How do you build a little bipartisan cred when you’re a President that has a radical agenda, and people have begun noticing it? The first option is to get on TV and start talking about all of the many people in the other party with whom you’re working, to impress the media and the voters with your commitment to reaching across the aisle. But there is a catch — you have to actually know their names:

We’ve worked closely with leaders in the Senate and the House, including not only Barney [Frank], but also Senators Chris Dodd and Richard Shelby and Barney is already working with his counterpart, Sheldon Bachus.

Sheldon Bachus? President Obama apparently hasn’t worked closely enough with leaders in the Senate and House to know that Rep. Bachus (R-AL) isn’t named Sheldon but Spencer.

Maybe the next time Obama works “closely” with Republicans, he’ll get close enough to learn their names.

Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at [email protected] 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!