CNN typo kills Obama, not Osama

A VIDEO producer had just one job … but ended up killing the wrong man and sending social media into hysterics. Yesterday, CNN assassinated President Obama.

A VIDEO producer had just one job … but ended up killing the wrong man and sending social media into hysterics. Yesterday, CNN assassinated Obama.

Obama. Osama. They’re only polar opposites.

But not in the mind of the United States’ polarised media it seems.

Last week a US Navy SEAL just couldn’t keep the lid on it any longer.

He had to boast: ‘I was the man who assassinated Osama bin Laden’.

Wow the SEALs are out of control pic.twitter.com/g0F9Dvidbh

— Jon Passantino (@passantino) November 8, 2014

But it was the same week US Democrat President Barack Obama had his political hopes killed by a Republican surge into the Senate.

Such differences were too insubstantial for CNN.

What was CNN was trying to say?

Retired SEAL named Robert O’Neill stepped forward to say he was the triggerman who killed infamous terrorist leader Osama bin Laden at his Pakistani compound in 2011.

You know, the guy who launched the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centres in New York and the Pentagon in Washington?

Not the guy who launched Obama Care.

Hey @CNN, that's one name you can't misspell. Osama Bin Laden and President Obama aren't interchangeable. pic.twitter.com/2yGb86MfJ3

— KB (@Kayla__Brandon) November 8, 2014

For the SEAL, his future is one of rapid-fire book, movie and publish appearance offers.

O’Neill, 38, will tell his story on national television in a Fox News documentary due to air this week, titled “The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden.”

Take note CNN: Osama. Not Obama.

But CNN had to rush in to take some thunder out of Fox’s exclusive: “He died afraid and he knew we killed him. That’s closure,” O’Neill said of Bin Laden, in an interview broadcast on CNN.

But, in its follow-up about criticism of the SEAL spilling the beans, the CNN headline read: SEAL who claims he killed Obama under attack’.

Err... wait.

That’s Osama. Not Obama.

Obama? Osama? Same diff? #CNN pic.twitter.com/P4oVMEmiYS

— Victoria Pace (@vlpace) November 8, 2014

But the troublesome typo masks a deeper issue.

Such an unabashed urge by commandos to go public about their darkest deeds has alarmed top brass and fellow troops in the close-knit special forces.

They worry that swagger has taken the place of discretion. That ego has overwhelmed prudence.

But can we expect a SEAL-led killing spree in the White House?

When it comes to crazy ‘Muricans’ — and overwhelming desires for higher ratings — there is little doubt some may hope so.