The president, it seems, committed a minor gaffe during this week's G-8 meetings in Northern Ireland. According to the Financial Times, the stumble came during a discussion of tax avoidance issues, when Barack Obama thrice interrupted the British chancellor of the exchequer in order to say he agreed with "Jeffrey."
The chancellor's name is George Osborne.
Obama later apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, man. I must have confused you with my favorite R&B singer." The U.S. leader was referring to Jeffrey Osborne, the soulful crooner responsible for "On the Wings of Love."
But is Osborne really the favorite that Obama claims? Some investigative reporting has raised serious questions about where Osborne ranks in Obama's hierarchy of musical preferences.
In multiple interviews about music, Obama has never once mentioned Osborne when asked about the songs he listens to, even when mentioning other R&B artists. Consider the following data points:
- In an interview with Cincinnati radio station WIZF, Obama says he listens to Stevie Wonder, James Brown, the Fugees, and even jazz artist Gil Scott-Heron, among others. But Osborne is never brought up.
- In an interview with Rolling Stone, he specifically discusses R&B -- but again, makes no mention of Osborne (the late classical singer Maria Callas gets a shout out).
- Asked about his musical preferences by a middle school teacher while campaigning in 2007, Obama again mentions Stevie Wonder, and adds that he enjoys Earth, Wind & Fire -- but no Osborne.
So -- is Jeffrey Osborne really an artist so close to the president's heart that he could accidentally blurt out his name when addressing another country's chancellor of the exchequer? Or did Obama just forget poor George Osborne's name?
We report, you decide.
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