Congresswoman Twice Hangs Up On Obama

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

When you get a phone call from someone claiming to be a big-named politician, it can pay to be skeptical – just ask Sarah Palin. But as Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has ably demonstrated, you don't want to be too incredulous, or you might just end up hanging up on the president-elect. Twice.

(AP)

According to the Republican congresswoman's office, upon receiving a phone call from someone purporting to be Barack Obama, Ros-Lehtinen said this: "I'm sorry but I think this is a joke from one of the South Florida radio stations known for these pranks." She then hung up.

The call wasn't a joke, however, and Obama soon tried to reach Ros-Lehtinen again, this time through his incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

"Ileana, I cannot believe you hung up on the President-Elect," Emanuel said. Ros-Lehtinen, still under the impression that the call was not legitimate, promptly hung up again.

It was only after Chairman Howard Berman of the Foreign Affairs Committee called the congresswoman to insist that it was Obama trying to reach her – the still skeptical Ros-Lehtinen made Berman recount a story only the two of them knew to confirm that it really was Berman on the phone – that she accepted that Obama had called. The president-elect tried one more time a short time later, and the two finally had a conversation.

How do we know all this? Because Ros-Lehtinen – clearly not embarrassed by the incident – put out a press release detailing what took place. Which proves she has a sense of humor, if not a copy editor – in the release, both the names "Barack" and "Emanuel" were spelled wrong.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by harbinger09 December 6, 2008 5:00 PM EST: Face it, after the Palin prank--who would not hang up on a call from someone claiming that they were the President?; Reply to this comment


by December 5, 2008 4:31 PM EST: Most complete moron of the century: Ros-Lehtinen. Not only did she twice hang up on the President, but three other people had to call her before she realized it.
Republicans sure are paranoid. I guess losing in a landslide makes people self-conscious. They are out of touch with "real Americans" --- and reality.; Reply to this comment


by parrot2ok December 5, 2008 3:46 PM EST: It was the DEMOCRATS that forced the banks to back unsecure loans ya dipstick.
Posted by Hwy71So at 10:20 AM : Dec 05, 2008

Hate to do this to a Repug - BUT, WHEN WAS THIS ??? Was it when Repugs were in charge of all arms of government and Dumbya did not Veto anything ?? Just imagine if McCain had won - see how scared you''d really be right now ?; Reply to this comment


by dagrandma December 5, 2008 12:32 PM EST: By the way, I love his "CHANGE". Back to the Clinton''''s !!!!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by HK4U2

Guess what? Back to the Clintons IS CHANGE. Any change from Cowboy George is GOOD change.; Reply to this comment


by hk4u2 December 5, 2008 10:12 AM EST: Best of all, I voted for Hillary for I could not vote for the Big Fake nor could I vote for McPain. And now see who''s running the show;-) HILLARY & BILL; Reply to this comment


by hk4u2 December 5, 2008 10:11 AM EST: If THe Great Ohbeemie is that concerned about the economy he should have called her collect ;-) LOL; Reply to this comment


by hk4u2 December 5, 2008 10:09 AM EST: By the way, I love his "CHANGE". Back to the Clinton''s !!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by hk4u2 December 5, 2008 10:08 AM EST: My Hero. She gets him already ;-) He is nothing but a snake oil sales man.; Reply to this comment


by tmittelstaed December 5, 2008 8:34 AM EST: "...I''''d be suspicious, too, and also hang-up. This is very presumptive and arrogant for anyone to think they can cold call without at least having an associate make the initial pre-scheduled appointment for the call after disclosing why the call is being arranged and for what reasons. This is standard in any well-run organization..."

No, it is not. The majority of CEO''s and other highly placed people take their own calls nowadays. An effective exec knows how to get rid of an unwanted caller immediately. Obviously, their outside public direct lines are not published. But, you go into any large company and look at an internal call list and the majority of the time the office extensions of everyone, including the top chief of staffs, are on the list.

What IS also standard is that it''s very rare to catch a CEO or President IN THEIR OFFICE AT THEIR DESK since their effectiveness depends on them being OUT of the office and dealing with other people.

When the Republicans talk about cutting through the red tape, this is EXACTLY what this means. I''m glad Obama makes his own calls - that''s what I''m paying my taxes for him to do. If Ros-Lehtinen is too incompetent to discern a prank caller from the real thing after a few minutes, she shouldn''t be holding office.; Reply to this comment


by brianbwb-2009 December 5, 2008 7:12 AM EST: "Well she was correct about one thing - Obama IS a joke on the US."
Posted by Speakinup21

On the YOU, not US, get over it.; Reply to this comment