Someone on the internet once pondered jokingly about whether Jar Jar was supposed to be The Phantom Menace's Han Solo (both were "rogues" who served as comic relief... to varying degrees of effectiveness). But perhaps they were onto something... Here's a listing of the uncanny similiarites:

Han Solo...	Jar Jar Binks...
wore trousers and a vest	wore trousers and a vest
was a pilot/mechanic	was a pilot/mechanic (not a good one, but he was one)
was kicked out of the Imperial Navy as a young man	was kicked out of the Gungan society as a young... Gungan
started out as a selfish, greedy outcast but ends up a hero.	started out as a clumsy, naive outcast but ends up a hero
got bossed around by the corpulent and arrogant Jabba the Hutt	got bossed around by the corpulent and arrogant Boss Nass
was owed a "life debt" by a large, furry Wookiee	owed a "life debt" to a large, furry Jedi Master
thought the Force was "a bunch of silly tricks and nonsense"	thought the Force "smelled stinkowiff"
was good friends with a Skywalker	was good friends with a Skywalker
hung out with, but wasn't particularly fond of, Obi-Wan Kenobi	hung out with, but wasn't particularly fond of, Obi-Wan Kenobi
got zapped by Imperial law enforcement during a torture session on Bespin	got zapped by Gungan law enforcement upon returning home after his exile
got promoted to General despite having been stuck in carbon-freeze for several months prior	got promoted to General despite being, well, Jar Jar
once stepped in the wrong place at the wrong time (the twig while sneaking up on a scout trooper on Endor)	once stepped in the wrong place at the wrong time (the "icky goo" on Tatooine)
Upon seeing a group of stormtroopers, was forced to run back from whence he came (pictured above)	Upon seeing a group of energy ball type things, was forced to run back from whence he came (pictured above)

And the uncanniest thing of all: Harrison Ford was once nominated for a "Best" Actor Oscar, while Ahmed Best once bought a car -- a Taurus -- from a dealer at "Harrison Ford." Okay, so maybe that last part didn't really happen...