According to Barack Obama's closest aides, the President has said more than once "If I hear my name mispronounced one more time by those British broadcasters, I'm going to have to go over there and kick some British butt."
Obama, of course, is referring to the pronunciation of his name as Obammer, which sounds like "O bomber" when it is spoken by many British newscasters. To the President, this is more than just annoying, it could get him into some hot, hot water what with diplomatic relations between the United States and certain other countries at an all-time low.
"Pronouncing my name as Obammer is reckless to say the least," claims Obama. "I'm already having enough trouble as it is figuring out proper diplomatic etiquette such as how to properly shake hands, to whom I can and cannot bow, not to mention getting birthdays straight so I don't send premature gifts."
An Obama spokesperson claims that just last week the White House Chief of Staff received an urgent phone call from the US Ambassador in Syria relaying details of an incident where government leaders in Syria had caught the tail end of a British newscast and misinterpreted the nature of the broadcast when the words White House and what they thought was the word 'bomb' taken out of context. In fact, it was merely an innocent story detailing President Obama's plans for the upcoming holidays.
British newscasters are expected to receive memos from their station managers asking them to please try and pronounce the President's name in American English and refrain from referring to him as Obammer from now on. No word if this will be accomplished as many of the newscasters aren't that fond of the President anyway and see this as an opportunity to have some fun with the obviously sensitive leader. In fact, one newscaster even went so far as to comment "Just a wee bit sensitive, innhe?"
