Experience & Zero Accomplishments)
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To: Tatze

Don’t worry, the people that vote for Obama ought to be even happier voting for Osama.


14 posted on 10/10/2008 12:09:12 PM PDT by dforest (Is there any good idea out there that Obama doesn't lay claim to anymore?)
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To: livius

The “s” and “b” keys are not even close on a keyboard. Someone was either intentionally doing this to screw it up, or someone was typing what their subconcious was thinking.


15 posted on 10/10/2008 12:15:09 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Country First!)
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To: ncfool
Obama or Osama. They both want to destroy America!

They also both have friends who bombed the Pentagon.

16 posted on 10/10/2008 12:15:24 PM PDT by Bob
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To: ncfool

Both have “ties” to Ayers ;-)


17 posted on 10/10/2008 12:19:30 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.....)
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To: PleaseNoMore
The “s” and “b” keys are not even close on a keyboard. Someone was either intentionally doing this to screw it up, or someone was typing what their subconcious was thinking.

If I'm not mistaken, it could also been that someone accepted a correction made by a spell-checker. I've seen a couple of instances where the suggestion of "Osama" was made to replace "Obama". :=)

18 posted on 10/10/2008 12:22:32 PM PDT by Bob
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To: Bob

Computer spellcheck at fault? Interesting observation and probably closer to the truth than blaming Freud. The ability to spell or make change without a computer is no longer taught. The English language, however, is a little more complicated than just using spell check. Simple words such as to, too or two, all pass spell check but in something like a legal document could have unintended results should the incorrect one be selected. Which leads me to be more concerned about a BO proposal to “CHANGE” the basic English language to one which is more “user friendly”.


19 posted on 10/10/2008 12:47:32 PM PDT by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: Tatze

It should said “Barak Hussein Obama”


20 posted on 10/10/2008 1:30:59 PM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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