WASHINGTON (CNN) –A Florida congresswoman – convinced she was being prank-called by a Barack Obama sound-alike – hung up on the actual president-elect Wednesday.
Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was told by an aide that Obama wanted to speak with her. According to a statement released by her office, the Republican congresswoman cut off the caller, telling him she thought “this is a joke from one of the South Florida radio stations known for these pranks.” She then hung up.
Watch: Ros-Lehtinen hangs up on Obama
Obama’s future White House chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel – a fellow congressman – then called her to let her know she’d actually been speaking with the future commander-in-chief. Ros-Lehtinen, convinced the call was another hoax, hung up on him, too.
Finally, an aide told Ros-Lehtinen she had an urgent call from Chairman Howard Berman, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Still suspicious, Ros-Lehtinen urged the California Democrat to recount a story only both of them would know.
Berman passed the test - and told her she had, in fact, hung up on President-elect Obama.
When an amused Obama called again, Ros-Lehtinen he was either “very gracious” to reach across the aisle by contacting her, or “had run out of folks to call, if you are truly calling me.” Otherwise, she said, Saturday Night Live “could use a good Obama impersonator like you.” The Obama transition team declined comment on the incident.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton also spoke with Ros-Lehtinen by phone, relatively uneventfully.
From CNN Politics
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She must feel awful. Given the history of prank phone calls (see Sarah Palin), you could see how this could happen.
Now we see how intelligent the average GOP legislator is.
This does not surprise me because the republicans have become so cynical and hard-headed that it's difficult to get through to them. This hard-headedness is demonstrated on other issues too, like global warming, death penalty, gun control, evolution and the list goes on.
I guess after Sarah Palin thought she was talking to the president of France some people are a little skittish.
I only hope that Obama isn't considering the congresswoman for a cabinet post. She must also be a village idiot like what is in the white house now Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri.
Funny...and people wonder why I hate republicans so much. Guess they beleive that everyone in the world will just HAVE to be as secular and divisive as they have been the last 8 years. As a Florida resident I just have to say..."Wake up Bimbo...Yes you ARE still a part of the U.S. Govt...BUT you ARE going to have to start doing your job" ... Yeah scary isn't it?
I'd say the people of that Florida congressional district have a rather dim-witted and somewhat paranoid representative.
This woman must have done something bad and she fears some people are following her up!
Something is wrong.She is hiding from something.
This is hilarious. After what happened to SP, I can't say as I blame her. I doubt she was being at hateful GOPer, still sore about losing the POTUS, but I bet she still feels pretty stupid. If Obama is the kind of person I think he is, he'll forgive her.
LOL – see, there really is humor in an otherwise too-dirty occupation
Well, after what happened to Sarah Palin, I don't blame her for being suspicious. Unfortunately there's no way to be absolutely sure.
Pretty funny!
While I'm not the biggest fan of Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, I do have to defend her here, because some of our local radio DJs are very good at these types of pranks. One even managed to get through to Fidel Castro, and using a tape of a speech by Hugh Chavez, kept him on the line for longer than you'd imagine!
I love the fact that an amused Obama called her back. He is such a nice and warm person. It is wonderful to have a real human being in the Oval Office again.
This congresswoman must have the lowest self esteem ever.
This is a problem in South Florida. The radio station idiot jockeys have done this to Castro, Palin and Chavez, Why not Ileana? Much easier to reach. What I don't understand is why these top politicians don't have a way to authenticate these communications. Ha ha really funny! Idiots!
President to be Obama will do things differently. He will surprize many and confidently move us all into the future. Finally. Finally.
I would have hung up on that illegal alien myself.
I can understand hanging up on one person, but three.....I feel sorry for the Florida residents who have such a paranoid and/or senile representative.
What on earth is wrong with this woman - hallucinatons? What do they put in the water in Florida?
the paranoia of the Republican Party is sick just sick.
OMG! Hang up on the Messiah? Never!
unfortunatly we live in such an untrusting world today, this is completly understandable.
so what! Maybe she didn't want to talk to him.
Another wonderful representative from the same state that hosted Catherine Harris and is contemplating Jeb Bush again. Stay clear, if you think this state is run by fools, and then think how close it is to Georgia.
Leave it to a Republican. I guess since they are used to doing such things they can't imagine someone honest trying to talk to them.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, WHAT HAPPED IS REALLY FUNNY! But being confident who you really are talking to is important for so many reasons and the multi-task job you and important people just have to do.
(SOME THINGS YOU JUST HAVE TO DO!)
IIena Ros- Lehtinen, you and Barack Obama Hang in there!
I like you both...........JET
Proving she's smarter than Sara and not going to let it happen to her.
She should also get a role leading the party. Better yet – set the sights on '12 – she obviously has that special something the party is looking for these days.
We mustn't blame radio "personalities" for this kind of unfortunate incident. What would these people do for a living if they couldn't work for a radio station? They couldn't mop floors because they couldn't figure out all the complicated steps. They couldn't qualify as greeters at Walmart since they would wander off to the video game department. They couldn't deliver pizza because they'd get lost and starve after all the pizza was gone..
I travel a lot, and as near as I can tell, there are only three radio "personalities" in the country. Those two stupid guys and the chick who laughs at their lame jokes. They just use different names in different markets.
That's funny
Thank goodness she's not going to be in the White House to handle that 3 am call!
These are the very same Republicans who want us to believe in their ability to prevent what they call terrorists from attacking us. They could not even tell where the phone call was coming from and they said they wanted to protect us from the terrorists coming out of nowhere. This is a joke, folks. Ergh, just laugh.
Is this woman an idiot or what? Even if it was a crank call, did she wait long enough to get any details before hanging up? And twice?? Typical Republican. Head up her posterior.
You might make it a little clearer from the beginning that the woman thought she was being prank-called (as Sarah Palin had been during the campaign). Your headline makes it look like it was a deliberate slight by a Republican of the sainted President-elect.
I guess it can happen, because of Sarah Palin's prank call from Canada, claiming they were the President of France!
It does look like President-elect Obama is doing more than the curent President, who is a Lame Duck in hiding. Please be advised that before he leaves the office he will screw up this country more then it already is.
Deregulating everything, from hunting down endangered animals to releasing toxic gases into our air...Bush is the worst President ever. The next is Tricky Dick....
Bless this country.
At least she was being careful, especially in light of the painful incident where Gov Palin acted like a star struck dimwit when she thought she was speaking to the President of France and was in fact being pranked by the two guys in Quebec as part of their radio phone prank. Can't blame her one bit.
wasted money , congress they need to go go to the phone book just pick they wouid not be any worst , no lawyers.
Cute story. Girl know knows how not to be punked.
With disc jockeys pretending to be someone they're not and multi-party robocalls, it's highly understandable.
It is rather amusing though. It's like that scene in An American President where Annette Bening doesn't realize she's talking to the president portrayed by Michael Douglas.
Wow – and these are the people we send to Congress. Typical of Florida though! They can't seem to get anything right... Funny story
Does she have a caller ID? Some people are too incredulous and don't believe anyone. Lehtinen – you can definitely believe OBAMA and SHOULD respond to your new president's calls.
Another dumb republican. Her constiuents must be SO PROUD right now.
Unlike the Palin fiasco, there is no election underway, nor is this person running for a major office. After Rahm Emmanuel called, the light bulb certainly should have gone off.
I know Obama seems like an easy going guy but you only have 2 chances to make a 1st impression and this Congressperson blew both of them. As forgiving as he might be, President Obama can't help but have a less than perfect view of her. This can only hurt her district.
This means you too Arnold for shootin' off your mouth at that McCain rally.
He's making a list and checking it twice ....
Gonna find out whose naughty or nice ...
So be good for goodness sake ...
Shows how stupid these rep. are there are ways to ck phone calls.. No wonder we are in the shape we are in!
Why was he calling her? Man he is shady.
The GOP can't believe that President-elect Obama is reaching across the aisle like he said he would do.
Now she has a good story to tell her grandkids!
If someone told me I was speaking to the president or president-elect, I think I'd be suspicious too.
Ever heard of Caller ID?
..
I would much rather see this lady hang up thinking it was a prank call than to prattle on and on thinking she was actually speaking to the French president like a certain unnamed other politician
Sounds like the scene in "The American President" where Annette Bening's character hung up on Michael Douglas' presidential call. Of course, Bening is much smarter than a GOP hack like Ros-Lehtinen.
This is funny and a little frightening. She is certainly more qualified than Palin to be VP though because Sarah couldn't tell she was being pranked when it was so obvious to anyone who knows a little foreign policy.
Public Service Announcement to Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:
SLAP YOURSELF! TWICE!
Funny.....
There you have it...another intelligence test failed.
Typical republican dumb and stupid plus probably a racist. and a fox listener Barrack dont waste time with an idiot like that, she has been brain washed by aomebody. She is what wrong with the republicans. They have their up elephants trunk.
Good i would have done the same...
that's awesome!
That's because she knew he was going to ask her to lead the CIA?.nobody wants that job in his administration because of the Eric Holder nomination.
People are leaving the CIA so fast that they are running job ads on TV.
Hey Barack, why don't you get John Kerry to do it, he wants a job pretty bad since you dissed him for Hillary.
what do you expect from any florida politician in any capacity they all have their heads up their collective behinds.
Before anyone says that Ros-Lehtinen was irresponsible or stupid, there is in fact a radio show down here (The Paul and Young Ron Show) that in fact does these types of pranks all the time. They even had some lady dress up as Sara Palin and hired a security firm to act like secret service men. They had the whole entourage go to some local breakfast establishment and pretend like it was Sara Palin who was patronizing the establishment. So in Ros-Lehtinen's defense, I can see why she did what she did..................
A confirmation that FL Pols aren't the brightest bulbs in Congress...
Hope she's open to talking to the future Prez...
Good for her.
If there are idiots in the world pretending to be President-Elect Obama, then I would be suspicious also.
They (Republicans) still cannot believe they lost and believe that deception by their party for the last 8 years still exists. Get a life and realize that not everyone in government is deceitful. I guess the country will just have to see that perhaps their new President can be an honest, sincere man, unlike the Presidents of earlier years; ie. Nixon, Bush 1, Regan and Bush 2.
Abject apologies, anyone?
Funny.
This is an entertaining story, but let's not make more of it than it really is. Especially after the phone prank Palin fell for, I don't balme her for being wary. There was obviously no insult intended, and none should really be taken. Let's keep our eyes on the real issues, please.
After the Palin fiasco, I can't blame the Congresswoman for being leery of getting punked. Sounds like everybody got a laugh out of it, so all's well that ends well!
I don't blame her after what the pranksters did to Palin.
Well, if all parties involved had watched "The American President" they would have known to tell the woman to call back at a certain number and have the operator, who would be waiting on her call, put the call through to the President-Elect. This was a humorous part of the movie and she, too, hung up on the President himself TWICE thinking it was a friend of hers goofing off. Needless to say she was mortified when she found out it wasn't a joke!
Obama Rules, he will be a great prez !
I have never been a fan of radio talk-show prank calls. Here is a good example of why they should not be allowed.
I see that CNN is still up to its old standards censoring statements that are not favorable to CNN'S biased point of view. you deleted my comment yesterday because it was anti- GOP politicos. Ashamed to see a once free press go down the tubes like CNN has. What a disgrace to the media.
Yes,suprise Republicans – there is a Democrat that wants to speak to you.He's the president elect,he's coming from the center,and he (choke) want's to hear what you have to say.
That's too funny. Paranoid?
Did'nt the congress womwan have " caller I.D. ? this should not have happened
hahahaha! wow -- doesn't she feel stupid?
PLEASE... Stop playing SNL negative foul-mouthed immature
crap about the future cabinet members.
SNL has NOTHING to do with the 'news'
So R.E. sent a dead fish.
Maybe it was a gift.
I'd like to send CNN a gift.
For all the negative garbage you play and snicker at...
If you used your Grey Matter, you'd see Obama's people
need the support of the American People.... and the American Press
which unfortunately, is CNN. Now THAT's funny.
Wow...why didn't someone on her staff inform her that the radio stations already punk'd a female Republican this year? LOL!
Why does this not surprise me. Ros-Lehtinen is one of those out of touch arrogants who would unwittingly hang up on the President Elect. She is an elected official that relies on the anti-communist Cuban community in Miami to get her re-elected. It is NOT her record, her abilities or her intelligence that got her where she is but a reliance on old school politics of fear and ignorance! Its time the good folks of South Florida hung up on her political career... permanantly
Too Funny, just another republican making a fool of themself.
This comment is for SOULSTAR who made a ridiculously inept post about the Oprah Winfrey story. Sean Hannity did not have Barack Obama as a guest on his show only because Obama refused his numerous invitations for an interview. But of course you would twist the facts like Liberals always do. As far as this story is concerned, who cares? This must be a slow news day to be reporting on this. I don't blame this woman for thinking it was nothing more than a prank call.
That's funny!
I can't beleave with all the tech we have that her office hasn't upgraded to CALLER-ID, DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't beleave for a momment that she truly was that stupid and her aids aren't trust worthy for her to beleave that the call was for real.
GOP CONGRESSWOMAN WHAT AN IDIOT
So what? Considering the number of morning talk radio stations that play stunts on their listeners, Ros-Lehtinen simply played it safe. The flip side of this story could have been 'Talk radio duped another politician' and we would have been talking and joking about that today.
what an idiot.
I would hang up on Mr. Obama too.
Atleast she's smarter than Dumbdoll Sarah.
WOW!!! just what I needed this morning, a good laugh
Don't these people have caller ID?
I would hang-up on him also...so what"s the BIG NEWS
I would like to hang up on him, too - permanently.
Have him call me and I will also hang up on him! Only I would do it on purpose!
That's OK,... 48% of us would hang up on him too.
I would have hung up on him
That's hilarious! If Obama continues to reach across party lines, there will be more of these incidents. A "heads up" to all you Republican Congressional and Senate leaders......here he comes.....ring....ring...
In this day and age, I don't doubt the Florida Congressperson's story. There is so much pranking and prank calls going on out there that sometimes it is difficult to know who is really telling the truth.
Typical GOP response: Ignorant; suspicious; cynical. No wonder that party embraces morons like Bush and Palin too!
first.
Are these people in disbelief that he is President-elect?
Prank my foot!! The GOP, espically those in the south are still bitter over the results of the election. They are aware President-Elect Obama is going to reach out to them, but they will do everything they can to avoid working with the President.
At least she learned from Sarah Palin's mistake to be wary of telephone calls.
I've said for years, Claude Pepper must be rolling and rolling over in his grave at this poor excuse for a Represenative of his people.
Hilarious!!!
That's what they get for a calling someone from the other side. The GOP party can only work if we all are fighting with each other.
President Obama ,you can call me any Time
I wouldn't talk to him either..
funny
On Monday morning December 1st I received a call from former president Clinton,in the afternoon I received a call from Mrs. Obama, in the evening I received a call from president -elect Obama. They were all robocalls but it was nice to know that they cared about my vote. Unfortunately Saxby Chambliss won . Have a little faith when someone calls, it might be true.
Joe from Georgia.
Phone prank paranoia... LOL
How tenacious is Florida talk radio that this congresswoman would think they would try THAT hard? Either that or the people in her district need to seriously reconsider her intellect the next time they go to the polls.
May be the president-elect need to make appointments prior to calling people ...
Nat and Grace – come on. It's easy to sit outside the pressure ring and make judgements. Even the Presiden-Elect wasn't mean about it. He knows the situation.
If I lived in her district, I think I would vote her out next time. She should at least check things out, but then maybe she is really a republican.
Boy, she must be feeling about as tall as an ant right now...!
Well, that one story she can tell her grandchildren.
Who says Republicans don't learn from their mistakes. They won't make Sarah Palin's mistake again.
I find it amusing that Republicans are in shock and disbelief that Democrats want to work across the aisle with them to fix the country's issues.
It's funny, because they haven't wanted to work with Democrats at all for the past 8 years.
Change IS refreshing!
I'd hang up on him too.
this is why the GOP is in the state it is in. They are nothing but big jokes. I bet you if it would of been one of their owen she would of said "sure put him through. This is the beginning of the disrespect for our President. News flash republican get over it A African american man is the leadre of the free world GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
REpublicans are racist evil and just plain dumb!!!!
Jeez lady...paranoid much?
That's awesome that he's reaching out to members of Congress like that. This mess will never be solved if we don't all work together!
For the price of doing this story, CNN.com, you could have fed some hungry people out there.
She is an idiot.
how do you permanently hang up on someone?
She is smarter than Palin....verified that she wasn't being pranked. I like that!
Barry and Mark,
Get lost, we don't need close-minded sore losers in America.
Hysterical, but I'll bet she's feeling like an idiot about now.
So if it was a fellow Democrat that hung up on him, would this even be news?
Gov Pallin's legacy on polotics
she is so dumb, even if it was a prank call, she could have at least listen for 60 secs.
Obama was amused... What a great sport! You're right congresswoman, he's very gracious. I hope all the morons continue to underestimate him.
Usually when I think its a prank call I play along to see if its legit by asking good questions and searching for the rediculous. That's what palin should of done.
Does anyone else think that she's maybe a bit too into herself? Anyone that thinks that someone would go through that much trouble to prank call them is definitely taking themselves too seriously.
As for the Obama haters, it must suck being you. He's won the nomination and you're still bitter. You're probably the type that slashes the tires of the other team that beat you instead of being taking the loss in stride.
Hopefully you can turn that frown upside-down. Otherwise it's going to be a rough 8 years for you. Yes, I said 8 years.
Good for her. I would hang up on the terr orrist myself. I cannot wait until this joke is IM PEACHED.
Congresswoman not an idiot at all. I would have done the same thing.
better to be safe than to be a joke!
julie
Was she on drugs or what? That had to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Understanding what radio stations might do, she however, never figured it out. How stupid! The future president and she was prior makes no sense.
you can say that now....(that you'd hang up on him)
but when the rubber meets the road, if you were to actually have the honor to recieve a call from our next president i doubt you'd be able to speak, let alone hang up....
ignorant people.....
hahahaha....I live here in Miami, FL and it's true that we have some radio stations that are funny and make crank calls everyday....these are the radio stations that got to talk to Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez by also crank calling and make believe they were other people.
This was funny stuff. Ros-Lehtinen is my Congress-woman and she's been re-elected like about 6 times already....
This was really funny and it's all over the news here in south florida....
Mr. President elect, you can call me any time!
ugh what a moron! I cant stand that woman
I guess I would understand her suspicion- If she were an everyday citizen like me. What a moron.
I would hang on him permanently also!
For those of you who "would like to hang up on him too" – McCain lost, it's over, mourn it and move on.
So THAT'S the story???
Why was he calling her????? Was it about a position in his administration? Did he need to borrow a cup of sugar??
Hello???
LOL! now thats a smart WOMEN! at least she is NOT DUMB enough to be hoaxed like STUPID SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL WOMEN SAILIN, BUT NOT SARAH PALIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In light of today's progressively corrupt MSM's divisivness..., one smart women.
Clever, Barry & Mark. I'd like to hang up on the last 8 years... change can be so difficult to accept, can't it?
The man doesn't care about life, as with his intended revoke of abortion laws, then he doesn't represent humanity, not worth talking too, much less leading the people.
Sounds like someone is a little paranoid in Florida
The Republicans are in such a MESS that they don't even know when to answer their telephone. Santa Claus is coming to town to take all you knuckle heads like George Bush to the Hague.
This was posted yesterday, as you can obviously see in the new ticker right hand box. Slow news day CNN, or are we trying to make something bigger than what it really is (again)?
I only wish he'd call me, just so I could have the satisfaction of hanging up on him.
Call me Obama!!! I wouldn't hung up on you!
By the way, what's the subject of the conversation??
Who cares. I'm just so happy that a black man is president, and he won by an overwhelming number of votes. This means that the vast majority of blacks, whites, asians, and hispanics all understood that a black man was truly the best candidate for the most powerful position in the world. That is something the pitiful racists cannot take away or change, and they are really struggling with that fact right now (and I LOVE IT).
After all the yeas of dealing with idiotic racist, we black people have truly overcome. The only thing the racist, whiny little nobodies can do now is post stupid comments on blogs and then feel as if they've accomplished something. How great that whites and blacks have rendered all racists insignificant. Now, the phrase Black Power truly has relevance, and we black people are very, very happy!
She's an Idiot, thinking she was too smart to get pranked. Look how dumb she must feel now.
If you live in Florida, this makes sense.
what was the purpose of the call?
Stupid republicans
I bet she feels like an idiot now! LOL
So did she hang up on him a third time when he tried to call her back?
Hope so.
I would doubt she feels like an idiot. These pranksters need to be shut down and this would not happen.
I would hang up on him too because hanging up on people really hurts their feelings and shows them that you are being the bigger person. Also, it's not news its filler. With multiple 24 news networks crap like this gets on the "air" / internet because something has to fill the vaccum. Heaven forbid we have peace and quite.
You can call me president elect Obama!
I would never hang up on you!
GOP= Goofy Obnoxious People what a silly woman. she needs another line of work, but then again worknig in the GOP she is used to pranksters an phoneys pretending to be politicians . I would hang up on any GOP person period!!!!!
Apparently, these kinds of calls are very common in the Cuban community. The popular radio personalities there are famous for making crank calls to Cuba on behalf of El Commandante. I am nowhere near a fan of Ros-Lehtinen for so many reasons, but I can understand why she acted so suspiciously. This says more about the comical condition of the S. Florida area that she represents than it says about her.
What an idiot! The radio station must think she's a ditz if they call her that much to think that she's talkin to an Obama impersonator! LOL
After the fallout from Sarah Palin being dooped by the two Canadian radio hosts , it is no wonder that politicians are wary of this . It is perfectly understandable and really kind of funny. He seems to have a good sense of humour so he probably feels that way. Shouldn't the more pressing issue be why he was calling her in the first place?
I would like the real news of this story to be told. Why was he calling her in the first place? She is just a lil old congresswoman from Florida.
What ever happened to RESPECT ?
People who left comment here saying they would hang up on their future president and commander-in-chief have not even come near grasping the concept of PATRIOTISM!
America is ashamed of each one of you!
Serve your country and get over it – you lost, America and the world won!
You must be running out of things to report.
Can't wait until Obama does that with the Russian Premier when he calls to say nukes are on the way.
Now that will be a BLAST!
WHY SO SERIOUS???? Obama will probably hang up at 3am if he got called about a terrorist attack
Dee G. – CT December 4th, 2008 9:06 am ET
Hysterical, but I'll bet she's feeling like an idiot about now.
=================================================
YOU should feel like the idiot! Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen was, indeed, smart to do that. After all, wasn't it Princess Palin who was made a COMPLETE FOOL of by a Canadian radio station??? So, it was smart and perfectly understandable to hang up.
Uh huh...I bet you would hang up on him. Sore loser is right...and maybe you could think of a more original response next time while you're at it.
some of you guys are really still sore .. i wasnt happy when bush won twice but I supported him ... if your still mad b/c of race get over it ... if your mad cause your not a dem get over it ... basically just get over it for real ... obama ran a really good campaign and the american people sided with him and made a 53% decison to put him where he is ... m/b one day this nation will come together for the same reasons and actually be able to progress toward meaningful goals ... you should all be happy now ... the senate isnt fillibuster proof hillary is going to be working in the administration and obama has even shown a willingness to work with repubs by keeping gates on board ... stop your crying and start working or helping the next man find a job
The GOP can't believe that President-elect Obama is reaching across the aisle like he said he would do.
This is a case of reality imitating art. There is a scene like this in the film "The American President."
I would love the opportunity to hang up on him!
wow...he must have had something real insightful to say
If they pranked called Sarah Palin than they could do the same to this GOP. However, if McCain had been elected and he called, would she have hung up on him? There should be a better system in place so that those in Congress know that it is in fact the President calling.
Sounds like a scene out of An American President, with Martin Sheen and Michael Douglas!. I do believe President Obama will be as dynamic as President Shepard-(Michael Douglas)
This post is redundant, CNN. What else do you have for us?
Is it April already? I thought it was April fool so I hang up on my boss too. Hope I don't get fired. Oh I can use the same excuze. "I THOUGHT IT WAS A PRANK CALL".
The hate displayed in these blogs over relatively innocuous news items are actually pretty refreshing and funny in their own way- It just illuminates the fact that R's are basically petty and childishly petulant.
After W's train wreck of an administration, I'm really looking forward to the next 8 years of whining and wailing and gnashing of teeth coming from the right-
President Obama, haters- and there's NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. Stings don't it?
Lynn in Virginia....you are non-essential!!
Caller ID? really? you think its going to come up? you know i'd think it would be a blocked number and if it wasn't what would it say. Caller: President-elect Obama? sorry melissa.
but it would take a GOP congresswomen to hang up on the future president. Hopefully the GOP will not hang up on policy in the house and senate and realize that they need to learn what we, the Democrats, have done for years, reaching across party lines to get stuff done.
So she does not yet know who the president elect is???
...oops, how foolish of me, this is Florida !!!
Maybe it would be best if he has someone place his calls for him before he gets on the phone. But with all that is going on this is some thing funny that we can all look at. It is good to see that the news is still reporting the funny things in life.
Mark and "Barry" and other whiny Republican crybabies- Obama smeared McCain all over the map on 11/04/08. He will be the next President. If you can accept that, get out of the country. Move to Chile or India or Iceland or China. Losers.
Congresswoman Lehtinen – "I won't fall for the prank call like that Palin chick."
These GOP lunatics are hysterical.
Sounds like she is not as gullible as Sarah Palin.
Good call.
HA I think its funny as all get out! Obama could have been a jerk about it but gGood to see he still reaches out when others push him away for the WRONG REASONS.
of course it's a FL congresswoman....almost as bad as an Alaskan governor........
Barry, Mark and Lynn are part of that dwindling constituency (now at about 20%) that disapproves of the work of the president-elect. Quite similar to the approval rating of lame-duck-in-chief. Pretty soon it will be time for your convention folks... in a telephone boot!
"Barry" what do you mean you would hang up on Pres. Elect Obama "permanently"? Is that some type of threat? Because your comment gives me the creeps. The Secret Service can you find you in a heartbeat. Whether you support him or not he is going to be our President. I have an extremely low opionion of President Bush but I have respect for the office he holds and would never treat him rudely or dismissively.
And THAT is why we can't have a bipartisn Government.
I am proud to be a democrat that didn't vote for Obama ( didn't vote for McCain either). I wish the real democrats would take this party back and get rid of Pelosi.
Wow. Feel the love in here. Can't you folks get over it? You bitter empty-headed people who hate all Republicans, and you Republican losers who think that you have a right to diss the president-elect.
Just take it for what it is, a funny story involving two public servants. Let it rest there. I hope she can serve in the Obama adminstration. He sure needs to have some real statesmen, instead of bitter Nancy Pelosi-type Republican haters.
And you others. Get over it. Obama won. Support your President elect. Be as gracious to him as George W is being. Learn something.
Easy to think it is a joke. Remember the one played on Palin. And for those who would hang up on him also... you are not that important to be called by the Pres Elect. So stop the hate.
It turly is a shame, that he is only choosing Washington
insiders to fill the Cabinet and many posts in DC, I like
President-Elect Obama, but where is the CHANGE???
As a person who makes around 100 COLD Calls a day I would say that this is a normal reaction.
She was acting like any normal person would.
Obama is displaying how out of touch with the REAL WORLD he really is.
It is going to be an interesting 4 years with someone so inexperienced at the helm!
It sounds like she had a sense of humor about it given her eventual answer. I would be hesitant to so quickly label her an idiot for hanging up, however, with memories of Sarah Palin being called an idiot for believing that a prank caller from a local radio station was actually French President Nicolas Sarkozy so fresh in our minds. Regardless, a funny story.
I LOVE the come-together spirit of some of the people posting here with their anti-Obama comments (sarcasm). Get with the plan folks - united we have a better chance of changing things for the better. And besides, like it or not, Obama is our next President. I'm elated. I just wish the ugly partisanship would take a vacation.
First of all, I bet the number shows up as private.. all government numbers show up as that, especially the president elect.. Second.. After Palin was fooled by the Canadian talk show prank call, dont expect everyone not to be on guard.. Perhaps Obama should have a secret code or something, or even use a listed number for calls to members of congress.
Dear Lynn in Virginia,
Maybe you should drink some sweet tea to wash all that bitterness down.
Love,
Kevin
It sounds like she had a sense of humor about it given her eventual answer. I would be hesitant to so quickly label her an idiot for hanging up, however, with memories of Sarah Palin being called an idiot for believing that a prank caller from a local radio station was actually French President Nicolas Sarkozy so fresh in our minds. Regardless, a funny story.
republicans hate us because they think we think they are stupid, we hate them because we think they are stupid.
I notice all the Republicans wants to hang up on Barack......sounds like they are still bitter!
Looking at these comments, I'd say we are, as a nation, losing our sense of humor. Come on guys, this is funny
excuses...I bet she was just chicken to speak to someone who is actually intelligent and might challenge her, unlike all the rabble-rousing babble she is comfortable with from the whining, sore loser Republicans out there. grow up guys
After Palin's experience with a radio station prank, I can see why congressmen are suspicious, especially if you don't expect such a high-level person to call you. Perhaps these radio stations need to be reigned in or sued. It certainly appears their stunts are causing real world problems at high levels (not to mention the embarrasement they bring on non-public figures with such calls).
Now, why are so many republicans immediately stating they'd love to hang up on Obama? This story shows he's taking the time to call republican congressmen who hold no special office. He's really making an effort to get both sides working together rather than acting like a bunch of school children (who would hang up out of obstinence).
He was calling the congresswoman to try and convince her that the "sky is not falling," contrary to many Republicans' beliefs. He also heard she had a great recipe for a spinach artichoke dip.
I'd almost rather get a call from GWbush so I could tell him what I thought and then hang up on him.
What a hoot!
I'm sorry, but this paragraph makes no sense.
"When an amused Obama called again, Ros-Lehtinen he was either “very gracious” to reach across the aisle by contacting her, or “had run out of folks to call, if you are truly calling me.” Otherwise, she said, Saturday Night Live “could use a good Obama impersonator like you.” The Obama transition team declined comment on the incident."
Just another dumb, paranoid Republican.
I would have been excited to speak with my new President. All the hateful Republicans and bigots can go pound sand.
It's OK, God called Obama and Obama hung up apparently.
Wow what a moron! Sounds like Sarah Palin.
To all the "I'd hang up on him too" comments:
That's why your party got its rear handed to it. Have fun watching from the sidelines for a couple years!
All of you people saying you would hang up on him too are sore loser.
GOBAMA. Fix this country!!! Keep reaching out brother. They are going to hate you now, but they'll come around.
Honestly, I don't blame the woman. If Obama called me, I would think it was a prank. Although, I am not a member of congress.
I blame the shock jock radio personalities. If they weren't making prank phone calls all of the time, this would have never happened.
A word of advice to you partisan uglies who claim they would hang up on the President-elect, and presumably the President: this is not how adult citizens should behave. No matter what your party politics may be, if the President calls on you, you're respectful and polite. If invited to an event with the President in attendance, you wear a suit and a tie or comparable attire. "Mr. President, I do not agree with you" is appropriate, but middle-school hang-up behavior is not. No wonder we're the laughingstock of the world. Too many Americans are jerks.
White people don't want to accept the fact that this country will have a BLACK commander and cheif in a few short weeks...GET OVER IT! Since Hilary was able to contact her without incident, that should tell you something. The reality is, this man will run this country and if ignorant whites can't accept that, then maybe they should go steal another country like they stole this one. By the way...good luck finding another group of minorities to be slaves for your new all white nation...stupid.
Those republican like hanging up on the the next president all ready. He wants to work with them but like always republican want to play games.
It's really simple, if you think about it: Our government is so screwed up the Repubs want nothing to do with it now. That's why they gave us John McCain and Palinator; so they would have no chance of being responsible for cleaning up the mess. It's a no-loose situation: Dems fix the country, Repubs can rape it again, Dems don't get it fixed, Repubs can blame it all on Dems.
To the people who said they would hang up on Obama:
It seems that President-elect Obama listens to not only his friends, but his adversaries, critics and former opponents as well, so why would you hang up on him? Hanging up on him wouldn't prove anything. Taking the time to talk to him, and listen to his points of view, while expressing your own might be a bit more constructive. It's called DIPLOMACY. Something that the White House has been missing for nearly a decade, and looks to have regained. Funny article, though.
"I'd hang up on him too." No you wouldn't. Tough guy Neo-Cons don't get it that she didn't do it intentionally. But, hey, you guys are still into that sabre-rattling spur click'n stuff.
A word of advice to you partisan uglies who claim they would hang up on the President-elect, and presumably the President: this is not how adult citizens should behave. No matter what your party politics may be, if the President calls on you, you're respectful and polite. If invited to an event with the President in attendance, you wear a suit and a tie or comparable attire. "Mr. President, I do not agree with you" is appropriate, but middle-school hang-up behavior is not. No wonder we're the laughingstock of the world. Too many Americans are jerks.
obama stop hattin
I don't care if she is a republican or not, with all the prank calls by radio stations I would do the same thing. I would like to ask GRACE – if she were a democrat would you call her an idiot? Why do we have to show so much hate and contempt for those who believe differently then us? This is the United States of America, Not the Semi-United Stated of Democrats or Republicans. And before you ask, I am an Independant. I vote the issues and plans not party.
Considering what happened to Sarah Palin and the radio station, I suppose some people in power are a bit paranoid right now–especially Republicans. Keeping our sense of humor about things will help get us through the bad times. Politicians take themselves way too seriously anyway!
The GOP is irrelevant, yet he still reaches out to it's members... About time we had a president like him.
Some of you that are commenting on wanting to hang up on Obama should just go to FoxNoise and comment on there boards...you are probably very very ignorant people.
Ileana is as dumb as a box of rocks. Roseanne Roseannadanna we call her here in Florida.
PRESIDENT OBAMA, Leave her where she is (FL) because she has no vision.
I wish he would call me!
This is strange. I probably would've done the same especially after the Sarah Palin incident. She received a phone call and found out it was only a joke from a radio station in Europe. I still think Obama is a mistake.
The GOP congresswoman sounds a little paranoid but has a great sense of humor.
And a question to you morons that said "I'd hang up on him too" explain exactly why you hate a man that is going to get this country back on track, while still licking the boots of a man that almost destroyed it. Are you really Americans? If so, why do you hate this country so much?
Kristen, Lynn, Mark, and get over it, your comments are laughable.
You losers don't need to worry about our Pres calling either of you, why would he? you are UNIMPORTANT!!! LOL
This has to be the dumbest woman on the planet. How could you hang up on the president twice, and then use the excuse that there has been radio pranks, is she serious? Typical republician.
Wow
the GOP really needs to clean house. how stupid would you have to be to twice hang up on an opportunity to help your country in its time of need
I would hang up on the most overrated president since clinton too
She is a lot smarter than FAILIN PALIN (if we recall her engaging in an extended and revealing conversation with prank-caller by "Sarkowsy") and a lot less presumptious.
Well, haters, I would hang up on Bush, too, after giving him a talking to about lying, torture, the First Amendment, his real responsibilities in office, and what he can do with his buddy Rove. I just do not understand the admiration for this guy after what he has done to the country. And I can't see why you hate Obama before he has done anything as President. I'm sure that you will all be so gracious when he does turn things around, bring the troops home, and stabilize the financial sector. But no, you'll be whining about something else that he promised and failed to do. Let's go back and look at Bush's promise, under oath, to uphold the Constitution. Like he has even read it. He let John Yue interpret it for him, and Cheney twist that, and here we are-unprotected, listened to illegally, and arrested and tortured. Yup, great guy, GWB is.
Smart to be cautious...she didn't want to risk looking like the idiot Sarah Palin is when the Sarkosy impersonator pranked her. Probably also shocked at the new tone of a President...considering the tone set by the empty suit we have as a leader for about 6 more weeks.
Typical paranoid Republican. Too bad they're all so deaf, dumb and blind to simple things like facts, physics, history and evidence.
Hilarious! To err is human after all...
This is news?
How about one on Harry Reid and the vitriol that comes out of his mouth. I put cleaner crap in my septic system than what comes out of his mouth. If he isn't saying hateful things of his fellow congressman, he is making rude and crude remarks about the general public or as he says it, "the stinking tourists".
This guy needs to be recycled and throw in Nancy Pelosi while you are at it.
Sad. . .
Mark and Barry;
No disprespect, but I don't think either of you have to worry about President Elect Obama calling you. I don't believe the two of you have much to offer in the way of advice, knowledge or insight.
things happen, go on with your life
What's newsworthy about this? NOTHING!
Here in GA we regularly get calls from Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama and Barack Obama. They never listen, just talk. For some reason, they all quit calling after Tuesday. (Hey, Chelsea, I didn't hear from YOU.)
What's funny is that these republicans will also view this as some kind of victory or something. Get over yourselves, you losers wouldn't hang up on Obama because you aren't important enough to even get the call.
I would have hung up on Obama to.
Funny
Just another self-righteous Republican.
that is a very funny story. i don't fault her so much, president elects or presidents for that matter don't call congressmens so much. certainly an honest, but very funny mistake.
Boy, aren't we all cruel on this board, to both the Congresswoman and Obama. The woman is not an idiot, she just did something silly. I can think of a lot of other things she could have done that would make her an idiot. Hanging up on someone because you think it may be a crank call does not qualify as idiot behavaior. Most of the people who are calling her an idiot would probably have done the exact same thing.
Now that's funny!
This is very typical of Cuban Republicans in Miami! They are running scared now that the Travel Restrictions and other great things of past of about to be lifted! Time to say goodbye to the old way of thinking.
To all of you Anti Cuba Cubans in Florida, mark this on your calendars–JANUARY 20th, 2009! Wake up call
My goodness people get over it already
Shirley a miscommunication!
In today's world, not everything is what it appears to be. While at first appearance, this may indicate some level of distrust on the congresswoman's part. Further analysis reveals that a local radio station has a prior history of doing similar stunts. the congresswoman's time is valueless too. Perhaps in the future, the congresswoman's aides/receptionist can screen her calls, more carefully.
I personally believe that President -Elect Obama, an intelligent man, understands this and holds no grudges.
Obama is brilliant and the ONLY America has right now!!! Will you people read "Audacity of Hope" to understand where this country can go!!!! He also has put together an incrediable team!!! God Bless us all!
love obama!
Obama is surprising people on both sides. The guy is reaching out to all kinds of people, all across the country. I dont blame her for thinking it was a hoax. There is no historical precedent. This guy walks the talk.....so if it sounds like Obama is calling you....he probably is.
After the Sarah Palin issue who could blame her. No need to convince the world that all republican women are as gullible as the Alaskan crab. Sorry crabs!!!
It's amusing listening to the Republicans now that the fat lady has sung.
I would love the opportunity to hang up on you Kristin. What have you done for society lately????
After seeing Palin get fooled, I understand how she could not want to fall prey as well.
But as others have said, she probably felt it was a prank because she's not seen a President actually reach out to her. Not even the one in her own party over the last 7 years and 11 months.
This is news?
How about one on Harry Reed and the vitriol that comes out of his mouth? I put cleaner crap in my septic system than what this guy spews out of the hole in his face.
This character says hateful things about everyone, to include his fellow congressman and now he thinks that the tourists stink as well.
Recycled this guy and while you are at it, throw in Nancy Pelosi.
What's really funny is that she thought she was important enough for the radio station to prank
All these people saying "ooo I'd hang up on him too" need to get a life. Your side lost. Get over it. Quit acting like a child who's parents took away their favorite toy.
I can not believe anybody would call somebody an idiot that thought a call from the president elect WASN'T a prank call,obviously she is very intelligent , she's a congresswoman,and she didn't vote for him,she was not in the Clinton administration,so why would she think he would be calling her.
Anybody who hangs up on the next PRESIDENT should be TRIED FOR TREASON!! If you don't like this country you can LEAVE IT!!!
It must be a slow news day. So what if she hung up?
You know, one of these days when the Democrats decide not to be nice and reach across to the GOP, the GOP will only have themselves to blame. Obama told the GOP party that he would in fact include them. He tries to and a dumb GOP idiot hangs up on him. I find it rather funny when the congresswoman says Obama has run out of people to call because if she can't take her position and herself seriously, how does she expected for anyone else to? I had never heard of this person before this, but if I ever hear of her name again, this incident is what is going to come to mind. The GOP needs to get over their loss and strengthen their party again!
This is news?
How about one on Harry Reed and the vitriol that comes out of his mouth?
This guys spews more crap than my septic system could hold.
If he isn't saying hateful things of his fellow congressman, he is telling us that the tourists stink.
Recycled this guy along with Nancy Pelosi.
Smart woman!! I'd have hung up on him too! His smug tone and the way he speaks in "clips", just doesn't sit well with me.
Why is everyone acting like this is a major indictment on this congress-woman, or as if this is a great way to insult the newly elected President? I think you missed the point. This is just simply, a funny story. One, her office was willing to laugh at by releasing a statement on it.
Democrats, you can't insult Ros-Lehtinen in one breath for being cautious if you then in another insult Palin for falling victim to a prank call.
Republicans, you can't go around talking about "hanging up on him permanently" if you also in years past, regularly indicted the left for not being supportive of President Bush.
No matter which side of the aisle you are on, you can't have it both ways. This is a funny story in an all-to tense political environment, let it be just that.
Obama's free spending actions are speaking much louder than his cheap centrist words..
Ha! I wish he'd call me so I can ask for some bailout money! I only wish I had a private plane to sell off!
Hey CONAN, it's TOO not TO.
Man..I hope she felt guilty after that.
Barry, Mark & Lynn, why would you hang up on the President -elect of the US? Would you hang up on the President -elect if he was a Republican or is it just because he is black, you guys are so funny its a shame, all the crap this country is in, and all you can do is hate, sad, sad, remeber whether you like it or not, he is the president, I did not agree with President Bush, however I would not want to hang up on the President of the US, how stupid, is there any schools where you guys live, or you're home taught,ha,ha, ha,
That's because she knew he was going to ask her to lead the CIA. Nobody wants that job in his administration because of the Eric Holder nomination.
People are leaving the CIA so fast that they are running job ads on TV.
Hey Barack, why don't you get John Kerry to do it, he wants a job pretty bad since you dissed him for Hillary.
Memo To: Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen – Do yourself a favor and get "Caller I.D." . No wonder your constituents can not talk with you – you keep hanging up the phone!
I guess it goes to show that pranksters have everyone spooked... too funny
Some people just don't get it... its no longer "hello, I'm George"... no it now "hello, I"m Obama",
Sounds like a lot of sour grapes posting here.
I wish he would call me. I'd love to dare him to call himself any kind of a Christian!! Could he be the first of what we are told in the Bible will be a line of pseudo-AntiChrists that precede the real one?
It's a prime example of why conservatives lost the white house... they're all idiots.
She was acting like any normal person would.
Obama is displaying how out of touch with the REAL WORLD he really is.
It is going to be an interesting 4 years with someone so inexperienced at the helm!
Come on folks, this was funny stuff! Let the hate stuff go already!
I didn't vote for Obama but will support him if he comes with sound ideas.
Why can't the democrates have a sense of humor? Good grief! Can't believe that personal attacks can be posted on this site. Disappointing!
Now that's funny.
Idiot Democrats.
all you people writing these stupid comments need to move to another country because Obama will be here for 8 years.
OBAMA 2012
Seems reasonable to me not to expect him to call her..... I think she was wise and showed intelligence .... or no, i guess she should've discussed all with who she THINKS might be a well-known radio station to do such pranks.
on the other side, i can't wait for Pres.-elect Obama to do and be all that everyone is expecting of him. He's got a TALL order.... but hey.... all of you know he's briliant, best thing since sliced bread and should be able to do more than all our previous presidents combined. I wish someone would've brought him a long time ago.... saved us all alot of pain.
Let me sit back and enjoy this show.
A la the movie "The American President". Where Michael Douglas calls up what's her name (the girlfriend) and she thinks it's a friend calling up as a prank and hangs up on him.
she is obviously using it as an excuse to hang up the phone on him. Obama should call and just say, it's your boss.
Pretty sad commentary on how paranoid everyone is getting.
What a DUMMY!
I'm an Obama supporter but I see no problem with her actions. Calls from DJ's are a common enough prank and they need to be on guard.
The interesting part would be the untold actions and conversations after the fact.
The biggest Idiot is "Kristen".
"I would have hung up on him too."
"I would have loved to hang up on him."
"I'd hang up on him too."
Very original guys. The story was pretty pointless, but still... he hasn't even been inaugurated but you are already giving up on him and directing unnecessary animosity toward him. Whether he does a good job or not, you will still find ways to hate him. Sure, that goes for the other side too (they will love him regardless). But I'm asking YOU to find it within yourself to be more open to this man you are afraid of (his skin color, more like it) and try to support him at least until he gets his feet set under him.
Hey Conan you need to take grammar lessons. In this case to should have been spelled "too". And for the rest of you Obama haters, give Obama a break. The guy hasn't even taken office so you can see what he will do to turn this country around. Get the hate out of your system and stop being so bitter.
You all are acting a bit rediculous–its a funny story, so get a laugh and stop making dumb political conclusions about it. Republicans and Democrats could find a million things to make fun of eachother about–which is okay if you can have good-hearted laughs together, but tiring and childless when you make serious attakcs about "those other idiots."
those of you who say you wish Obama called you so he can get up on you...he won't!!! so do us all a favor and hold your breath so you can move on to the next life!!! haters!
Hung up on Obama the snake oil salesman? That's o.k. because he has already hung up on his Liberal supporters. The Liberal "left" have been "left" out!! I want to hire his marketing department, what brilliant strategist!! Darn I love it when a plan comes together!!
How many times have we all hung up on God, the Commander-in Chief of our souls? He is forgiving, and so I hope the President-elect will be forgiving as well!
Rani from IL
This isn't the first time that happened and it won't be the last. I look at it this way; Obama isn't insulted and it wasn't about time dependant issue.
LMAO – I've seen this woman on "Real Time with Bill Maher" and, I can safely say, she is NOT the brightest bulb in the box. I wonder how much of a tool she felt like ... LOL!
i think its a cute story but how many people that high up need to call you just for you to acknowledge. would be funnier if obama was like "well im sick of this lets call a democrat."
That's a good one.
Its not really a big deal to hang up once but when done twice .......it shows how technologically backward these elected officials are....dont they know how to trace calls? Verify the originality? Its sad that such a call could be dropped twice...what if its some emergency call not from pres elect but from some very highly placed source. Also shows how unqualified the staff are.
"Melissa December 4th, 2008 8:50 am ET
Don't these people have caller ID?
I have to agree with you. What happen to caller ID? GOP is really going to give the President elect a run for his money. GOP are very idiot people and hard to work with.
Dexter: "shout out" Not to swift are ya?
You're all dopes! Ros-Lehtinen is a fellow DEMOCRAT, not a Republivan. The "Rep." in the story stands for "representative", not "Republican." With your stupid comments, you all expose your extreme partisanship.
those of you who say you wish Obama called you so you can hang up on him…he won't call!!! so do us all a favor and hold your breath so you can move on to the next life!!! haters! whether you like him or not, he is YOUR PRESIDENT TOO! just like we had to put up with YOUR BUSH for 8 god awful years!
Well, at least we know the GOP Congress members are smart enough to suspect a prank call – unlike their VP candidate.
Too bad it backfired this time. I wonder what she would have done if it was Emperor Bush calling her....?
I would have loved to see their faces when all this happened.
Poly Ouma @ 9:02
"May be the president-elect need to make appointments prior to calling people …"
Yes, because I always call to inform people that I am going to call. Do you make appointments to call others? No? I didn't think so.
When you are not expecting your president elect to be so gracious after how he was treated by the Republicans, I can understand her thinking this must have been a crank call.
All of these people saying that they would have also hung up on Obama are sore losers. Get over it...the best man won.
What is the big idea of all you bitter people happy that she hung up on him. I understand her reasons for hanging up on him because no one wants to be on the opposite end of the laughing stick. But give Obama a chance..........he can't do any worst than Bush and his administration!
She is a shameful example of the congressional representation resulting from the Cuban paranoia mentality here is South Florida.
In simple words she is a complete idiot
What a rude bunch, drooling on themselves over the thought of a chance to offer disrespect to the President of the United States of America. There sure are a lot of petty, small-minded, sore losers in America this year.
I really prefer to see my people behave in ways in which I can take pride, or at least in ways for which I can find respect.
Give her a break. I heard the prank a Florida radio station played on Fidel Castro. The thought he was talking to Hugo Chavez. When he realized he'd been punk'd, he was livid!!!! Those type of radio pranks are common, and they're pretty convincing.
Minnesotan, you've got nothing to say..........you elected a WWF guy for governor (hey lets talk about qualifications), and are trying to elect a (terrible) comedian to Congress. You're credibility on anything political is worthless.
Thatis funny!
A+ for Obama's actions so far. Reaching across the aisle, and seemingly changing how things are done.
By the way, does anyone know if Colbert and Stewart are talking out against that Fairness Docrine that is targeting Conservative Talk Show Hosts?
It seems to me they would be subject to it's guidelines as well.
Oh, come on, you guys. Give her a break. I'm a bleeding-heart liberal and, even if I were a congressperson, I'd be questioning anyone who called me and told me they were Obama. Any normal person would think that someone as important as Obama would have better people to call than them.
When I read comments against the man who just won the hardest job on earth right now, I think of George H.W. Bush who said: "We need to be a kinder, gentler nation." Comments like "I would hang up too" make us look like foolish uneducated Americans to the rest of the world.
hysterical cow....shows how stupid, dumb and paranoid most republiscum are.
its funny how people in this lobby are still sore losers...stop your crying...even after all the garbage that came out of the election 24 hrs after Obama smashed McCain ya'll still think you should have voted for MCcain...Don't you all think you should know all the bull crap going in between Palin and McCain "before" you voted, or how it was more than 150,000 of clothes, or how McCain and pailin didn't even really talk? Pre. Obama Nomination was something the country needed and ya'll cant even admit it...
Hey: "Get Over it"
I see you're still at it. Take your own advice and GET OVER IT Obama won – Got It ?
Why don't you get a hobby a or better yet a job. You obviously have too much time on your hands.
After all the press about Sarah Palin being punked by a radio station, I'd be suspicous too. Look at all the bad press Palin got for taking the radio station caller at face value. I say Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen did the correct thing; she couldn't confirm Obama's Id so she hung up.
Conan/Kristen: Obama's not gonna waist his time calling idoits like you all. You're not important enough!
Absolutely Hilarious! Love it! It goes to show that our elected officials are human. And they both laughed.
Heaven hath scorn on yee who hangs up on The Messiah
In reading the responses to this article there sure are alot of sore losers out there. Get over it. We won!!!! Change is gonna come FINALLY.
Sounds just like something a republican from Florida would do, they just continue to make themselves look stupid. Are you sure she was from Florida and not Alaska like that other nitwit.
I love reading how all these tough guys would hang up on the next President of the United States. On the off chance that someone that important ever did call you, you would be too busy stammering to even think of hanging up the phone.
That's a conservative Republican for you. She apparently saw another of her ilk being pranked by those guys from Canada.
if you don't like him, it doesn't mean that you have to be disrespectful by hanging up on him
Good for her! I rather be safe than sorry. All politicians should have a secret code. Putin could be calling for secrets. Who knows!
I hate those stupid radio shows....Its their fault.
Why doesn't anybody ever hang up on George Bush?
In IL, B96 used to call around as Osama Bin Laden and it's crazily hilarious!!
I say she probably knew it was not a prank and just didnt want to talk to that person who will be called "president", he is not my president.
Who would want to talk to socialist? or a guy who wants to be friend with the Israel hater?
remember you can't spell democrats with out rats.
This is funny. I'm sure it was an honest mistake.
I can understand why she thought she was being pranked.
It's Florida, need we say more?
What's new the GOP has hung up on us all!!!!
Some of you are so beyond ignorant.
I have never been a fan of President Bush, but if he called me, I wouldn't hang up on him, because I have respect for the office he holds.
However something tells me that making calls and reaching out to Congresspeople of the opposing party is not something that other people in PE Obama's position have ever done before (clearly illustrated by her reaction to it). If you honestly don't think there is something admirable about it, then you should consider getting your head checked.
you figure by now the president elect would have a secure line to call any one in the world
guess that too easy for the most powerfull man in the world-as you say
Hey, smart guy, it's "too" not "to".
Why the negativity, it's not going to make the important issues go away. Could he have been calling to speak with Rep. Ros-Lehtinen to offer her a job? Would that make you negative-nellie's feel better. Let's stop the divisiveness and get on with trying to work with the President and Congress to turn the country around. How about "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with ME!". If not the whole earth, then let's start in our own country.
So how does a funny story turn into remarks like, "Stupid GOP Congresswoman," etc.? I think the liberals on here (which seems to be about 80%) are the ones who lack tolerance. They are the ones always bashing people and not the other way around like they want you to think. Go back through the political ticker article comments and you will see what I am talking about.
If each time the other guy gets into office, we treat him like this, we'll never make any progress. It doesn't matter if you're a democrat, a repubulican, or something else, if you treat everyone else like the enemy, we will only succeed in making enemies. Get over yourselves, people, and work together! You want progress? You want change? Work WITH people.
Kudos to the president-elect for remaining gracious and respectful in the face of rudeness and ignorance. He shows that even mean, disrespectful people count in the process.
She sounds pretty stupid to me. After 3 calls, she is still in doubt? I guess she thinks she's really important and that people would do anything to get to talk to her.
Figures she's a republican..................
Moving right along... I'm sure Obama has bigger and better things to do anyway.
What's more amazing: the idiocy of the paranoid Right or the fact that CNN didn't bother to report on why the Prez-Elect was calling?
How about all you people who would have "hung up on him too" leave the country now because you'll have him for your President the next 8 years and I would hate to have you suffer what we Bush-haters had to put up with over this same period of time. Of course, Bush deserved every bit of anger and criticism that he got. Obama hasn't even become our President yet and you cut-throats can't help yourselves from verbally attacking him at every turn. You want pay-back for us attacking Bush don't you? Again, Bush deserved it, Obama hasn't even earned his abuse yet, and he could never screw up like Bush did. (Really, who could?) But you just can't wait. Attack, attack, attack. You're all such sore losers!!
Why are you people calling her an idiot? PE Obama thinks enough of her to call her three times–only a bigger idiot would place a call to another idiot who hung up on him twice before!
Who is the idiot, again?
Wait...Obama's president? When did that hyappen?
She just couldn't believe her ears. She is not qualified for any position, nor she deverce a position in Obama's administration.. By the Cuban-Americans don't deserve that either.. Obama, whatever you were going to dom BACK UP PLS!!
Obama did not comment on the story so leave it to the Republicans to make a joke out of it when a Democrat reaches across the aisle! How did the press get this story if she did not tell them.
What an idiot.
Lose-lose situation for her. Had it actually been a prank, and she talked to the caller then everyone would call her a stupid republican. Thinking it was a prank and not talking to the caller she's a stupid republican. Typical of democrats to ignore the little facts like these types of pranks are common in South Florida.
Some people need to just keep their opinions to themselves and get over it. I voted for Obama and I think he will do well. Regardless of whether or not you like him you might as well just let it go because he is there and no amount of complaining is going to change that. I think America would be so much better if we didn't have so many close minded people out there in the world. There are just as many selfish people out there as well. Not caring about anyone but themselves. The world needs to go through a complete overhaul of thinking if we want to recover from anything. So get on it!
the real story would be to know what the call was about?
What an idiot - don't these people have staff who can verify a phone call's authenticity??
I definately would of hung up on OBAMA also. forget thinking about "pranks" HE IS A prank.
That is why we can't get anything done on Florida. This stsate is in a shambles and anyone who can leave is leaving. Florida has squandered the promise of the last 20 years and is going to be greatly diminshed because of politicians like this one.
To the stupid ones who say they will hung up on Obama too. First of all,you are nobody, and will never receive a call from a President, so why even say that !!! What president will call you? just look at yourself, YOU ARE NOBODY.... GET A LIFE,,, POOR SORE LOOSERS!!!
Be ready to cry the next 4 , i mean the next 8 years, because OBAMA will be in the White House for 2 terms.
I'm glad to see you crying everytime Obama does anything, maybe one day your eyes will be opened and you will understand that God didn't make the world just for you (fake christians) and (Your kind of conservatives= hate other people who are not like you)
Remember this ,it's in the Bible......"The First will be the last, and the Last , the first"
Why do this have to be a political up or down for either the Dems or the GOP. Can't it just be a funny story without all the hate. It's the bashers from both sides of the fence that create the environment we have in DC. Grow up everyone and maybe we will get a grown up government!
I'm from Florida originally, and can say that our politicians are mostly corrupt, and very dumb.
No love for the Ros-Lehtinen.
I'd hang up on him too.
A Floridian disrespecting a Democrat....hmmmm .... where have I heard this before?
Wow... usually Republicans are so eager to be gullible, the way they believe all sorts of credibility-destroying b.s., like "Obama's a Muslim" or "Obama pals around with terrorists." I guess they've fallen for the cookie-on-a-string trick too many times now and are starting to get so gun-shy they don't even know when they're NOT being punk'd.
They believe so many absurdities that they can't even trust reality anymore...
She is as dumb as a bag of hammers.
Spokane Bob, shut up, since you didn't vote don't complain. and you are no Democrat, you must be one of those NW rednecks, you probably voted for that bigot Ron, the racist, Paul.
That was funny...
He reaches out and gets hung up on. People need to stop being so bitter about the election. Hes the best democrat we've had since Kennedy. Calm down people.
Republicans: Pride in Ignorance (Much like CNN)
I would of asked him about his birth certificate........
Guess we still have not gotten over it. Well guess what, He's our President, and your President to, Like it our NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!
To Minnesotan: Wow, you make some bizarre conclusions based on one phone hang-up. I'm glad that open-minded people are out there!
Why does Obama need to talk to Republicans when there are so few in Congress?
I think that was a very wise choice to hang up on him how was she saposed to know that it really was Osama? oh sorry I mean Obama.
She has now set herself up for a "real" prank call. LOL!
Any one seen the youtube.com video: how Obama got elected? This is a Zogby poll. This is proof positive that his supporters were misinformed,illinformed,uneducated and lied to voters!! This video will not suprise you!!
all u people that say u would hang on the president elect lets see when the economy gets better and everyone gets jobs and you alabama, georgia, and mississippi repubs will shut up when the economy gets better in your poor states esp mississippi
This "story" is minor fluff,and has no bearing on anything, you all are just continuing stupid political animosity.
I love all these republicans...i would just love to hang up on him...oh call me Obama so i can hang up on you too. so bitter they are..that they can't even see that he might actually do some good for this country...un like they're buddy bush...who really needs to be hung up on!
"Derrrr...I'd hang up on the president-elect...."
No you wouldn't. I dislike the current president deeply, but I wouldn't hang up on him. Jeez, Republicans, where'd your patriotism go?
I think this is hilarious.
I do think it's nice how Obama is reaching out to everyone, even non-party members. Makes me proud to have given him my vote!!
And even though I don't care for republicans, I can't fault her either, since others out there ARE pranking them!
Great to see the US following South Africa, and becoming a truely democratic country. Good Luck OBAMA and the US!! Good change for the World.
You can sure tell the Dems from the Repubs on this thread.
All the Repubs would have hung up on him. Which is why our country is so divided.
This is why I'm glad the GOP is not going to be in power.
Hey 'CONAN'... it's "too" not "to", the more you know- the more you grow.
QUOTE FROM: " Dexter December 4th, 2008 9:33 am ET
The GOP is irrelevant, yet he still reaches out to it's members… About time we had a president like him."
So half of the USA is irrelevant? Bad thoughts like these are what divides a nation. If you truly knew what was good for the country you would follow the example of your leader and reachout to those you despise instead of spitting on them.
i can't believe she did something like that my president
To all those who would ... "hang up on him too......"/
Hang This Up!!
You wouldn't get a chance to hang up his dirty drawers.
He is the to be the President. He will be one of the greatest Presidents we've ever had. So, deal with it, get over yourselves, and shuddup already!!
Not very bi-partisan of her now, was it. But after what happened to Sarah Palin who could blame her. I think he should have left her a call back number.
It's so funny to see dumb Republican sheep say they would hang up on Obama too...guess they think they have to bash the President-Elect since the idiot they voted for the two previous elections has proven to be such a joke (Bush)...the HUGE difference...Obama is very intelligent and he and his cabinet will lead this country well! So, keep up your bashing...just makes you look like a complete idiot and you give the rest of the country something to laugh at!!!
Why are so many of you saying that you would hang up on Obama if he called you? You would seriously hang up on the President if he called you? There is nothing that you would want to talk to the most powerful person in the U.S about? No questions to ask him? I guess you are too busy cleaning your guns and hating people with differing views.
Barry , Mark, Get over it, Lynn in Virginia, Disconnected, Spokane Bob, CONAN
All of you SHUT UP you Ignorant MORONS ....... I know it kills that Barack HUSSEIN Obama is your President but get over it as you will have to deal with it for EIGHT wonderful years. You haven't given the man a chance to do his job...... He will be 100 times better than the previous president.... Just be patient Id10ts!!!
I understand her worry...Republican women are on the bottom of the list right now due to Palin. Another misstep would just fuel the argument that the GOP is a failing and utterly confused party ready to join the ranks of political history...oh wait, she hung up on the future President and White House Chief of Staff? I can't believe we let these people run our nation.
Where was her aide when the phone was ringing? I would think she would have other things to do than personally answer phones, no?
Good laugh...
Wish there were more like her representing the people.
After that Palin stunt, I'd be a bit cautious too, but c'mon, this was full blown GOP paranoia at it's best...
Wowwwwwwwwwwwww! And to the "I would hang up on him too" people, what has he done to anger you? Be black? After all ,he isn't in office yet. And, by the way, the too you are intending to use is spelled with a double "o". The Anti-Obama crew seems to have a lot of problems using standard English.
I am a canadian interested in American Politics
It seems Obama is just another Bill Clinton (so far)
It remains to be seen how he will do.
Lets just hope he doesn't end up letting his guard down like Clinton did and end up with another 911. For those of you that think 911 was Bush's fault you need a reality check.
And so what if I put an extra "the" in "He is to be the President..."... like you engilish scholars never made a friggin typo before.
He should have hung up on HER. Why would he want to speak to someone that dumb?!!
And No, I don't spell check my posts either.
To all the sore losers saying they would hang up on him too – don't worry, he's not going to be calling you!
Actually, I would rather hang up than fall victim to a potential prank. I'm sure Obama understands that reasoning. Obama was "amused" according to this story-I'm sure he appreciates the congresswoman's unwillingness to be dragged into a hoax. No harm, really-just a reminder of a certain vice presidential nominee who was a bit gullible and desperate for any attention that might make said nominee credible as a potential leader....
Why are some bloggers still writing ignorant statements about Obama on a story with little or no real importance? No wonder you are in the shape you're in right now. Time to grow up people.
Conan, tell us why you would have hung up on President Obama as you stated.......................
DON'T HATE PARTICIAPTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHOW SOME LOVE.
I like how everyone is making this so political. You people are ridiculous.
funny, funny, funny.
The same people who laughed when Palin took a prank call are now pulling the "paranoid" criticism when Ros-Lehtinen goes the other way. At least the crowd on this board is consistent, if not in a positive way. Nice to see that their leader doesn't seem to reflect the hate-filled beliefs of certain of his followers.
Kudos to Obama for making the call, understanding the circumstances and proceeding with dignity. Brickbats to his supporters on this board who don't show the same consideration.
Guys & Gals,
I don't think the point of the story is to insult the congresswoman. I would be incredulous, too. Anyway, she would be pretty hard to Punk so I give her credit for thinking about the possibility of being duped, not like some other female GOP politician that comes to mind . . .
MZ
For all of you who said you would hang up on Obama....Why in your right mind would you think he'd call suck ADHORRENC people such as yourselves...GET A LIFE and LET IT GO
How embarressing for her but you can understand her caution.
I mean, now rare is it for a president to reach across the line.
Imagine Barack Obama got quite a laugh out of this.
=============================================
Thomas December 4th, 2008 9:06 am ET
Barry and Mark,
Get lost, we don't need close-minded sore losers in America.
===============================================
loser is an understatement! Barack will turn things around in this country along with all our help!
The U.S. is back!
OOP'S. . . . . . . . .
wow, looking at the responses; republicans are obnoxious! I thought you people where the "christian" party? spreading God's love eh?
your "leaders" had their chance and what happened? remember???
you started a needless war, spent money SHAMELESSLY (just not on needy americans...) and in general screwed EVERY thing up. now someone is genuinely trying to fix your mess and all you can do is HATE full attacks....you should be ASHAMED! really? the president of our great country calls you asking for help in working for our good and you would hang up??? wow, I hope your snarkyness makes you fell superior while the rest of us work to clean up YOUR mess
Wow! I am amazed at how many negative responses are on this blog!?! I mean can't you just take a moment and laugh. This was funny and it doesn't matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, its just plain funny. Why the digs on Obama or the GOP? Can't you just laugh and not throw darts at each other for once? All of that bitterness and negativity is not good for your health.
Why are people so mean and nasty as to say they would hang up on him too. He was fairly elected our new president, grow up.
Is it just me, or does a lot of crazy come out of Florida? From Elian Gonzalez to the vote recount to Casey Anthony and everywhere in between. I think that the warm weather just goes to these peoples' heads...
Hi,
Anyone who says they would hang up on obama is a idiot. I would hang up on Sarah Palin and George w. Bush. They made america poor. The Gop party in general are idiots.
WOW! It just goes to show you – A change Is Comin!
conan/virginia get a life. both of you are probable very poor and trying to be something(you know I mean). Happy Holidays
The Republicans are dump frauds.
The guy has nothing relevant to say, anyhow. It was a waste of phone time.
People who are republicans are rude and most of them are very nasty people. Obama made a mistake to call this idiot lady.
LOL. I don't blame her for thinking it was a prank. Ros-Lehtinen is one of my favorite republicans and both her and the gracious POE probably had a really good laugh over it.
and this surprises us how, exactly?
Lynn in Virginia December 4th, 2008 9:11 am ET
I only wish he'd call me, just so I could have the satisfaction of hanging up on him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
President Obama is not your father; or any other man who hurt you.
After the Palin thing during the campaign i would be cautious too
You bitter Republicans still crack me up. All of you on here saying how you wouild "love the opportunity to hang up on him" He is OUR President, and he deserves just as much of a chance as you all gave that idiot we have now. In fact he deserves more of a chance, because after you new he was a clown...YOU RE-ELECTED HIM ANYWAY!!!! Good luck with these piss poor excuses for Americans Obama!!!!!
why whould she be an idiot?
Radio stations should stop doing prank calls, its stupid and immature.
And after what happened with several politicians being called upon w/ after effects of prank calls... i would hang up on him twice...
i bet the caller id was "private" especially if it was a call from the president elect.
So annette bening in The American President!
Why so many sore winners?
Is this the kind of representation the state of Florida claims?
Does she not have staff who could verify the caller?
Or has Palin made the entire GOP shotgun shy when it comes to phone calls?
Why such vitrial for the Gongresslady it's not like prank callers don't exist.
The real story here is Obama trying to reach across the isle to work with the GOP. After all this is what elected officials are supposed to be doing.
Imagine that ,someone actually doing the people's work for a change..
Republican are idiots,Especially Sarah palin and george w bush.
Canj i be a congreewoman?What is the rules for being a congresswoman?
I think that is funny. I glad we can laugh in time we want to cry. I would have done the same thing.
Too bad we don't know WHY he was calling her. Or why Hillary was calling her... Curious.
Now who seriously would expect a call from Obama unless they were a part of his transition team and expecting a call??? Obama can call anyone he wishes of course and everyone should take any calls seriously but let's face facts, he isn't very busy you think???
She is a moron. She should have taken the call to make sure it wasn't a prank. But that is how Republicans work. Just because idiot Palin had a long conversation with the jokers, I am sure Obama and Emmanuel were people she should be begging to talk with. I hope she gets the same treatment down the line.
What can you expect? When someone gets duped, its big news and everyone says how stupid they are. We have done this to ourselves.
Without confirmation, don't expect any pubic person to act any differently.
Idiot....all I can say about this woman.
I would have done the same thing. There are so many phone pranks that we are warned about daily. Whatever happened to a secretary calling and stating that so or so wanted to speak with you in a
professional manner. Perhaps this could have been a prank to. Guess we go back to caller ID.
Obama will be a different President. It took it as a grain of salt, while others would take it as an offense.
Joe
Williamsburg, VA
What a bright example of the colorful crayon box that is the Republican Party.
Why is my comment of 8:53 AM still awaiting moderation at 11:08 AM, CNN?
She wasn't an idiot. If I got a call from somebody claiming to be Obama I'd be wary as well. It's a humorous misunderstanding is all.
You democrats are amusing, if nothing else. Your comments usually go something like this: "George Bush is satan himself and I hope after we prosecute him and Dick Cheney for all their crimes and give them the death sentence they both rot in hell and hey, all you republican haters on here, please stop your terrible nasty comments so we can all unite and support our wonderful new president."
too funny! Anyone could have made the same mistake. Stop being so cynical people... this is neither an affront to President-elect Obama nor a ding at the congresswoman. They don't regularly interact. why should she expect him to call?? Geesh. Take it for what it is... something to give you a little chuckle in your day. I wouldn't believe that it either if someone called me and said "Hello, this is Barack Obama calling..."
Hey Maria....you're the idiot!!! Just wait and see what your new prez is about....already bringing in all the old Clinton criminals...yeah, some change....
Why do Democrats call others idiots?
@ arc, Lugano, CH
You made me spit out my coffee I laughed so hard at that one...daddy syndrome....HA!
This is funny.
For those spewing hate against this woman for being part of the GOP, lighten up.
If you local Dem congressman ended up getting a call out of the blue from President Bush, I am sure that they would think that they would initially consider the call a prank.
Lighten up, this is funny stuff.
Too funny especially when she told Obama that his impersonation was better that the guy on SNL.
arc. Lugano CH December 4th, 2008 10:51 am ET: you are too funny, unlike others on this board I have found your comments insightful. Keep up the good work
Why doesn't Obama call God and ask him if Abortion is wrong?
@ Lynn in Virginia....... WHY IS IT THAT THE FAR-RIGHT WHO CALL THEMSELVES ....CHRISTIANS......ARE SO MEAN AND HATEFUL? Hypocrite.
With all the radio pranksters its no wonder someone would hang up on PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA! HE DID LAUGH ABOUT IT. GOOD FOR HIM!
I sure see a lot of one-dimensional Republicans and Democrats here. I'm a lot more depressed about all the sore losers and the arrogant winners than I am about who is actually in office.
I hope that those posting in here are not a viable cross-section of the American electorate. If so, another civil war may be on the way.
Get used to the fact, Demos, that GW Bush is not nearly as dumb or evil as you think, and that Sarah Palin is an intelligent woman. Even Democratic leaders like Hillary, Obama, and Biden have said this.
Bush has been gracious to the President-elect. Could those of you who voted for him show the same grace?
Everybody needs to get over it. Please quit acting like Rush Limbaugh or Nancy Pelosi. Act like someone who has sense instead.
I wish the president-elect would call me and offer me a job...I will not hang up on him, after all I will be able to tell if he is the one callingor not since his voice is very distinguish and clear...
This has nothing to do with her hanging up on him because seeing whats been going on with prank calls I would have too, but just on reading some of the blogs, Republicans are the NASTIEST, JUDGEMENTAL CHRISTIANS I have ever met and they better hope on Judgement day that GOD is a forgiving GOD, and will forgive them for using his name in vein.
She must have heard that Obama was not born in the U.S. and therefore not eligible to serve as President.
It says a lot about Obama that he was amused and handle the so gracefully.
"Barry" Moore December 4th, 2008 8:51 am ET
I would like to hang up on him, too — permanently.
______________________________________________________
Barry - do you have these same kind of thoughts against people working on your behalf - fireman, road construction crews, nurses, etc. Let'em do their job and let the hatred go.
THIS IS THE PARTY OF MCFOON/BIMBO/THE PLUMBER/W – HOW SAD TO BE A REPUB !
And don't forget, this is the same dimwit who still thinks a handful of Cuban exiles in Miami have the right to strangle 11 million Cubans in their own country by living a life fed by hatred.
PRICELESS!
GOP lady-palin looking lady. what an idiot. But it was too hard for her to believe a president elect is calling her. offcourse no body else calls her besides her family. idiot
Obama is a great guy except he won't let me live my dream.My dream is to become an actress and if he is president who knows what can happen.
Anyone who thinks this reflects on either the Democrats' or Republicans' intelligence needs to crawl out from rock you're living under....just a funny misunderstanding
Geeze people! Lighten up!
These people are trying to talk to each other, open a dialogue, get something done.
I don't blame the Congresswoman being jaded..... how often do you think a President elect has made calls like this?
I surely don't blame Mr. Obama for trying to reach out, isn't NOT being cordial and inclusive what got us to the current state of gridlock?
By the responses here from both right and left, it seems we could all follow our new President's lead and try to reach a common ground for the good of the country.
oh, and Merry Christmas.
Unreal. OPPS your bad.
Good ol' Republican paranoia and stupidity, What a bunch of losers.
I have never saw a smart Republican, they put themselves on a pedstal, and they are all big pretenders, you know the kind, my dogs better than your dog. Maybe Flordia will get smart and get rid of her, she is really dumb!
she's a republican. they always get crank calls. they are wonderful targets for fun. "hello?, this is i. p. freeley." i heard it on the simpson's once.
To Just Asking,
"Why do Democrats call others idiots?"
Same reason Republicans call others Communists, Marxists, Socialists, Anti Americans, traitors and terrorist lovers!
every one should hang up on this jack -.
Desiree
Are you for real, and others like you?
You are all so hateful, this is why Americans like you, will always be hateful. Just look around and see what is happening to the worlds best country.
You are the ones that is causing so much distruction.
You are all paying for it.
I'm new to blogs. If this is the cream of the crop, which is what I expected for CNN readers, in intelligent, literate responses, I quickly learned it's a waste of my time. The majority of what I've read strikes me as a dumping ground for emotional cripples: judgmental, sarcastic, rude...this is what Americans like to be known as, anymore? It makes me sad...I long for intelligent, respectful, thoughtful humans.
It takes a lot to punk one's own self. Still laughing!
Phones don't hang up on people....people hang up on people.
Come on, after Palin looked foolish for talking to shockjocks claiming to be the french president, who could blame her!
by the way....republicans and democrats are all idiots....lighten up people.
To " Just Asking".... there are two answers.
1.) I call these folks idiots because they are really STUPID...
2.) I allow myself to give into this purile urge because I'm angry and for years I watched as the "social conservative" .... read RACIST GOPer's ..... have derided the morals and intelligence of anyone that is not cut from the "majority mold".
I clearly recall conservative think tanks being freely allowed by ALL REPUBLICANS to spew false intelligensia to support their warped view of the world.
I clearly recall books, like the "Bell Curve" which sought to advance white intellectual supperiority at the expense of others and their dreams.
I call them idiots in the hopes that I will get through to these bullying people so badly that, in the future, they will exhibit SOME HONOR, some MORALS and defend what is right and condem that which is wrong, regardless of their political leanings.
Hey Just asking, because "They know not what they doeth!!!"
"Idiots"
Seems like a lot of Democrats have an ironic superiority complex. Keep applauding the individual who will continue the plans you've claimed to hate for the last eight years. It'll be entertaining to watch the justifications of the turn-around... "At least he speaks prettier."
A Republican Congresswoman is ridiculed for being cautious yet Obama wins the Presidency on a platform of "Hopey Hopey Change Change". Quite ironic.
The Repugs haven't gotten over the fact that Pres. Obama has won the history-making election of our time. This woman is stillhooked on Palin's stump speechesin Fl. and her suprise appeareances around the country. LOL
Democrats tend to call others idiots because its taken this long for others to recognize and admit being wrong, so we just keep getting deeper and deeper into trouble, they told us to save prosperity and be oil dependant, for years and years...hello??!?! look where we are....its enough to get angry about you know.....nobody seems to listen or learn, they just sit back and call all Democrats liberals for some reason...(brainwashed), anyway honestly its time we get with the program, enough bickering i say, enough with your pride, we really need to start being positive about the future, and it looks alot brighter then it did thats for sure. Alot of people i notice are still stuck in election mode, still believing the lies, its weird, now you see the effects all that tv has on your brain.
DON'T CALL THIS CONGRESSWOMAN STUPID, REMEMBER THE PRANK CALL PALIN ACTUALLY TOOK. NOW THAT'S STUPID.
We had to listen for eight years about how our guy didn't win, your guy isn't even in office yet.
We don't need to get over anything we just don't like the guy.
and this woman i think made an honest mistake, like Obama said, it wouldnt be the first time, so relax.
Paranoid much lady?
To those who "claim" that they would hang up on Obama:
Yeah.....right. You'd probably crap in yo drawers and then brag to your pals how you got a call from the next Commander in Chief.
(Then you would change your drawers!)
How can you people call her an idiot. Radio shows do those things all the time. If you are not expecting a call from Obama why would you subject yourself to a possible joke on the air about something – have your words or comments or even silence be interpreted poorly by millions. By waiting until the identity could be confirmed she simply was acting cautiously – not like an idiot.
You are all aware that a person should not be labled as anything just because of a party affilitation (or their race, gender...etc) Its pretty silly to hear sterotypes about Republicans being yelled from the mouths of those who say they are open minded.
I wonder if Obama was trying to convince her to support Amnesty for illegal aliens, stopping the ice raids, and protecting businesses that hire illegal immigrants to work for them. We already know how he upholds America's Laws since his Aunt has not been made to leave the country 4 years after a judge ordered her deportation. I would hang up too!
You can only listen to the guy's crap for so long.
DESIREE – I have a little news for you....President Obama is YOUR president also. Just as we had to tolerate 8 years of ideological ignorance, obstinate behavior and a general lack of intelligence you will now have to deal with one of the brightest minds to take office in decades. Perhaps he's bringing in old Clinton "criminals" because they were the last competent administration in the white house??? As for change...if you were to become the CEO at your job yet were instructed not to fire anyone would you run the company differently than the present CEO? Of course you would...because ultimately your subordinates would be pursuing your vision. THAT is the change that many anti-obama's lack the ability to see.
Why are so many people being so hateful? It's a very humorous story, no matter which party it happened to. Come on people, have we forgotten how to laugh? But then again, maybe you need to hang on to all that bitterness and anger, it may very well be all you have.
you folks are just disgusting.
Julia,
AMEN.
to Julia,
I hear ya. This is rediculous.
is this news?
"I would hang up on the most overrated president since clinton too"
There's only been one president since Clinton, and you are right, that clown is really overrated! I get a kick out of Republicans who call Clinton a "criminal." He didn't commit any war crimes or raid the treasury. You want a criminal? You can find one in the Oval Office until January 19.
This is great. We need a little humor in our lives!
OH MY! She hung up on the Chosen One! How dare she do a thing like that to the greatest President – elect ever! She should be run out of her office for doing such a thing! The Obama supporters who are making the hateful comments about the congresswoman in this story need to lighten up. It was an honest mistake, and there was no malice toward Obama.
I am a very smart woman so let me be who i want to be.THANK YOU.
I LOVE ALL WHO LOVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!
63 comments already? Really? Don't you people have something more to do? This was a simple little humorous story, only slightly interesting. There is no deep insight to be gained here. Its just the time we live in. No need to slam rebublicans or democrats or throw names around. Why so much interest in commenting on it? Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Read a book. Talk to your kids. Go out for a walk. Turn the computer and tv off for a while.
all of you nay sayers get over he is the 44th president of the United States and whether you like it or not it is what it is. i am amzed at how many ill informed people vote 48% of you to be exact. After the 8 years of GB why is it that you are so negative about President-elect Obama. He has done more in six weeks for America than GB has done in 8 years...
Grace: December 4th, 2008 8:46 am ET
Wow, have a sense of humor. Both PE Obama and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen do. Thank God he isn't picking people with your tempermant for his administration and he is reaching out across the aisle.
PEOPLE WHO HATE OTHER PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS
Julia, you are the soft type.You are going to go far in life just don't let others bring you down.
The lady hung up because she was in disbelief. As to those who would hang up on him that's your choice.
Quick hypothetical question: If by chance you lost your job and Obama personally called you with an offer of another would you rather die than accept? If yes, then your loss = somebody else's gain.
She's not an idiot – after what happened with Sarah Palin NOT checking out whom she was speaking with, can you really blame her??
Julia, Unfortunately, there are some who do post the most idiotic responses. However, there are many other intelligent, thoughtful reponses. You just have to ignore the more ridiculous ones. Sadly, those types are here to stay.
Gino December 4th, 2008 9:33 am ET
Ileana is as dumb as a box of rocks. Roseanne Roseannadanna we call her here in Florida.
_______________________
This sounds more like Emily Litella to me.
Is she losing her bearings?
Move along, this is not news. Just a misleading headline.
Lynn in Virginia December 4th, 2008 9:11 am ET
I only wish he'd call me, just so I could have the satisfaction of hanging up on him.
HOW SAD YOU MUST BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ therealist
He hasn't done anything as President yet so there's nothing you can blame on him. At least wait unti he's sworn in and actually has authority you fool.
Republicans just do not have a clue.I don't think they know what the republican party stands for.
Those of you who say you would hang up on him would only have to do so because you filled your pants. Cowards.
Good! Maybe he will now realize he is not god. Now, I wonder how much the elite media will bash this lady now since she hung up on their god.
Who loves the south side?
Miami Florida rocks!
Lived here all my life there is great weather anybody want to join me?
...if for example, the president of France calls and tells you that he likes your last porno movie, you can suspect smth unless you're an idiot... What did Obama tell this woman so she hung up on him? What was the reason for that? Just your own thought that its a radio station?
Have to give her a little credit...she's in Florida, after all, so for all she knows it was just another call from Nedley Mandingo...
To the kid,
Somebody got an attiude what me to keep your mind off of it?
What if Obama wanted this woman as part of his bipartisan team? What would all of you dumb democrats say to that? Think about it, there aren't very many reasons why both Hillary Clinton and Obama would be calling the same FL Rep.
who's out there?
Lindsey: he was calling to CONGRATULATE her...
curious: HE WAS BORN IN HAWAII... you can see his birth certificate online.. and juuust in case you are out of the loop (as you so obviously are...Hawaii IS a state...just because it's not attached doesn't mean it's less of a state... it's just not ACTUALLY attached to the mainland. It was admitted into the union AUGUST 21, 1959... that would be...a little under 2 years BEFORE Obama was BORN THERE... SO... what's the question?
And I thoguht I was paranoid.
I am surprised by the amount of Democratic vitriol and incivility, not to mention the willingness to engage in ad hominem argumentation. Jacob and Maria should perhaps attend courses on basic courtesy and manners. They certainly exhibit a high degree of intolerance for disagreement. I thought liberals were supposed to be for tolerance. But these two are as intolerant as anyone I've ever run across. I'm also surprised anyone is commenting so seriously on a rather innocuous and inconsequential and, after all, silly story.
Cute!!!!!
I got a real chuckle from poster "joe" who called Obama the "most overated president,' when he's not even in office yet. What a maroon. . .
C'mon, it's a funny little story and I'm glad they posted it, gave me a laugh over my morning coffee. Who wouldn't be wary of an unexpected phone call from the president-elect? And it sounds like Obama got a laugh out of it also.
Hey, I am a die hard Obama supporter and you can't blame her for being a little suspicious after all she's probably not used a President that wants to be all inclusive and bipartisian. She not and idiot, she a national figure and she quite frankly and rightful so she was being cautious. The comments I see on here, is just a grim reminder that separation and division wil be the downfall of this nation...my the lord be with us!!
Berry needs to learn you can't just cold call someone!
Clearly he has a lot to learn!
For some reason this brings out the fear in me.
This guy who just spend an outrages amount of time and money to get elected is not qualified!
He doesn't know how the Real world works!
This to me is amazingly sad,twice I have defended the honor of the congresswoman by saying she was intelligent,and because I haven't called her an idiot or insulted her,the CNN moderator won't post what I wrote-–that's very biased don't you think CNN???
Oh...and I think it's funny... geeze people... they are human... you know...like (most) of you and I...I think it's sort of cool that they report some of these things.. it just reminds us that they are just like us...they make mistakes..and they laughed it off... stop being so friggin bitter... the election is over..he is your president-elect..and in less than 50 days, will be YOUR president...ALL of you AMERICA. Give him a chance. The hateful attitudes and divisiveness will not help this country progress,nor will it aid us in getting out of this incredibly sad state we are in. You need to knock it off, and accept that he was elected. Why not try working WITH one another to make this country a better place for ALL of US. Hateful words and ignorance are what drive those groups we hate so much...(you know..the terrorists..) why not show them WE are better than that? Why not SHOW them we are the UNITED states of America...and not the DIVIDED states of America. I think it's wayyy overdue.
Given history of GULLIBLE Governer Palin who devouvered all the absurdeties thrown at her by French pranksters anybody would be more suspicious of calls from President Elect Obama. But to Obama's credit he is still trying to reach out.
If you don't understand why this is news then you don't understand the racial dynamics in this country. This is news to someone at CNN because many White Americans are still having issues adjusting to the fact that Obama is going to be the president in less than 2 months. This story is all about giving a sense of power to those that are dealing with this issue. Way to go CNN! It is truly amazing to me the things that this organization considers big news. I especially noted the obsessive importance for CNN to share with us that Ms. Clinton had no problems contacting this lady, which again shows the reason this article was written. It is to show that somehow this little GOP rep still has more power than the next commander in chief because she hung up on him and that Ms. Clinton has more pull. This is so lame. I can imagine the number of people that hung up on George W Bush, but the reason that was not news is because Obama is African American and Bush is a White male. I have been interested in watching the news talk about how many people did not want to be Obama's Vice president, even when they were not asked. Another attempt to give supremacists the illusion of power over our next commander in chief.
Listen ! To all the supremacists, what you will find out is that Black people are not intellectually inferior to whites. I know that all your life you have been told this and you have told that Black people do not deserve anything good. So it is difficult adjusting to a Black Boss of America, you will find we are normal people, intelligent, thoughtful, and human. We are the full spectrum of humanity just as Whites are. There are Black lawyers and White Lawyers, black doctors and white doctors, single black moms and single white moms. we are human. We have a different history from White Americans which plays out differently in our American experience and many Blacks are still dealing with the historic consequences of discrimination and what that does not only to the psyche but also in tangible reality. Thankfully, however we are overcoming and thankfully there are White Americans that recognize the fact that African American success is not something to be intimidated by for truly in its essence, it is America's success. This lame attempt at a power play by the person and editors who felt this article was so important to share with the American people need to realize that they are dealing with issues that they need to work out at home in their hearts and minds and not share their therapy sessions with us. We are not interested.
president elect obama can call me anytime thank god for a president that have good sense and who will go through the budget step by step and line by line he's the man who will be for all of the people president elect obama has my vote in 2012
Not really news, but kinda funny. I've seen this congresswoman on TV before, she doesn't seem crazy or anything – she just thought she was being punk'd!!! This lady is smarter than Sarah Palin, trust me.
Julia,
Right on spot!!!!
Julia December 4th, 2008 11:43 am ET
I'm new to blogs . . . . The majority of what I've read strikes me as a dumping ground for emotional cripples . . .
______________________________
I totally agree with you, Julia. Note this:
December 1 Headline:
1 IN 5 YOUNG AMERICANS HAS PERSONALITY DISORDER.
Maybe that explains some of these creepy, babbling bloggers – - what a sad lot!
A lot of unnecessary name calling in these responses....
I don't understand, however, why anyone would willfully hang up on the person duly elected to be our President just because you chose not to vote for him.
I didn't vote for George Bush, but if he ever called me I would certainly extend him the courtesy due any President (or any human being) and not hang up on him.
can i be included in the conversation too?
I am not paranoid
Julia,
If you do what you said,which you would think would be the right thing,CNN won't post it,your post need to be hateful about Republicans,and positive about Democrats,this is being moderated you know.
With all the pranksters abnd robo callers out there, I actually admire her ofr being suspicious. Imagine how much less fraud consumers would suffer if they just hung up on solitors they did not know!
There's a phone call at 3:00 in the morning. Who do you want answering the phone?
Definately, not this lady.
"While its not true that ALL conservatives are stupid people, it IS true that most stupid people are conservative."
Well said.
I think the Rep. really thought it was a prank call. I guess there are some smart & cautious people left in the Repub party. Learn from Palin's numerous mistakes, girl. LOL!!!!!!!!
To all of you saying that you would hang up on him, I have one thing to say.....GROW UP!!!! YOUR GUY LOST GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON!!!! Dems had to do it when Bush cheated his way into the White House. YIKES, WHAT SORE LOSERS!!!!!
CNN, once again you find a way to sensationalize a headline.
The headline should say, "Rep believes Obama call is a prank, hangs up."
See? This is why I liked Obama from the start: he never takes himself so seriously that he cannot find the humor in a situation like this. And it is that demeanor which will bring him great success as President of the U.S.
Kaydeedee posted:
December 4th, 2008 12:36 pm ET
I got a real chuckle from poster "joe" who called Obama the "most overated president,' when he's not even in office yet. What a maroon. . .
Bless your heart Kaydeedee but moron is spelled..............well moron.
These posts just make my day!
Alcmaeon, in Greek mythology, son of Amphiaraus and Eriphyle. After Amphiaraus was killed in the expedition of the Seven Against Thebes, Alcmaeon led the Epigoni (the sons of the Seven) in a second expedition. To avenge his father's death, on his return home he killed his mother, because she had coerced her husband to go on the expedition. He afterwards went mad and wandered from place to place, haunted by the avenging goddesses, the Erinyes, until he took refuge at Psophis in Arcadia. There, he married Arsinoë, the king's daughter. When the land was cursed with barrenness because of his presence, he fled to the mouth of the Achelous River and married Callirrhoe, daughter of the river god. The king and his sons pursued Alcmaeon and killed him.
She is not an idiot.Im sure it was an honest mistake.And for all of you who claim that they would hang up on PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA..I doubt he will be calling you!
YES WE DID!
With the pop culture's idea of humor being nothing but sarcasm and idiotic pranks, who can blame her. I bet that the same people who are calling her an idiot on these bloggs probably get their news from the Daily Show and their moral convictions from SouthPark.
I bet she won't hang up on him again. After all, he is the President of the United States, or he will be soon. I will not waste my time with the Obama haters, I pray that I don't have that much hate in my heart. Only the good Lord above can help them. I never hated President Bush that much. Okay Lord forgive me, I did.
The President-Elect reaches across party lines and they hang up on him. They just cant believe it.
No matter what your politics are, this is funny. Oh and by the way sore losers, I tried to help you all during the race, so let me give you a refresher....ready....1...2.....3 President Barack H. Obama. See now don't you feel better. Any of you idiots would love a call from the POTUS. I can't stand GWB but if he called me, I'd shoot the gab with him. So shut up haters and get ready to live better for the next 8 years.
Thank you Dave at least somebody supports me
There are people out there who are physically disabled too don't forget them
No harm done, she was being careful and did not want to appear stupid or unfit for her job. Congresswoman I would have done the same thing.
It is great that Obama want to reach across the aisle and bring America and Americans together once again or like never before.
Let us all remember "There is no red or blue States, it is the USA".
I'm glad he called her and I'm also glad she was cautious. It speaks highly of both of them. President-elect Obama brings civility and good manners back in style.
Personally, I thought the story was hilarious. With all the nutty radio show hosts around, I can't blame Rep. Ros-Lehtinen for being skeptical. This isn't a partisan story - it's just funny. Of course, some Obama haters tried to put a partisan spin on it:
mark said "I would hang-up on him also…so what"s the BIG NEWS"
Then "Barry" Moore said: "I would like to hang up on him, too — permanently."
Then Capt D said: "That's OK,… 48% of us would hang up on him too."
First of all, you are all liars - you'd be stammering and backpedaling like crazy if President-elect Obama ever called any of you (not that he'd waste time with such right wing crackpots). I can't stand President Bush, but I'd certainly never hang up on him. Second of all, you all have to deal with the fact ... THAT HE WON!! Growling and moaning about the results of the election is stupid, pointless and counter productive. You and your GOP ilk had your chance to do good the last eight years and you blew it! This kind of partisan "I hate the other side and always will" attitude is part of the reason why the GOP got so badly shellacked in November. Grow up!
for the ones that said that is because is from florida....something really important they have since THE PRESIDENT is calling directly !!don't you think?
Why do so many people leave hateful comments? What happened to respect & love? We should all be working together to make a better world. It starts with "you".
Barack, don't you know that you are a president-elect? Be aware of presidential prestige, stop behaving like this. You do not need to call any single monster to get their sympathy. This is senseless.
To MIZZ Theresa Jones
Thats President Obama, not Mr. Obama. And even tho you would hang up on him, he is such a strong leader, & morally rich person, he would actually take the time to speak to you, despite your ignorance. Barack Obama will go down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest President. He will get us out of the recession Bush created. That you should be thankful for, not hating on him. Grow up.