Did President Obama's mispronunciation of Oso tarnish his mudslide visit?

mynorthwest.com ^ | 4/22/2014 | Josh Kerns

[djwright]

President Obama had plenty of heartfelt words as he spoke at the Oso firehouse after touring the mudslide debris field. But his remarks are being overshadowed because he mispronounced Oso several times.

He got it right the first time he referenced the town devastated by last month's slide as he recognized family members of the victims, first responders and officials, saying he came to let the community know the entire country is thinking of them.

But moments later came his big gaffe.

"Because while very few Americans have ever heard of Osso [sic] before the disaster struck, we've all been inspired by the incredible way that the community has come together."

No one said a word, but you can only imagine what people were thinking as he continued, again mispronouncing the name as he referenced letters he received from Darrington, Arlington and "Osso."

[djwright]

It really detracts from his effort when he can't pronounce a simple name like Oso. He says Aw so, not Oh so.

If bush did this....well you know the rest.

[Psalm 144]

Were there any corpse men in attendance?

A college education is a terrible thing to waste.

[Newbomb Turk]

Everything is a photo op for the lyin king.

[bakeneko]

All intentional. It is a standing dare to any member of main-stream media to criticize him. If they do, they will be through.

[Marcella]

“He says Aw so, not Oh so.”

For goodness sake, give him a break. It's hard for a Muslim to pronounce American words. s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/

[Ramius]

Eh... In the big picture of things, not a big deal. The difference between “oh-so” and “aw-so” is small potatoes here in Washington. If we really wanted to screw him up we’d make him say “Puyallup”.

[rockrr]

Is that what that smell was? I thought all the sewers had backed up.

[Steve_Seattle]

No, it would only be a gaffe if Bush or Palin did it, because the MSM are a**holes who only draw attention to, and exploit, Republican gaffes.

[Dustoff45]

If we really wanted to screw him up we’d make him say “Puyallup”.

Puyallup is best said as one syllable. LOL

And anyone that has lived in the Pierce/King County area for long knows what that one syllable name is when they hear it. It is somewhere between Pop and Plop.

[Iron Munro]

Were there any corpse men in attendance?

- Doesn't know what a corpsman is.

- Doesn't know how many states there are in the USA.

- Speaks Arab like an Arab (Phok-Eee-Stohn).

- Now he can't pronouce a simple word like Oso.

Just another "tell" indicating he is trying to function in a culture that is really foreign to him.

[Drango]

Oso...because it’s o so hard to pronounce.”

[Graewoulf]

BTTT!

[exit82]

Says “aw-so.”

Thank God he didn’t bow, too.

[Ezekiel]

Just another "tell" indicating he is trying to function in a culture that is really foreign to him.

Add "Kee-san" to the list.

[Dagnabitt]

Spending one’s entire youth baked to the gills on Pot doesn't appear to be good for future cognitive skills.

[Nepeta]

He just pronounced it the way they do in Austrian.

[familyop]

Heh. That’s pretty funny. Oso is Spanish for bear.

[familyop]

Funny ping. You been down around C.C. much before? Remember “the Oso?” Very stinky area of shallow, muddy flats just off the Bay, not far south from downtown toward the Naval Air Station. Residential area around it.

[null and void]

Yes. A Japanese tourist who encountered a bear on a hike in Mexico was heard to exclaim “Ah so! Oso!”

[Verginius Rufus]

The ball’s in the residents of Oso’s court now. They can start pronouncing the name of their town “osso”...that is, if they aren’t racists.