Smear merchant tries trademarking the name "Obama bin Laden"

Some conservative grassroots activists are previewing how low they will go in 2008.  An individual in Miami is selling t-shirts and mugs with the name "Obama bin Laden" on them.  Recently, he even tried to have the name trademarked, only to be denied by the U.S. Patent.

A trademark lawyer said that in order to get the name approved as a trademark, the activist would need permission from both Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden.  Good luck with that one!  The lawyer added that the man was clearly trying to blur the distinction between the two, and his application was therefore rejected on the grounds of "immoral or scandalous matter."

The activist claims he is not a Republican.  "I'm not trying to say Obama's a terrorist.  It was something I talkedabout with my friends, and we all had a good laugh about it," he said.

But if it was just something he joked about, then why did he bother paying a whopping $325 for the patent application?  Already, some radio talk-show personalities have called the Democratic candidate "Obama bin Laden."  So my guess is there was more to it than just a silly little prank.