Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on May 5, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
¡Hola, amigos! ¿Que pasa? Maybe Barack Obama should have just stuck with that when trying to use his Spanish to offer a holiday greeting to White House visitors:
President Barack Obama’s joke wasn’t lost in translation – even though he referred to a Cinco de Mayo celebration as “Cinco de Cuatro.”
Obama jumbled his words as he welcomed guests to the White House to observe the Mexican holiday, sending the crowd into laughter before he referred to the day correctly.
“Welcome to Cinco de Cuatro – Cinco de Mayo at the White House,” said Obama, in what appeared to be an attempt to note they were celebrating on the fourth of May instead of the fifth.
Cinco de cuatro means “five of four” in Spanish.
Sometimes, these things just write themselves. Happy Cinco de Mayo to our readers, and I’ll refrain from offering some other phrases of Spanish I picked up over the years living in California. Most of the ones I remember aren’t exactly fit for a family blog, anyway.
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at obamaisms@edmorrissey.com with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.
Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!
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Happy Cinco de Cinco, Everyone!
bluelightbrigade on May 5, 2009 at 8:08 AM
“quatro de cinco” maybe he was referencing a latino Borg
elduende on May 5, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Happy Sink of the Mayonaise!
DethMetalCookieMonst on May 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM
That would be cinco de nueve. And, of course, totally hot.
Ed Morrissey on May 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM
OMFG! Can the media be any more in the tank than they are?? Can you imagine the howls of rage and/or the peals of laughter and “Isn’t he dumb” if Bush had done this? Good Lord.
But there’s nothing funny about Obama, right?
crazy_legs on May 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Don’t tell the libs how to say “black” in Spanish. They may have a heart attack.
DethMetalCookieMonst on May 5, 2009 at 8:11 AM
FIFY
DethMetalCookieMonst on May 5, 2009 at 8:12 AM
I thought “caliente” was the word for “hot”.
jbh45 on May 5, 2009 at 8:14 AM
You need a hug Ed, but it will cost you $2.
We are not communists you know.
Mr. Joe on May 5, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Thank Gaia that Bush didn’t say that or it would prove he is the dumbest man in America.
Bishop on May 5, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Cinco de cinco is what you say in a sobriety test just before you get arrested for DUI.
Mr. Joe on May 5, 2009 at 8:15 AM
FIFY
DethMetalCookieMonst on May 5, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Argh. 7 of 9, not 5 of 9. Sorry. With my luck, the 5 of 9 Borg was played by Joy Behar or Rosie O’Donnell.
Ed Morrissey on May 5, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Agreed. Remember how Quayle was hounded and ridiculed for spelling the word “potato” wrong?
jbh45 on May 5, 2009 at 8:16 AM
“My accent is great, but I only know 15 words.”–Obama
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Well, his flub actually makes sense, as he still seems to remember that five out of four donors surveyed chose to give to Obama over other candidates during the 2008 Presidential campaign.
misslizzi on May 5, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Ed Morrissey on May 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Apropos I guess since she and her marital travails play a not insignificant role in the subsequent Obama debacle.
elduende on May 5, 2009 at 8:18 AM
I think I need a cerveza.
Right_of_Attila on May 5, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Ewwwww…………….. Brain bleach on isle 5 please…. Oh and how about we just wait for Cuatro de July and celebrate that instead of Mexico’s independence day???
doriangrey on May 5, 2009 at 8:19 AM
You mean I can’t tell anyone about the church mission trip I went on in Piedras Negras (Black Rocks), Mexico?
Not fair!
ladyingray on May 5, 2009 at 8:20 AM
I thought it was a poor attempt to continue his celebration of the Fourth of November.
backwoods conservative on May 5, 2009 at 8:21 AM
It would be nice if the Cap’n would translate that for those of us who speak Austrian.
Bishop on May 5, 2009 at 8:21 AM
It’s kind of like how libs take it as a badge of honor to have even the smallest ammount of Native American blog in them. Whenever they brag about them, use their anti-Americanism against them and say “Well then that means you have rapist in your family” since libs go on and on about how the white man raped Native Americans.
DethMetalCookieMonst on May 5, 2009 at 8:25 AM
Teleprompter must have been broken.
RWLA on May 5, 2009 at 8:25 AM
Me thinks,Hopey wants to beat BidenGaffes comment
about a certain ethnic group,that run a resturant
or a 7/11 store on every corner!!ahem.
canopfor on May 5, 2009 at 8:27 AM
If it’s a Cinco de Mayo thread, well wishes to the Mexican flu 2009 that it be less than more.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:28 AM
“Hola, pen-dek-os!”
DethMetalCookieMonst on May 5, 2009 at 8:28 AM
A minor error by this guy is funny only because it makes him crazy that he can’t come off as perfect. I hope he tossed and turned all night. I also hope George Bush is enjoying these foibles.
sherry on May 5, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Misconception.
May 5th celebrate the Battle of Puebla.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:29 AM
No, no, you’ve got it all wrong! This man is a rhetorical genius! He has a gift. I think they call it the gift of the gaffe.
mr.blacksheep on May 5, 2009 at 8:30 AM
“Cinco de cuatro” from the elitist who just a few months ago was scolding the rest of us for not speaking foreign languages?
Note to Rahm: Enroll TOTUS in the next Rosetta Stone course.
petefrt on May 5, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Wikipedia:
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:31 AM
*laughs. spits coffee on screen*
bluelightbrigade on May 5, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Limerick on May 5, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Counting to 15 means nothing given Obama’s mathematical challenge.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:34 AM
And perhaps partly responsible for this predicament we find ourselves in.
Pablo on May 5, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Really, that statement is an Obamateurism on its own. Revealing, too.
BigD on May 5, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Limerick on May 5, 2009 at 8:33 AM
oohoo
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:36 AM
[قوترو] شهر ماي
FIFY Mr. President
NY Conservative on May 5, 2009 at 8:36 AM
“Revealing, too.”
BigD on May 5, 2009 at 8:35 AM
exactly
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Very interesting…my husband and, as a consequence, my son do have a teeny amount of Native American in their blood…
ladyingray on May 5, 2009 at 8:40 AM
I’d make a better president
blatantblue on May 5, 2009 at 8:41 AM
You are so right…
ladyingray on May 5, 2009 at 8:42 AM
I’d make a better president
blatantblue on May 5, 2009 at 8:41 AM
My cat would make a better president.
ladyingray on May 5, 2009 at 8:42 AM
We truly live in Bizarro world.
This guy is the effing President of the US and he has an aunt who is an illegal alien and living in tax payer funded housing, getting taxpayer funded health care, receiving taxpayer funded welfare, and a whole laundry list of other taxpayer funded benefits.
Why aren’t there herds of reporters following her around in Boston and pickig through her trash and analyzing every purchase she makes aka the Palin treatment.
Imagine if Bush had an illegal relative, or one living in a squalid shack. You couldn’t make enough ink to print the pictures of them that would be plastered on every magazine and paper. It’s stupifying.
Alden Pyle on May 5, 2009 at 8:43 AM
He should go back to taking Spanish since he says we need to speak it. Or it could be TOTUS needs a few classes.
Brat4life on May 5, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Goes to show, there’s no appeasement to terrorism that doesn’t come back to stab you in the back. May as well fight straight from the start, rather than permit yourself to be surrounded by foes enabled by your own feeble allies.
Wikipedia, Jack Ryan:
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:44 AM
I’ve flushed a better president.
Alden Pyle on May 5, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Why would anyone in the US, not a Mexican, give a flyin flip about May 5th? Do people really so in need for reasons to drink?
Michael: Let’s go here. Oscar, right here. You’re on.
Oscar: Okay, Michael, um…both my parents were born in Mexico.
Michael: Oh yeah…
Oscar: And, uh, they moved to the United States a year before I was born.
Michael: Yeah…
Oscar: So I grew up in the United States.
Michael: Wow.
Oscar: And, my parents were Mexican.
Michael: Wow. That is…that is a great story. That’s the American dream right there, right?
Oscar: Thank…yeah.
Michael: Um, let me ask you, is there a term besides Mexican that you prefer? Something less offensive?
Oscar: Mexican isn’t offensive.
Michael: Well, it has certain connotations.
Oscar: Like what?
Michael: Like…I don’t…I don’t know.
Oscar: What connotations, Michael?
Michael: Oh no, no, no, no…
Oscar: You meant something…
Michael: Now, remember that honesty…
Oscar: I’m just curious.
Akzed on May 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM
I have a great deal of difficulty with foreign languages, heck, I have a lot of trouble with English, so I can be somewhat emphatic to “The One”. (Hmm, could I be on the Supreme Court?)
But, having said that, I am not the one who is all knowing, the smartest guy in the world, the best looking guy in the world, the most magnanimous guy in the world, and can stop the oceans from rising, and can “reshape” America, etc etc etc…
And, I don’t think of the Constitution as something that is simply in my way as I “reshape” America.
In other words, he is simply human, a far far left socialist, but still human, and really not the brightest bulb on the globe, but don’t mention that to the MSM.
kam582 on May 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Oh I don’t know I was channel flipping last night and some schmuck on PSMSNBC said he has been the perfect president with no mistakes. I think he was talking to David Schuster.
Brat4life on May 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM
The funny thing is that Cinco de Mayo is a very minor celebration down in old Mexico. Many Mexican’s aren’t even aware that it is a holiday.
I have yet to find anyone who can explain why it is such a big deal north of the border.
MarkTheGreat on May 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM
So your cat is smarter than me, graylady?
It is possible
blatantblue on May 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Safe bet, everyone except Obama’s most strident worshipers is laughing AT Obama. Putin, Chavez, everyone.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:46 AM
We’re so arrogant, all we can say is “merci beaucoup.”
What a tool.
cs89 on May 5, 2009 at 8:47 AM
I think it’s a reason to drink. Around here they have tents outside and tons of alcohol at all the Mexican Restaurants.
Brat4life on May 5, 2009 at 8:48 AM
BHO already has a track record of giving awful gifts to the friends of the USA, but to the invaders from south of the border, he’ll be giving them exactly what they want for a “Cinco de Quatro” gift: amnesty.
jgapinoy on May 5, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Well, her cat is smart enough to avoid politics… I’m just sayin here… ;p
doriangrey on May 5, 2009 at 8:49 AM
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Curious why you didn’t include this part?
cs89 on May 5, 2009 at 8:51 AM
it was just few days ago we had video of Ann Coulter and Joy Behar w/ Joy claiming Obama didnt provide any humorous material. Guess someone should send her this article.
chasdal on May 5, 2009 at 8:52 AM
It’s not your gayness that defines you, its your mexican-ness.
chasdal on May 5, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Word jgapinoy. Be safe in AZ – americas new kidnapping capital
Some other thoughts
Prince Obama really irritated me when he insinuated that there was something wrong with our monolingualism
Rather than Anglo arrogance, the reason americans are not as bilingual is geographic.
We aren’t like the Europeans, clustered in close proximity, where languages meet daily.
So shove it!!
blatantblue on May 5, 2009 at 8:55 AM
“Many Mexican’s…” That is not my experience in Mexico.
As per why Mexican-Americans promote a Mexican victory, it doesn’t take a genius to figure that one. Give credit where credit is due.
Given the Monroe Doctrine, Americans have no problem celebrating May 5th, particularly Americans in the SW who count Hispanics amongst friends. Now as then, “Don’t tread on me” deserves a mutual admirers international (not global) club respecting sovereign non-colonial maturization towards responsible independent countries.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Seis de Marzo, Senior Barry.
Limerick on May 5, 2009 at 8:57 AM
cs89 on May 5, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Your juvenile “Curious” is stuck on dumbass gawking.
Grow up and stay on point.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Damn shame there isn’t anything funny about obama
We don’t have to imagine it. Remember the Republican challenger for gov in CT (I think). His lawn company had an illegal working for it, and the nyslimes(?) sent a reporter down to Central America (Panama?) to find the guy. No smear is to great against the right.
I blame Jose and Corona
todler on May 5, 2009 at 9:03 AM
What do you call four Mexicans caught in quicksand ??
Cuatro sinko.
Happy Cinco de Cinco. coño.
redrock on May 5, 2009 at 9:03 AM
On the campaign trail in Ohio: “‘I don’t speak a foreign language. It’s embarrassing!’ Barack Obama exclaimed today at town hall meeting here. Obama, who often touts his time growing up overseas, made the confession while speaking about the importance of teaching foreign languages in schools.”
For the love of God, this is the smartest human being on the planet. There’s no easier “foreign” language to learn than Spanish. Surely he took some sort of foreign language in one of those fancy schools he went to–or did they give him a pass on that, too?
labwriter on May 5, 2009 at 9:04 AM
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA………ha!
Thanks.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Sinko Sailo, Senior Presidente.
Shy Guy on May 5, 2009 at 9:06 AM
That may be true, but they celebrate it now…I can’t imagine a more important holiday to Mexico in terms of bringing in the cash from American’s.
We celebrate (and party and spend money) basically a nothing, and they pull in the cash…that is a celebration in any country.
The sad part, living in NC during this holiday…they have no idea what Mexican food is out here, the one big drawback.
Premade taco shells, ground beef, american cheese for an enchilada…unspeakable…
right2bright on May 5, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Give Obama a break. He was just trying to tell us how many states there are.
LibTired on May 5, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Indonesian Muslim Schools teach English as a second language. So he must either speak their native tongue, or flunked out, proving that indeed, illiterates graduate from institutions of higher education and are given special student status for the Ivy League pamper diploma.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 9:09 AM
You don’t always have to know the exact reason for a party…this isn’t about why, it’s all about how.
Not why is there a party, but how are you going to party.
Somethings just don’t need to be analyzed to have them make sense…Cinco de Mayo is that type of party.
right2bright on May 5, 2009 at 9:10 AM
right2bright on May 5, 2009 at 9:06 AM
I’ve made that same point in prior years.
Tell it to MarkTheGreat.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 9:12 AM
He probably celebrated by filling his sink full of mayonnaise.
Daggett on May 5, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Clever!
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Todos borrachos amigos! :)
rockbend on May 5, 2009 at 9:16 AM
It’s early, but that’s still the best laugh of the day!
labwriter on May 5, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Marketing.
I mean, it’s a perfect opportunity to get that 20 something crowd involved in spending some extra cash on crappy beer, heading to the local watering hole, or buying some craptastic “Mexican” meal from the local restaurant where the waitresses wear flair.
reaganaut on May 5, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Indeed. And it’s the 2nd worst place In The World for kidnappings, after Mexico City.
I’ll be safer when we move to the Philippines!
jgapinoy on May 5, 2009 at 9:21 AM
This coming from a guy who tells us “we” need to speak more languages.
roux on May 5, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Apparently the TOTUS isn’t bilingual.
roux on May 5, 2009 at 9:29 AM
No. No there’s not.
Happy Mayo de Mayo! Now all I need is a Fifth of Tequila.
Ay carumba.
rbj on May 5, 2009 at 9:31 AM
I wonder if anyone asked him what it felt like to be dumber than George W. Bush?
darkpixel on May 5, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Indian yoga vs mexican yoga
My Mexican buddy sent me this. Visually hilarious but a little bit…
RACISSSSSSSSSSST!
Or so I am told.
csdeven on May 5, 2009 at 9:32 AM
But definitely bipolar.
csdeven on May 5, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Dear Leader can’t speak French, now we find he doesn’t know Spanish as well. He’s not much of a comedian either. And they say this guy is brilliant.
Kissmygrits on May 5, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Ed remember, if it wasn’t for cinco de nueve, Barack Obama probably wouldn’t be president today. Takes a little hotness out of the equation when that’s added into the mix…
jon1979 on May 5, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Just words.
geckomon on May 5, 2009 at 10:05 AM
It’s my husband’s birthday too! My whole family has a holiday for a birthday… very strange. Felice Cinco de Mayo! What day of Mayo is it? Cinco!
petunia on May 5, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Slightly Off topic, but generally on topic….
I think I heard a new lefty spin on Obama’s slow speaking patterns (aka long winded answers) and tendencies to say UH all the time.
Two Obamatron friends of mine commented that Obama speaks slowly because he had a speech impediment as a child, akin to stuttering. The slow speaking is a coping mechanism to overcome it. Of course any criticism or making fun of his “mistakes” is just hurtful insensitive mocking of someone’s handicap (which of course is typical of evil republicans /sarc)
First of all… is this true?
Second, it this “excuse” for Obama’s speaking gaffs getting any traction (I don’t think my friends thought up this by themselves. They must of heard it somewhere.)
AverageJoe on May 5, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Great and subtle use of the third person.
unclesmrgol on May 5, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I plan on heading uptown this evening…looking for a little spanko de mayo. :-)
But, Obama said Americans don’t even know how to say “merci beaucoup?” And now this?
Time to get one of those 64 languages CD’s for TOTUS.
coldwarrior on May 5, 2009 at 10:34 AM
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 9:00 AM
A bit sensitive today?
On point, yes Obama’s a tool.
cs89 on May 5, 2009 at 10:36 AM
rockmom on May 5, 2009 at 10:38 AM
“Indian yoga versus Mexican yoga” I don’t care what anyone says, that’s funny right there. (props to Larry the Cable Guy)
A real American president would have said “Remember the Alamo”.
Dukehoopsfan on May 5, 2009 at 10:42 AM
How do you say “We are so screwed” in
SpanishMexican?Y-not on May 5, 2009 at 10:51 AM
A Hollywood actress forced to go to sex clubs in Paris.
No dumber lie could a pretty blonde trump to win given all’s fair in love and war.
Therein, [Waco massacre, Lewinsky in the Oval Office, purging the Bosnian Christian population via NATO/Wesley Clark to wag the dog, Impeachment that didn't matter, higher taxes than ever, destructive affect on national security and economy] Clinton proved the most destructive popular POTUS enabling Obama now to speed past in warp faster than you can say Jack Robinson, Jack Kemp, or Jack Ryan.
Ryan walked the walk that Obama only talked, “giving back”. Hell, Obama raped public funding from public works projects that he organized on the take to enrich his lawyer cronies while impoverishing the poor who remain that much worse off for Obama’s existence, dragging everything and everyone down to Ground Zero.
Obama destroys the Constitution.
Impeach Obama.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 11:08 AM
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