Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has committed a major blunder, confusing grieving TV host Rove McManus with White House strategist Karl Rove.
McManus's wife, actor Belinda Emmett, was farwelled at a funeral in Sydney today after succumbing to cancer last weekend at the age of 32.
Mr Beazley began a press conference in Sydney today by expressing his sympathy - but to the wrong Rove.
"The first thing I want to say is this - today, our thoughts and the thoughts of many, many Australians will be with Karl Rove as he goes through the very sad process of burying his beloved wife," Mr Beazley told reporters.
"And I just want him to know that my thoughts and the thoughts of my colleagues are very much with him today."
Rove McManus is one of the country's most popular entertainers, winning three consecutive Gold Logies and hosting the Network Ten comedy chat show Rove Live.
Karl Rove is US President George W Bush's deputy chief of staff and the architect of Republican election campaigns.
Mr Beazley's office told ABC television the Labor leader had "mis-spoken" and meant to refer to Mr McManus.
It is not the first time Mr Beazley has muddled up a name at a doorstop.
Earlier this year, he mixed up the then Reserve Bank governor Ian Macfarlane with the resources minister of the same name.
Last year he called Australian model Michelle Leslie, Michelle Lee.
Mr Beazley took several weeks off work in 2004 when he was diagnosed with Schaltenbrand's syndrome, an ailment in which cerebrospinal fluid leaks from around the brain.
Mr Beazley later issued a brief statement correcting his mistake but not apologising to McManus.
"I would like to correct the record after I mis-spoke this morning," he said.
"Of course, I meant Rove McManus.
"My thoughts are with him now just as they were this morning."
AAP