Barack 'Osama' on Rensselaer County Election Ballots!

AlbanyJet · 10-10-2008, 07:33 PM

By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer
Last updated: 4:05 p.m., Friday, October 10, 2008

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. [B]"If I crossed out the name and wrote in the right spelling my ballot would be invalid."[/B]

[url]http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=728326[/url]
(Picture of Ballot at Link)

:jets18

Warfish · 10-10-2008, 07:40 PM

Voting in America is supposed to be our greatest right.

Too bad it's a joke.

crazyeffinjetsfan · 10-10-2008, 07:44 PM

[QUOTE=Warfish;2798628]Voting in America is supposed to be our greatest right.

Too bad it's a joke.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but you gotta admit it was a great joke.

All in all, it's nothing compared to ACORN.

Roger Vick · 10-10-2008, 08:44 PM

That's just about as bad as when they gave James Earl Jones that civil rights award and accidentally inscribed James Earl Ray on the plaque.

AlbanyJet · 10-11-2008, 08:04 AM

"...one pol pointed out that the letters 's' and 'b' are not exactly keyboard neighbors."

Few voters in Rensselaer County are buying the explanation that it was a mistake. Most voters believe it was intentional - with Democrats involved.

Rensselaer County is like a lot of counties in PA, OH, IN, WI, etc.

Interesting......

:jets18

10-10-2008, 07:33 PM	#1
AlbanyJet All League Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,623	Barack 'Osama' on Rensselaer County Election Ballots! By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer Last updated: 4:05 p.m., Friday, October 10, 2008 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. [B]"If I crossed out the name and wrote in the right spelling my ballot would be invalid."[/B] [url]http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=728326[/url] (Picture of Ballot at Link) :jets18

10-10-2008, 07:40 PM	#2
Warfish JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 35,000	Voting in America is supposed to be our greatest right. Too bad it's a joke.

10-10-2008, 07:44 PM	#3
crazyeffinjetsfan feels like his head is in a popcorn machine. All League Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middlesex County, NJ Posts: 3,305	[QUOTE=Warfish;2798628]Voting in America is supposed to be our greatest right. Too bad it's a joke.[/QUOTE] Yeah, but you gotta admit it was a great joke. All in all, it's nothing compared to ACORN.

10-10-2008, 08:44 PM	#4
Roger Vick Banned Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 9,533	That's just about as bad as when they gave James Earl Jones that civil rights award and accidentally inscribed James Earl Ray on the plaque.

10-11-2008, 08:04 AM	#5
AlbanyJet All League Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,623	"...one pol pointed out that the letters 's' and 'b' are not exactly keyboard neighbors." Few voters in Rensselaer County are buying the explanation that it was a mistake. Most voters believe it was intentional - with Democrats involved. Rensselaer County is like a lot of counties in PA, OH, IN, WI, etc. Interesting...... :jets18