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(Jake Turcotte)

Florida Congresswoman hangs up on Obama - twice

By Jimmy Orr | 12.04.08

Nothing is more annoying than getting prank phone calls, calls from telemarketers, and calls from President-elect Barack Obama.

Barack Obama?

No time for you

Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen received a phone call from Obama yesterday to wish her congratulations on her re-election and to convey other political-type niceties — like the importance of working together.

Problem was, she didn’t believe it was him. She thought it was one of those wacky radio station stunts wherein a DJ gets you to believe he is someone famous. You know, like when Sarah Palin was spoofed into thinking she was talking to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Determined not to be “Palin-ized,” Ros-Lehtinen hung up on him.

Strike two

So Obama’s head honcho Rahm Emanuel got involved and called her back. She promptly hung up on him too.

”I thought it was one of the radio stations in South Florida playing an incredible, elaborate, terrific prank on me,” Ros-Lehtinen told the Miami Herald. “They got Fidel Castro to go along. They’ve gotten Hugo Chavez and others to fall for their tricks. I said, ‘Oh, no, I won’t be punked’.”

Third time’s the charm

It finally took Representative Howard Berman to get involved before she would believe Obama wanted to talk to her. Berman called his colleague, but she was wary of him too.

In fact, she demanded that Berman share a private joke they share to convince her that Berman was actually Berman.

No details of the private joke has emerged but that top-secret intelligence was enough for Ros-Lehtinen to believe that this was all for real.

She then told Berman to tell Obama to try again.

“I know this sounds very presumptuous, but please tell President-elect Obama he can call me now and I will take his call,” she said.

A big laugh

How’d the call go?

She said the two of them had fun when they finally connected.

“He was having a good laugh,” she told CNN. “He said Michelle will get a kick out of this. Because she likes to pinch my ego — bring it down a notch.”

She said he later told her lightheartedly that he would always remember her for the incident.

“Trust me, Ileana,” she recounted him saying. “You will always be remembered by me, because I have made many of these calls and never once has anyone ever hung up on me. And never once has anyone hung up on me twice.”

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Comments

1. The Great Sula | 12.04.08

This just gos to show how suspisous pepole have become now-a-days. We can’t even be called by the president without getting three high officials and a secret pass-phrase involed. I bet the DJ’s are feeling prety smug right now.

2. PleaseChange | 12.04.08

That’s just too funny. It’s nice to know we’ve elected a President that we can laugh with as opposed to laughing at!

3. SoNice | 12.04.08

Oh - yes! Isn’t it just so warm and cozy with our new President. That’s SUCH a relief. I was worried about trivial things like taxes going up to pay for all those warm-and-cozy programs he promises.

4. JackBQuick | 12.04.08

Finally, here’s a congress person who exhibits a prudent skepticism about the authenticity of callers. Everyone should disbelieve the identity of a caller until sufficient identification has been verified, unless it’s someone you know well enough to know their voice.

5. FixedWing | 12.04.08

Maybe she KNEW it was his people, and didn’t want to talk to him.

6. Tom Mariner | 12.04.08

Now we see the downside of the political “gotcha” game that marked this election. Just as the terrorists tied us up, cost us trillions and insane airport security, the vicious use of “humor” to discredit a candidate of the enemy party will gum up our ability to trust and coordinate.

Every type of prejudice and trickery is OK to earn millions for some psuedo comedian … as long it is followed by a sly “Maher” grin and a flippant “Just kidding”.

It’s a long way from a respectful song entitled “Pennsyvania 6500″ (The old White House number, to pranking the White House with calls.

7. Jody | 12.04.08

What a great story! I needed the chuckle today. Thanks for posting it. :)

8. jesus | 12.04.08

We need a new technology , like IPSEC phone connections to verify the individuals is who they say they are!

9. Matthew Flaschen | 12.04.08

I agree PleaseChange. It’s nice that the Obama camp took it in stride, and didn’t write her off or get offended.

10. D. Grant Haynes | 12.04.08

Orr:

I thought we had seen the last of your tiresome commentary and kindergarten level artwork.

While your tone may be one of golly gee whiz innocuousness now, no one should ever forget that you are a Republican.

D. Grant Haynes

11. NoyMan | 12.04.08

I’m shure she probaly gets a lot of weirdo prank callers, being a public official. I think the problem is with the prank caller. At what point does impersonating a public official cross the line? If they said they were cops or the FBI, I wonder it it would be treated with the same sense of humor.

12. Watch | 12.04.08

Terrorists didn’t tie us up with insane airport security - we did that ourselves. If only that security actually did anything. Unfortunately, it hasn’t actually affected the kind of attacks it was meant to stop, and may have made others easier.

13. Tim G. | 12.04.08

If someone called me collect from Kenya, I’d hang up too!

14. Derek DeGrace | 12.04.08

There ought to be laws about impersonating people like that…in person, on the phone, email, blogs, print… It really does pose a risk to society on many levels. Others may say well what about free speech…I say have all the free speech you want but then stand by it with your own name.

15. matt | 12.04.08

Obama will only raise taxes on those people who listen to rush limbaugh. Its part of the new fairness doctrine.

16. kori | 12.04.08

i’d hang-up on him too.

17. Eric | 12.04.08

Haha, that’s great. I needed this chickle today … badly.

18. Joseph Cohen | 12.04.08

She should have filed an FCC complaint.

19. Robin | 12.04.08

Hilarious! Thanks for the morning laugh.

20. michael | 12.04.08

This is for so nice,sounds like you didn’t vote President-Elect Obama,If no one else understand the crisis our country has been placed in,President Obama do,that is why he has put the best administration together in political history,and he is working very hard to help put our country back where it belong and that is among the most respected country in the world,and i pray for him constantly. Of all those that spoke against him,he still want to reach out with a olive branch,because he understands that for America to be strong,we all,black,white,brown,red,must come together.When terrorist come to attack America,they do not look at COLOR.

21. 1taz | 12.04.08

Oh, SoNice, you don’t have to worry. Taxes are going up. You can thank the 51% or so of the free-loading American voters for that. Now that 49% are paying for the 51%, let there be no doubt what direction those numbers will continue to take. If only those 49% had a clue as to what they are doing to the country…

22. Willie | 12.04.08

Want to bet she changes her number?

23. Karen M | 12.04.08

So nice, you’re obviously a disgruntled republican. Let it go already. And give our president elect a chance to actually set foot in the White House before you start taking jabs at him. Sheesh!

24. Pretty | 12.04.08

#3 is no fun.

25. AndItComesToThis | 12.04.08

wow..talk about a sad world. i find this funny simply beacause she hung up on him twice, too bad she told him to give her a call back again, i just would have kept hanging up.

Obama: “this is president-elect Obama calling”
Me: “yeah, so?”
Click

26. thoughtchallenge | 12.04.08

That prank on Sarah Palin was by a foreign radio station(Canada), impersonating a political leader from yet another foreign country(France). I wonder if they had been an American radio Station impersonating an American political leader, would that have been a crime. This poor congresswoman will probably be pranked by every radio station in the world now.

http://politicalthoughtchallenge.blogspot.com/

.

27. Emma | 12.04.08

It shows the real face of our elect president, he will ask why a person hung up before shoot-figurative.

28. dan | 12.04.08

What’s so important about the fact that somebody hang up on OBama to make this a national news item?..This is the kind of trash the media keeps putting out and instead of addressing issues…

Dan

29. Jeremy | 12.04.08

SoNice, please explain to the cost and actual usefulness of the Iraq occupation before you go railing liberals on spending. Doing so would make you at least appear to be consistent in your arguments, rather than reading off as trite and sarcastic.

No neoconservative should ever be able to make an argument against liberal spending habits after a debacle like the Iraq war and be taken seriously. It is the ultimate example of wasteful government spending and it has done anything and everything except make our nation more secure, eliminate anti-American sentiment and stem the tide of fundamentalist Islamic terrorism.

30. Mr Obvious | 12.04.08

Doesn’t she have caller ID?

31. Scott Bain | 12.04.08

Oh no! Does this mean that Nigerian prince really DOES have a million dollars for me???

32. JudiNV | 12.04.08

Funny enough for a bit on SNL! I read this story first at another news source but CSM tells it best. Thanks for the chuckle!

33. Templeton Green | 12.04.08

I’d hang up on him every time he called me. My taxes would go through the roof, and every big brother eye would turn my way, but hang up I would, I’m not interested in hearing socialist garble!

34. No More Obstacles | 12.04.08

That is awesome! I love it and I think I like this guy! :)

35. Mim | 12.04.08

This Congress person probably didn’t have anything to say of importance, anyway. She has never been a Congress person for the Americans, but only of Cuban descent.

36. So Lighten Up Already! | 12.04.08

:( I guess no political story can ever be funny enough to just 100% laughs and chuckles and 0% dark and serious gloom and doom responses.

37. So Lighten Up Already! | 12.04.08

:( I guess no political story can ever be funny enough to get 100% laughs and chuckles and 0% dark and serious gloom and doom responses.

38. Jeff | 12.04.08

Foolishly suspicious. This is called outsmarting yourself. So concerned at looking stupid, she acted stupidly.

39. Sean | 12.04.08

If you are suspicious…you can always take a call back number and verify beofore you talk, right?

40. Dale Wolf | 12.04.08

When Michael Douglas portrayed the President in “The American President.” There was a great scene where he made a direct call to a floral shop to order a dozen roses. The florist would not believe he was the President. Finally, he told her to call the White House and ask for the President and her call would be put through to him.

So President-Elect Obama had a simpler answer when calling Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen … just have her place a collect call to the White House.

41. chuck | 12.04.08

LOL !! But will she actually work with him ??

42. Regular Dude | 12.04.08

How funny the Nutso right wingers still believe that its the dem’s out to get em- Mr Green, the last President you hired did exactly what you claim Obama will do. Get over it bud you have to wait and see now. Either support your President as an American or get the heck out of here and go live somewhere else. McCain even insisted on this ideal in his speech because he is a TRUE American- The people have spoken…

43. chuck | 12.04.08

why on my very first comment am i told i am “posting too fast” ??

44. sage | 12.04.08

it is good to read something that makes one smile..

45. Steve | 12.04.08

@Mr Obvious:

Caller ID isn’t reliable. The Caller ID information can be spoofed and it is currently not illegal to do so.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/callerid.html

46. ray bell | 12.04.08

There so many nasty an mean people and this country? give the person a change
if it do not work out he out and 4 years you give bush 8 and you see what happen there.

47. dave | 12.04.08

@Templeton Green - but illegal tapping of phone calls is okay right?

48. Sceptical | 12.04.08

Okay, I can see how she wasn’t convinced that Obama was calling her. But she didn’t recognize the voice of her former House colleague Rahm Emanuel? And she didn’t recognize the chair of her committee and demanded an inside joke like some kind of WWII password? I’m aware of this Congresswoman and already knew that she was combative and nasty — now you can add paranoid and foolish.

49. andrew | 12.04.08

@Templeton Greene:

You obviously don’t have a CLUE about what socialism is. Look it up, it’s not what you think it is.

50. Jonathan | 12.04.08

SumChange? did you really just use the phrase “hang him up now”? Wow. It’s funny that those with irrational comments are afraid to reveal their identity.

51. Walters | 12.04.08

The Comments from people are interesting and educational. Obama did not put us where we are at and the majority voted for him. I am neither dem or repub but voted the 1st time in 46 years for Obama.The reason?Get the repubs out of there.They broke the country. As far as the lady hanging up,who wouldnt in this day . For all she knew there was a death threat behind it or some repub calling names. What is all this left,right,liberal hocus pocus **** and name calling by the media.Palin and Mc Cain tried that and even turned off their own people. Didnt you name calling, hocus pocus,news media learn that? I suppose I will be branded as a far right,cliff hanger male **** by the media if this is even printed. By the way I voted for a white,negro,irish,english ect. american as did others that voted for Obama.It is the news media that distorts the truth folks! I am american by the way and proud of it!

52. Mark | 12.04.08

Can we put her up for some type of medal?

53. ModerationNeeded | 12.04.08

“Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.”

Please review this thread.

54. Princess | 12.04.08

Wow! This just sure tells that Obama is a very down to earth person. What a great choice America made. Go Obama Go!
This woman is kind of stupid if she does not have a caller id. What an opportunity she lost. The first time is always the best. Remember that opportunity knocks on your door only once.

55. Angela Howard | 12.04.08

People please get a sense of humor! No, this is not a major tragedy or more gloom and doom about the economy, terorism, pirates, earthquakes, hurricanes, starvation, poverty, etc… its a lighthearted story about something funny! When too much reporting is done about negative events we complain. It’s sad to see that some people will also complain about things that will uplift us and make us laugh, as well. Grouches need to either grow up, lighten up, shut up, or do all of the above!

56. Justin | 12.04.08

Kennedy had this happen to him constantly throughout his Presidency.

57. amused | 12.04.08

hey templeton - go find yourself an opinion of your own. Puking up Rush Limbaugh **** and old tired campaign nastiness only serves to make you look like a *******. Cmon folks, Obama is our president elect and unlike some other US presidents, this guy actually has a clue. If you’re too blinded by right-wing nutter rhetoric and neo-con radio babble, maybe it’s time to educate yourselves and wake the F up to what’s really going on. We’re already seeing more action from the Whitehouse in the last two months than we’ve seen in the last 8 years! If you followed a diverse number of news sources, you’d know this. Build a bridge and get over yourselves…it’s tiresome to everyone else.

58. HisNameIsHussein | 12.04.08

Jeremy, the war in Iraq was based on faulty intelligence from France, Spain, the US, and most every other country that has any intelligence. But you already knew that, didn’t you? You only bring it up because voting against it is the ONLY smart thing Hussein has ever done. We’ll see how our incompetent, naive, and inexperienced president-elect does. “We will end this war!” Biden said. Can’t wait….

59. SoNice(Disgruntled Republican) | 12.04.08

The word is “Socialism.” The careful-he-doesn’t-use-it (again) catch-phrase for Barack H. Obama (wonder why no one includes his middle initial? e.g. George W. Bush, John F. Kennedy. Better yet, why isn’t our POTUS-E called by his full name, in the manner to which Hillary Rodham Clinton is mentioned?) is “wealth redistribution.”

60. Howard | 12.04.08

I’ve just read all the negative comments, like Hang Obama now and other ’socialist garble’ and so on. I wonder if those posters would rather 4 more years of what has indeed been a dismal failure at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We elect a person with high hopes for his success. Our President-elect has not even been inaugerated, and he’s being tarred and feathered and by whom? ……….those that voted for our dismal failure who will leave office on Jan 20, 2009.

61. steve (UK) | 12.04.08

So Nice, You’re a moron. As if people walk around all day in a perpetual haze of dispair over their lives and others (i.e. economy). Lighten up, for it will take someone with a lighter look at life to raise your economy out of the doldrums than a gloom merchant like you.

62. Watts | 12.04.08

It’s remarkable how many people apparently never bothered to read the candidates’ tax proposals during the election and are prepared to just go “Democrats raise taxes, that’s all I need to know, hyuk hyuk hyuk.” If you actually took five minutes to do research, you’d have learned that for the vast majority of taxpayers, rates would go down under *both* McCain’s and Obama’s plans… and if you’re making under $111K, your taxes will go down slightly more under Obama’s. From there on up to $226K, your taxes would *still* go down, it’s just that they’d go down less under Obama’s than McCain’s. Under Obama’s plan, only taxpayers making over $603K — the top 1% of earners — would see their taxes increase, and you know why? Because Obama’s tax plan repeals the Bush tax cuts. The highest marginal tax rate would go back from its current 36% to around 40%.

Think about this, folks. You are arguing that a 4% difference in the top marginal tax rate means the end of capitalism as we know it.

For extra bonus points, kids, explain why, under your standards, Eisenhower wasn’t a communist. Go look up his highest marginal tax rates.

63. Correction | 12.04.08

Pennsylvania 6500 was written by Glenn Miller to remember the phone number of the Pennsylvania Hotel in NYC. It had Nothing to do with the White House. Just saying.

64. SmirkWind | 12.04.08

When a simple peasant such as a plumber wants to talk to him, poor Barry Obama couldn’t hang up on him then. Then the media goes into assasination mode.

Change? Let’s see, Condolizza Rice, Gates, the list goes on… ..oh yeah, his promises like retreat in 16 months and the tax hike on Oil Companies are disappearing quietly from his website change.org. Suckers! At least you have hope now. The rest of us always had hope, we don’t need to look toward D.C. to get any.

65. JP | 12.04.08

@Templeton Green, so I guess since you are no interested in socialism, you probably are not interested in any government intervention in the present world financial crisis. I suppose you will not be using Medicate, or collecting Social Security when you retire. And I suppose you do not drive on any roads or ever ride public transportation. Did you get a flu shot this year, shame on you!

66. geolith | 12.04.08

#34 - so I guess you certainly won’t be accepting any calls from President Bush, when he’s not busy having the federal government buying banks, bad mortgages, insurance companies, and perhaps a few car companies, or using the Patriot Act to monitor your communications…

67. Geminate | 12.04.08

Impersonating government officials on the telephone should be made illegal and subject to felony prosecution. Fun and games when it is seen to obviously be a prank is fine, but when it is unseen and unknown it becomes a crime.

68. MarkSeattle | 12.04.08

All she had to do was get his phone number, and then call him back, to confirm he wasn’t a radio station prank or whatever. When the area code isn’t in Florida, she can pretty safely assume it’s not a prank since nobody anywhere else would even know who she is (or care).

69. Aleks | 12.04.08

Nice try, Obama. It’s going to take a little more than being elected president to make a Florida Republican take a black guy’s call.

70. antn | 12.04.08

Obama is SUCH a REFRESHING and, oh, SO sorely needed change to the stale **** we’ve had in politics for so many years.

Wow, a president with a sense of humor AND genius intelligence too? Looks like America struck gold!

Obama’s the best luck America has had in decades.

71. Barbara | 12.04.08

How sad some of the comments here can’t be lighthearted and have to come across as partisian. Will anything make anyone happy? Truly a sad commentary on our society. If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all, worked years ago. Today’s correspondent on websites take the faceless comments as a freedom to be negative. So, to those who were positive, keep at it. We need something funny for a moment of lightness.

72. Griz | 12.04.08

#24, Obama is going to get the same same respect, consideration, and benefit of the doubt that the younger Bush, Elder Bush, and President Reagan for that matter, got from the left: Not at all.

It’s time you liberals get taught an essential lesson: You get what you give.

73. v | 12.04.08

@sumchange: get your racist butt out of here.

“15. SumChange? | 12.04.08

I agree with her, I would also hang up Obama! Can we hang him up now!”

“Hang him up” = lynch. Not cool. You were deliberate in that evocation of *** tactics.

74. Bill | 12.04.08

Dont they have a fricking Bat Phone for stuff like this??

75. Reason | 12.04.08

Holy cow Templeton Green (34) - bitter much? I never found the prank phone call think a bit funny, not even as a kid. There should be some authentication in place to prevent this altogether.

76. puppetpresidency | 12.04.08

2. PleaseChange | 12.04.08

That’s just too funny. It’s nice to know we’ve elected a President that we can laugh with as opposed to laughing at!

Dont worry we will all get a laugh or probably a cry out of this clown too.

They are puppets. they run NOTHING.

continuity of government, look it up, they run the country, the shadow gov’t

Republican = Genovese

Democrat = Gambino

77. heroclassworker | 12.04.08

It should be important to note that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is so simple she makes Sarah Palin look like Margaret Thatcher. Also did anyone notice that Sumchange threatened the presidents life? Good looking out CSM moderators.

78. tw | 12.04.08

Sonice, forget new warm-and-fuzzy programs. How exactly do you think the government is going to pay for the $2000 per man woman and child cost of the wars we’ve engaged in over the last 7 years? Or the $2000 per man woman and child cost to pay for the bailouts? A bit less whining/ problem finding and a bit more solution creating will serve us all well.

79. Robert | 12.04.08

The truth is she did answer and only heard empty air so she hung up.

80. Joe | 12.04.08

I think Obama is pretty down to earth and very cool in that sense.. Now, if it were Bush or Cheney calling her and got hung up on….. uhhmmmm….

81. Robert Rowley, Tucson, Arizona | 12.04.08

Obviously the Republican dross post here frequently. Sorry Republicans but either get used to President Obama being in office for the next 8 years or have a coronary. He’s elected, here to stay and there is absolutely not one thing you can do about it (other than being your bitter, bigoted selves).

82. Imagemaker | 12.04.08

To Tom Mariner - Ummm no. The Glenn Miller song was written about the Pennsylvania Hotel, on 7th st in NYC, not the White House. Rather famous song that has nothing to do with politics.

83. MooP | 12.04.08

Nice story! Thank you for the fun light sided story. It’s nice to be reminded that not everything in politics has to be meanspirited and divisive.

84. Errrrr | 12.04.08

Dale - I think Bush might be a little irked if Obama told people to call him collect at the White House.

85. Joan | 12.04.08

“22. 1taz | 12.04.08

Oh, SoNice, you don’t have to worry. Taxes are going up. You can thank the 51% or so of the free-loading American voters for that. Now that 49% are paying for the 51%, let there be no doubt what direction those numbers will continue to take. If only those 49% had a clue as to what they are doing to the country”

1taz, 2/3 of the total income taxes collected in this country are paid by the traditionally blue states. That means that the folks not paying their fair share live in the red states. Maybe it’s time you right wingers stepped up to the plate and started paying your fair share instead of whining.

86. Xander | 12.04.08

Scott Bain,

Best..comment..ever..

87. HisNameIsHussein | 12.04.08

Bigoted? Give the race card a rest, chief.

88. Jazz Fan | 12.04.08

The song is Pennsylvania 6-5000. Thanks.

89. Ceymour | 12.04.08

Temple . . .

It’s interesting to me that republicans would be criticising obama by citing a)taxes going up b)big brother and c) socialism.

a) Taxes would have to go up eventually to pay off the $10 trillion in debt we owe thanks to a republican president and 6 years of a republican congress

b) A republican president decided it could tap the phones and surveil the communications of American citizens (Hows that for Big Brother?). Fair enough to point out that a republican congress and later a democratic congress passed legislation legitimizing it.

c) Isn’t socialism when government takes control of the corporations? By definition, isn’t the Bush government the most socialistic presidency of our nation’s history?

I can’t wait for Obama to take over and restore the free market economy.

90. Chris | 12.04.08

I am a registered independent.

Our current administration approves an unprecidented $700 billion dollar bail out plan with bi-partisan support and encourage the government to take partial ownership of private industry, but the president-elect is a socialist?

All the numbers show that a majority of those with more education and higher incomes voted for Obama, but you state that those who voted the other way will be paying for them? If if taxes do go up, wouldn’t that mean that people with more education and income (Obama Supporters generally) would be carrying the bigger tax burden?

The arguments don’t make sense. And why are you making arguments and doing name calling against our leader. True patriots would be doing all they can to help a president-elect who has formed the most politically, ideologically, and demographically diverse staff and cabinet we have ever seen.

91. Dave | 12.04.08

I think some of you are unaware that the DJ who prank called Palin lives and works in Canada, Quebec to be exact, so his calling Palin really has nothing to do with partisan politics in the US. In addition Chavez is the President of Venezuela and Fidel Castro is the former head of state of CUba (his brother is current ‘President’). Generally speaking its mainly heads of state or candidates running for the position who get pranked called like this French socialist Ségolène Royal was also duped several times in her bid to be elected President in France - actually in terms of foreign policy gaffs there are a number of superficial similarities between the two of them.

92. HisNameIsHussein | 12.04.08

Sure Joan….all the blue states are rich. Look how much money you libs gave Hussein! We don’t have money. We’re poor and Hussein wants to make us poorer! Who am I supposed to give my fair share to? You? No way…I work hard for my money, captain. I’d like to keep it. And if you rich-blue state-libs want to give more, ADELANTE CAMINANTE!

93. Jeez | 12.04.08

What a tool she is.

94. HisNameIsHussein | 12.04.08

“…president-elect who has formed the most politically, ideologically, and demographically diverse staff and cabinet we have ever seen.”

The simple fact they’re “diverse” doesn’t make them qualified. Most of these cats are Clinton cronies. Yeah I know what you’re thinking…the 90’s were great! Until we found out it was all a sham! The Enron’s, the Worldcomms, the thousands of others. You wanted a blackminority president SO BAD you sacrificed experience and common sense to get one. We’ve been McNabb’d….

Seriously though, godspeed to this fool.

95. Vermonter | 12.04.08

Back when Howard Dean was Governor of Vermont, he called the company I worked for at the time and asked to speak with one of our employees, who also happened to be a key legislator (House and Senate positions in Vermont are all part-time, so they all work other jobs).

This House member was in a closed door meeting with me at the time, and the receptionist told our Governor that Mike couldn’t be disturbed. Dean then said, “Well, I think he would want to talk to me.” He said this in a non-pushy way. Our tough receptionist said that Mike had left a list of people he would be willing to have the meeting interrupted for, and there was no one named Howard Dean on that list. (Mike hadn’t anticipated that Dean would be calling him that day).

Finally, Dean said, “I’m the Governor of Vermont - do you think you can ask him if **** interrupt his meeting?”

At that point, my phone rang and I was told that Howard Dean was on line 2, and wanted to talk to Mike.

Mike took the call, and our receptionist learned the name of our governor at the same time.

By the way, Dean thought the whole thing was pretty funny.

96. SoNice(Disgruntled Republican) | 12.04.08

Ceymore: “I can’t wait for Obama to take over and restore the free market economy.” Wow. I can’t wait either.

Chris: “I am a registered independent.” Kind of like 50% chance of rain.

97. qcdude3 | 12.04.08

The ignorance of you posters…damn. Oh and for the record Obama isn’t in the White House yet. A call back to the White House gets Shrub soon to be Brush.

98. Jeremy | 12.04.08

Yes, the war was based on faulty intelligence. I did know that, so thank you for your snide implication that I’m not well read enough known that. It doesn’t change the fact that the war is the most costly endeavor that will economically cripple us into what could be generations from now. Even more importantly, when we found out that the intelligence was indeed fraudulent, the administration stuck to its lies, set impossible milestones, forgot the lessons we should have remembered from Vietnam when it comes to guerrilla warfare and placed private contractors unanswerable to the military, which compromises the safety of the individuals in the armed forces. They were

Worse yet, we still didn’t have the common sense quickly repair the damage we did, leave and apologize for what was an egregious error that resulted in a massive wave of death and destruction. Since I’m posting on the Christian Science Monitor, I’m going to go ahead and assume you’re pro-life and probably support the war. If anyone here fits that description, tell me how supporting the war (and the death penalty while you’re at it) is consistent with your beliefs.

Also? His middle name doesn’t mean a thing and those of you adamant in repeating that know it. My last name is Wagner and there was a Nazi party officer named Adolf Wagner, but would labeling me a Nazi on those grounds alone make any sense? If the answer is yes you need an IQ test, stat. Barack Obama’s middle name being Hussein just means that his middle name is Hussein and that’s the end of the issue. Period.

99. Bigez114 | 12.04.08

In Comment #6 Tom Mariner writes: “It’s a long way from a respectful song entitled “Pennsyvania 6500″ (The old White House number, to pranking the White House with calls.”

The following is from the WebSite of the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City:
“The Pennsylvania hotel is a classic landmark hotel once favored by the famous, with Glen Miller composing the tune Pennsylvania 6500 to help him remember his favorite hotel’s phone number.”

This number was never associated with the White House.

100. at work | 12.04.08

Did #15 Sumchange just threaten the president-elect or at least call for him to be lynched? Wonder how hard it would be for Secret Service to back track the IP that was posted from?

101. Robert/Woodsock/GA | 12.04.08

What’s the big deal? I would hang up on Obama in a moment!

102. Seriously | 12.04.08

How bitter can people get? He is our next president wheter you like it or not. Not even one official day in office and people are already wishing doom and gloom for him. Uh hello? did you forget that if he fails it affects us all.Besides this is America jack, if you don’t like it, then you can get out!

103. Kelly Smith | 12.04.08

“No details of the private joke has emerged but that top-secret intelligence was enough for Ros-Lehtinen to believe that this was all for real.”

Haha… You mean to tell me you aren’t going to tell me what the joke was???? How dare you!!!!

Seriously? Sometimes I wonder about you journalists…

104. indy-pendant | 12.04.08

Obama can call me anytime and I would not hang up on him. The biggest socialists are Bush and his people scaring us to death about the economy going down the tubes unless we did something “right away” to protect the ceo’s of the finance industry. If we could do it for them, we could surely do it for our auto makers. Their leaders agreed to a $1 annual salary until their companies got back on the feet. The UAW also gave some concessions. It’s risky when you bail out one entity. It opens up the floodgates; but I don’t see how the govt can refuse the auto makers. Just keep them on a tight leash.

105. Who cares if his name is Hussein | 12.04.08

really, who cares? and if so Why?

106. Vermonter | 12.04.08

Correction: The comment above has a typo in it that makes Dean look bad:

It was supposed to read:

Finally, Dean said, “I’m the Governor of Vermont - do you think you can ask him if he can interrupt his meeting?”

The way it looks, with the “****” in that line, it appers that the Governor swore, which he didn’t. That was a typo only.

107. Who cares | 12.04.08

Who cares that his name is Hussein, Smith, Bob, Lee, or Juan. Seriously don’t be so narrow minded people.

108. banker | 12.04.08

Hmmm…maybe she thought it was a Kenyan version of that old Nigerian Banking Scam. lol

109. President Elect Omama | 12.04.08

I do want to confirm that this is really me emailing this blog and I want you all to know that it do intend to bring in the Fairness Doctrine which should eliminate…I mean create a level playing field for all. This way the ordinary folks out there will hear both sides and not have these condescending mind boggling djs bent on making things difficult and hard to understand all in the name of humor.
Buurok

110. Dr. Gorilla | 12.04.08

Thanks to the partisan nature of our country, smart and slowed alike, there always will be sour grapes after an election. Ms Ileana already has a political rep for doing this kind of condescending thing involving an assortment of other issues, including universal health care. I also know that she has been the target of political telephone and write-in campaigns because of what some consider her negative attitude towards the uninsured. She probably has lots of reasons for defending herself.

111. True American | 12.04.08

****, if he called me, Even if I knew it was the Great Democrat Messiah Obummer, I would hang up on him just for principle.

He deserves the same amount of Respect George W got from the media and the Liberals prior to his entering office. That is what Obummer gets from Me!

Dub

112. HisNameIsHussein | 12.04.08

Jeremy, I know it’s easy to assume things. Let’s get personal. I am indeed pro-life. I’m not against war but am against the way THIS was is being fought. I believe you need war to maintain peace. There are those who don’t understand the concept and perhaps they need a few more history lessons. I subscribe to the Powell doctrine - determine your goals, go get them with the full force of the greatest military on Earth, and get out. Bush’s mistake, his ONLY mistke, was letting Powell go. I still respect and admire Powell even though he sold out to the lesser experienced man. I am also from Texas. And I’m very much AGAINST the death penalty.

While we’re at it, who said his middle name was a problem? Ya’ll are the ones that get all bent out of shape when it’s brought up. I didn’t label the guy anything except what he is: inexperienced, naive, and liberal do-gooder. I just remembered that last one…..

113. JB | 12.04.08

There are alot of sour grapes. Why are you such a poor sport, you voted and lost. Either get behind America or get out!! Your remarks do nothing but make you sound like a baby grow up.

114. chief_____ | 12.04.08

i heard the “yes men” will be calling her soon to make plain on doing things in the next 2wks

115. PapaBear | 12.04.08

@ HisNameIsHussein

Seriously, dude? What will it take to get Fox News to remember to update their mind-control ray to let you neocons know that the “Obama is a Muslim” thing is debunked. And besides, even if he was Muslim, why would that matter??? But I guess neocons never let little things like truth and reality get in the way of what they believe. People like you are so ignorant that it’s just sad. You’re worried about Obama’s name and the color of his skin, yet you were probably too deluded by O’Reilly and Hannity to question why McCain’s nickname in the Vietnamese prison camp was “Songbird”, much less whether or not he would survive his first term and leave someone like Sarah Palin in charge. It’s because you right wing smacktards were so willing to swallow anything that Karl Rove told you that we are in the poor shape that we are. You sure weren’t worried about experience when you voted for a cokehead who didn’t hold a job until he was 40! And look where that’s got us.

116. Jeremy | 12.04.08

Don’t play coy. Your username says so, even if your post doesn’t. If you don’t want to be called out on that point, then post under another username. We get bent out of shape because it’s a baseless comparison that is completely transparent in its intentions.

If you are pro-life (and I’m glad to see that you are against the death penalty), you ought to be against war as it promotes death on a massive scale and so rarely does it actually prevent more death than it causes. There is no refuting that and history will support that notion (with exception of World War II, a war that is considered the deadliest conflict ever). That said, there are times when war is necessary. Although I’m nervous about the possibility of war in general, I would agree with the course of action had we never invaded Iraq to begin with and stayed focused on our objective in Afghanistan.

Bush’s mistakes extend far beyond simply letting Powell go. Deploying the vast amount of our resources out of Afghanistan with military objectives left unfinished, entering Iraq, surrounding himself with Yes men who coddled the president more than criticizing him, installing private contractors that compromise the safety of US military personnel, not agreeing to any binding resolution that sets a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq, not seeing to it that soldiers were properly equipped, neglecting war veterans and their benefits, cutting taxes during a time of war (which was never done in US history and quite possibly in world history by any country during a time of war) and alienating many of our allies (which admittedly can be fixed just by sensible diplomacy from a president who can actually express himself) are the start of a long list of mistakes this president has made.

I don’t think Obama’s the messiah, but I think he’s a good start. Sadly, he will spend all of his first term and part of his possible second term cleaning up a huge mess.

117. WayOutWest | 12.04.08

Regarding posts # 105 and 106. #105 has earned his right to ***** as long as he voted - regardless of who won or lost. The notion of Post #106 that “we either get behind America or get out” deeply troubles me. What makes America great is the fact that we CAN have opinions — differing ones at that — and still be in this together. Remember folks Hitler was elected and so was Richard Nixon. Keep on *****ing as long as it’s done with insight, suggests a counterpoint and is done without malice. It’s the only voice we have to try and make our elected officials not sway too far to the left or right.

And yeah - I thought this Obama thing was just too damn funny. Loved every word of it!

118. BeObjective | 12.04.08

I don’t know why people care about their tax increase so much. If the economy remains bad, United States will not be a strong country as it used to be. You wouldn’t be proud to be an American any more. Your income may decrease any way. Is that what you want? Somebody said that Obama is the best luck of America for many decades. I totally agree.

119. RFR | 12.04.08

Heck, I’d hire her as an IT systems administrator. Good luck to any mofo trying to social engineer their way into my networks.

120. Lou | 12.04.08

“SoNice | 12.04.08

Oh - yes! Isn’t it just so warm and cozy with our new President. That’s SUCH a relief. I was worried about trivial things like taxes going up to pay for all those warm-and-cozy programs he promises.”

Glad to hear you make more than $250,000. Congratulations!

121. Andy Martin | 12.04.08

To Hisnameishussein: my goodness , you seem to be very angry and have plenty of time on your hands. Do you have a job? That might help you “cool down” a little. if not, come to chicago and work with me to shut this whole thing down. sean’s gonna pay all the bills.

122. Chuckles | 12.04.08

The real truth behind this is the the Congresswoman obviously didn’t think she was important enough to warrant a call from the President-Elect. That’s why she didn’t believe it.

123. Fizzer | 12.04.08

FYI, Pennsylvania 6-5000 refers to the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York. Not making prank phone calls to the White House.

124. Buy Websites | 12.04.08

That’s a funny story.

125. Time 2 Waste | 12.04.08

You bloggers have much too much time on your hands. And I’ll tell you something else….. [oops, hold on, I have the President-Elect on line 2].

126. SoNice(UsedToHaveMoreMoney) | 12.04.08

111 Lou: “Glad to hear you make more than $250,000.” Lou, I would make more than $250,000 if it weren’t for our high taxes; soon to be higher with President-Elect Barack H. Obama. Lou, do you want to pay more taxes? I don’t.

127. Coronella Keiper | 12.04.08

And so with glee we continue to find that each and every one of us need to go through the appropriate channels, even our President-Elect, Barack Obama. Of course, she really never hung up on him.. as she was hanging up on impostors. And she was right to do so, and President-Elect Obama was right to find someone who she knew to be the proper in-between. It all took some little time, but for their safety, for the sake of graceful introductions, and for the sake of our own learning curve: Bravo to both the Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and President-Elect Obama!

128. Dale | 12.04.08

Anyone that does not see the humor in this would be a happier person if they looked for a sense of humor.

This is humorous and its gratifying to see some graciousness in our political process.

Dale

129. Whys | 12.04.08

“Trust me, Ileana. You will always be remembered by me…” — Obama

Kiss of death? Time will tell.

130. Owl | 12.04.08

most of those who would “hang up” on the president elect would call us “traitors” for doing the same, which liberals would not, to Bush. I find it amusing that people identify themselves as “americans” while supporting secret police, torture camps and the like, but these same “americans” can’t salute their president. Frankly, it shows that those folks who identify themselves as “americans” as opposed to “humans” or “people,” are anything but…they are actually, and I really hate to say it: traitors. How else do you define someone who believes we should be holding people without trial, killing people in foreign lands without justifiable cause, torturing people who are demonstrably innocent, and spitting on and insulting our newly elected President????? Look in the mirror folks: you are the enemy.

131. Dr | 12.04.08

Jeremy:

You appear not to understand how one could be pro-life (anti-abortion) while simultaneously being pro-death penalty. I rationalize it by the fact that one involves the termination of an innocent life and the other involves the termination of a life that has committed an act against society that is so heinous it warrants the death penalty. Interesting how your rationale appears to be the opposite of that. What was that about an I.Q. check?

132. sveeb | 12.04.08

Tom Mariner-

Glenn Miller’s song “Pennsylvania 6-5000″ was a reference to the number of the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York (PE6-5000 or 736-5000). His orchestra was one of many that played there many times and his bandsmen would have been very familiar with the number. Incidentally, Wikipedia says that the number has been in continuous use at the same location for the past 89 years.

133. Dorothy Nam | 12.04.08

and yes… I am a radio DJ in Seou, Korea~~~ which broadcasts out to the world… and I love this story… i think i may call her up soon… and i will pretend to b me… hahahahaah what a great story…i will talk about it on my live show next week!!!

http://www.arirangradio.com Evening Groove (radio DJ, Dorothy Nam) ^^

134. Dorothy Nam | 12.04.08

and yes… I am a radio DJ in Seou, Korea~~~ which broadcasts out to the world… and I love this story… i think i may call her up soon… and i will pretend to b me… hahahahaah what a great story…i will talk about it on my live show next week!!!

http://www.arirangradio.com Evening Groove (radio DJ, Dorothy Nam) ^^

135. Michelle | 12.04.08

LOL funny…sounds like she’s been punked before.
There are soo many negative people in this world..it’s scary. Let’s all give Obama a chance! I’m sure he can’t ruin something that’s already been ruined by the republican party…I see new beginnings with Obama and I see a brighter future. Even if he wasn’t elected We’d still be paying more in taxes for the bailout. It’s Greed that has brought us here, and I’m hoping Obama can make that change. Go Obama! =D

136. Steve McDaniel | 12.04.08

I would have hung up on him too. If he called me I would think it was either a prank or he would be calling to ask for my personal advice on the state of the union. I’d give him an earful if it were choice number two. BTW: it cost him roughly 8 dollars for every voting age person in the US to get this position, I think the least he could do was send me my 8 bucks, I voted against him LOL

137. Omega5 | 12.04.08

grow up people, this is just something funny and for stupid people to comments in a negative way is sad.

138. Tim | 12.04.08

I think you people who are worried about taxes going up need to get real and grow up. We have consistently had among the lowest tax rates for any industrialized, western nation. If you want the benefits this country gives (such as protection for terrorism and paved roads..) you have to pay for them. If you want lower taxes, go to Canad… wait, no… Engl.. hmm.. nope.. Germ… no… How about Mexico?

This country used to levy a 90% tax on the rich. You should be grateful.

139. Mike | 12.04.08

When the Palin incident happened, I started wondering if there was some offficial, set way that a politician could verify who was calling. Apparently there isn’t!

140. marleyinoc | 12.04.08

great stuff, lol

no really, it is me, the president elect!

I don’t blame her in the least and think it is hilarious that PE Obama also found it funny - and something he could give his wife a laugh about…

I look forward to the next 8 years - with some trepidation as is normal in these times, but also with a lot of faith that politicians are not just going to go through a feel good period and then back to business as usual but come together on the important issues…

Of course I am also ready for them to return to business as usual and if so I hope that we vote with vengeance - against whomever stalls our recovery from this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. top to bottom.

141. Gary | 12.04.08

So, she was cautious. I might be too. It is just a humorous story. Lighten up a bit. About Obama, let’s at least give him a few days on the job before we vilify him. He might actually be good at it.

142. Fred | 12.04.08

I will never hear the end of a sentence the guy speaks. That is how I handled Clinton and his Wife.

143. spark | 12.04.08

Question to “SoNice”: Do you make more than $250,000 per year ? If you do then your taxes will (and should) go up. If not, then what exactly are you whining about ?

144. Sajal | 12.04.08

SoNice,

Maybe you can be “so nice” as to listen to what Obama actually says. I don’t know how many times it has been repeated that people who make below $250,000 will not see an increase in their taxes. A vast majority of Americans do not make over $250k yearly. See links in this article for the facts: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977453286

If you happen to be someone that makes over 250K, I sure hope you were whining like this when we poured all our money into paying for the war in Iraq.

145. C. Woods | 12.04.08

Yeah, yeah, yeah. YOUR precious tax money. Why doesn’t everyone who wants to complain about taxes leave the country now. I will gladly pay your share and build this country back to the level of greatness that the Dems of the past allowed us to achieve. The collective G.O.P. I.Q. is less than 100 [that’s adding it all up, not an average]. I say lets sawzall the South off of the REAL nation and let them impose their psuedo-righteous legislation on themselves.

146. caveman 2010 | 12.04.08

hey there #29, I don’t think the Iraq war has hurt our economy any worse than billy bob clinton and his cronies rewriting legislation to make it possible for welfare rats who can’t even pay their rent consistently, to buy a house.

147. jay | 12.04.08

What were we talking about? … Oh yes, a phone call. sounds more like the telephone game now. So easily distracted by ideology.

148. SummumBonum | 12.05.08

I thought all these political high-ups had their own secure lines of communication.

149. Oxwinkle | 12.05.08

So what is Homer Stern gonna do now how is he gonna fill five hours now.

150. wynfinity | 12.05.08

All these worries about tax increases and socialism…

We’ve been so conditioned to react to slogans. We’ve forgotten how to think.

For those against socialism…
To be consistent with your beliefs, you’ll need to stop using our socialist highways, our socialist water and sewage systems, our socialist garbage collection, our socialist public schools, etc. These are all paid for by We the People - collectively. They are socialist enterprises. Not private enterprises.

My opinion: There’s a place for the community paying for those things that we use in common. That make the community strong.

To me this includes medical care. There is no free medical care. Those with insurance or no insurance and money to pay ARE paying for the care of those without insurance by higher expenses.

To me this includes education. Do you truly think it costs less to keep a person in prison, or public assistance, and increased police forces that it would cost to provide excellent education to all children?

There’s no free lunch. We either pay for it up front, or we pay for it in later hidden costs. But we pay for it.

As for increased taxes…
The times of highest economic growth have been times of higher taxes in the upper ranges of income. During Eisenhower the upper tax rate was around 90%. Clinton raised the upper rate from low 30s to high 30s. There was a LOT of job growth. Why? Businesses kept the money in the business. They didn’t take it out in higher income. So there was capital for business expansion and job increases.

Every time the highest rate has been lowered dramatically we’ve had a boom and bust economic cycle. Why? The rich take the money out of business as income and invest not in expanding business but in speculation, creating no jobs.

As for me? I’d be glad to make $500K a year and have to pay the taxes on it. It’d be a lot better that making my $45K a year and paying the taxes on that!

151. Fatima | 12.05.08

Thats helarious… just imagine… i can imagine the smile that Barak had on his face…. n must have gone ” Oh boy! is this the presidents charm!!!” :)

152. alabama_countryboy | 12.05.08

HisNameisHussein -
I think we all get it by now that the President Elect’s middle name is Hussein. I’m wondering why that’s important. Could you pleas explain to me, in detail, why his middle name is so important to you?

- just curious

153. Joe | 12.05.08

Obama really meant 250,000 pesos.

154. justme | 12.05.08

Change can be good, regardless if you are desiring that change. Many on here are unhappy that a change is happening. Four years is a very short time to make the changes the voters are looking for…if successful we all benefit, even those who have given a glimse of the hatred in your hearts. You may call yourself a “true american” all you want, what you are not is free. You have no freedom if you are imprisoned by your inability to be self aware of the shackles you wear with the hate in your heart. Are you couragous enough to look hard at yourself? Are you couragous enough to change thinking that keeps America down?

155. Miron | 12.05.08

she should have hanged it down the thrid time, too…

and this news-paper should have written that the guy running pranksters lost his favorite destination.

156. lasux | 12.05.08

66. Griz said:|

“It’s time you liberals get taught an essential lesson: You get what you give” - OK griz I hope you’re right- we’ve given our constitutional freedoms, our homes, our jobs, our lives in pointless wars. We’ve given the WTC and 3,000 civilians, our future. You can get those back to us any time.

157. Rupert Murdock | 12.05.08

I see again the conservatives are making this fun moment into some sort of spouting about taxes and socialism. Gee and I thought it was just humorous and if there is a policy implication - maybe its that Obama is reaching far enough out that people cannot believe he would be calling them - which is great because then he won’t get potomic fever and forget the rest of us. And as for socialism, my company went belly up and I have no job and no one really wants to talk to me and these guys are talking about socialism. Well try this, you can have a little social help or I’ll show up at your house and take it from you. I only stay civilized as long as I think I have a chance.

158. ShaunDiesel | 12.05.08

Letting Powell go was the ONLY mistake Bush made????????? **** I can’t believe how stupid Republicans have become. We’re a step away from Orwell’s 1984. War is peace people.

159. HisNameIsHussein | 12.05.08

I just think it’s funny Hussein’s people don’t want his middle name out there. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. I believe there is very weak evidence to suggest he is a Muslim but also believe there is VERY strong evidence his is NOT Christian. I believe he doesn’t believe anything. I believe he is agnostic but claims to be Christian for political reasons.

Can’t argue your points about THIS war. I made a horrible mistake earlier when I mentioned Bush letting Powell go. What I meant to say was it was his first mistake and it all went downhill from there. They began fighting a political war and we can never win one of those - not with our media. We can only win with good ol’ fashion brute force. We can argue back and forth on the need for this particular war but it’s all irrelevant now because we’re neck deep in it. I don’t believe Hussein, sorry Obama, can fix it - at least not using the strategy he’s planning. Clinton sent my unit to Haiti in ‘94. We kicked butt. Bigtime. But then, for political reasons, he brought us back and let the U.N. take over. Look at Haiti now. It will only be a matter of time before we go back there again. Haiti is a JOKE compared to the fiasco in Iraq. Leaving is not the answer…at least not now.

I can tell you’re one of those RARE logical, intelligent, educated liberals. All I’ve done is given you smart-aleck remarks and you’ve remained cool, collected, and stuck to the point. Thanks.

160. MickP | 12.05.08

“Hey- it’s Ron bleepin Emanuel! Pick up the bleeping phone, you bleeping maroon!” How could you not know it was him? What a really funny moment of life imitating art!

And Sarah Palin fell for “Allo? Zis eez zee President of Frahnce. Allo?” Equally funny, but also scary.

161. HisNameIsHussein | 12.05.08

Ok…I think I’ve answered the “Hussein” question. At this point, I’m only using the name to **** off those who are bothered by it. And I do have a job. I need to get to work. PEACE, people! This here is good entertainment.

Oh yeah, and this story is funny. I also can’t believe Palin fell for the trick…someone should have been fired for that. Some of you libs that say republicans need to get the joke aren’t getting the joke yourselves. We’re just yanking yer’ chanin. Relax. You won. :-)
And, if Obama called me, I woulnd’t hang up on him (assuming I’ve already confirmed it’s him). He may be a douche, but he is still the President.

162. hisNameisSidney | 12.05.08

HisNameIsHussein, i like your sense of humor. mccain’s middle name is Sidney. i bet fewer know that then obama’s middle name. i think it was not publicized since it is a woman’s name and they didn’t want mccain to be labeleled as a cross dresser

163. PapaBear | 12.05.08

@HisNameIsHussein

Obviously you DO have an issue with his middle name. Otherwise you wouldn’t be using it as your nickname and practically refusing to call him anything but Hussein. Again, why should it matter? Who cares, even if his name where Barack Adolph Mao Polpot Ghengis Lenin Hussein Osama Obama? It’s a NAME. Not exactly something he has initial control over. Typical right wing distraction tactics. And what “strong evidence” do you have that he’s “not Christian”? Something you heard from O’Reilly or Hannity? And again, why exactly does that matter? Who cares WHAT religion he is or is not? Again, more ignorant, fear-mongering, Rove-ish distractions aimed at a misinformed general public that hasn’t yet figured out that being a non-Christian isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I think we’ve done very well for this country by electing this man. He’s very smart. He’s very well spoken. He actually grew up as “one of the people”. Everything he’s accomplished, he’s earned. Nobody gave him anything. He is living the American dream right now. And regardless of what Rush or any of the Fox News tards would like you to believe, he actually CARES about making America better for ALL Americans. Not just that small group of wealthy Americans who haven’t been paying their fair share during the current administration. And interestingly enough, a large percentage of those wealthy Americans voted FOR Obama. You know why? Because people who are actually smart about their money understand that when there are fewer poor and struggling middle class citizens out there, then EVERYBODY’S dollars go a good bit farther. Thus EVERYONE is wealthier. Even if the wealthiest are paying higher taxes and their dollars are fewer, they still have MORE MONEY essentially. Basic economics, bro.

164. PapaBear | 12.05.08

@HisNameIsSidney

LOL!!! Nice. Although I prefer HisNameIsSongbird. It better reflects his true character. ;-)

165. FED UP | 12.06.08

Just as some others commented, this idiot woman has only been a representative for the “exiled republican cubans”. Apparently she is too simple-minded to even attempt to hold a connversation with “the president of the United States”. These Miami cuban republicans just need to get over it and deal with Barack Obama, yes a black man is their president, whether they voted for him or not he is here to stay for 4 years hopefully 8. If they don’t like it they can take themselves back to cuba and see if Fidel Castro will allow them to bash him they they disrespect our president.

166. esther rebecca | 12.09.08

What do you mean i’m posting a comment to quickly? And slow down? I read the story and commented on after I had read a few comments by your posters? Do I have to read all the diatribe before I post my comment to the original story? I think not.

167. esther rebecca | 12.09.08

You’ve now posted my follow-up question instead of my original comment. I learned about this story after the arrest of the arrest of the Illinois governor. Just gave me a good laugh. Sometimes going off into these diatriabes after a truly simple story is just over the top. Reserve the comments for something that will not make a SNL skit this weekend.

168. esther rebecca | 12.09.08

And I am a firm democrat and saw nothing political in this. Please get a life people. . . .

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Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.