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Hello? Barack Here. No, Really

Pol suspecting a prank hangs up on president-elect

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 4, 2008 2:46 AM CST

(Newser) – Blame radio's drive-time zoo disc jockeys for a new skepticism among politicians. GOP Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen received a phone call from someone identifying himself as Barack Obama. She hung up on him, thinking it was a radio show prank—and even complimented him on his Obama impression. The only snag? It actually was the president-elect. Then she hung up on Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

''I thought it was one of the radio stations playing an elaborate, terrific prank,'' said Ros-Lehtinen. "Why would Obama want to call a little slug on the planet like me? I said, 'Oh, no, I won't be punked.' " After some persuading, she finally took a call from Obama, who told her he was looking forward to working with her as the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

When President-elect Obama called Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen she thought it was a hoax and hung up on him.
When President-elect Obama called Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen she thought it was a hoax and hung up on him.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hung up on President-elect Barack Obama because she thought the call was a hoax.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hung up on President-elect Barack Obama because she thought the call was a hoax.   (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
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They got Fidel Castro to go along and others to fall for their tricks. I said, 'Oh, no, I won't be punked.' - Florida Rep. Iliana Ros-Lehtinen

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Guest
Dec 5, 2008 9:55 PM CST
What she was really saying is, "Why do I care if Obama is calling me, he didn't help me win".
Shannonals
Dec 5, 2008 6:57 AM CST
Can't blame her
Guest
Dec 4, 2008 6:37 AM CST
She ended up in the news anyway. LOL
 

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