Either purposefully missed, or were lead to miss. The very word 'bailout' is not synonymous with 'loan' in any dictionary.

Now, as some one with Ahem-teen years in the finance industry, and in the investment side, I have always spoken of it as a 'loan'. Especially when people shout about 'bailout Main Street' - I counter with 'so, you want a loan you have to payback in the next 2-3 years? How much do you want loaned to you?'

And, yes, you're right, they get confused. Or they tell you that you're wrong.