Obama Is On The Phone? For Me? Really? Yeah, Right!

Remember when Sarah Palin became the victim of a radio show prank? She thought France’s President Sarkozy called to talk to her.  Please! It’s nice to think that you’re that important, but come on Sarah! Sarkozy doesn’t give a darn about you. There is absolutely no reason for Sarkozy to be talking to you.

Well, politicians were apparently paying close attention. No one wants to become the victim of a prank, including Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. It is reported that President-elect Obama called to, among other things, congratulate Ms. Lehtinen on her re-election. The Congresswoman, remembering Palin’s mishap, promptly hung up.

Shocked at this unexpected event, Obama asked Rahm Emanuel to call her. Guess what happened! Same result!

Finally, Representative Howard Berman called her. Ms. Lehtinen, still wary, asked Berman to recite a private joke they once shared. Now convinced and somewhat embarrassed, Ms. Lehtinen told Berman to ask Obama to try to call her again, saying “I know this sounds very presumptuous, but please tell President-elect Obama he can call me now and I will take his call”.

Obama called and they had a good laugh. “You will always be remembered by me, because I have made many of these calls and never once has anyone ever hung up on me. And never once has anyone hung up on me twice,” Obama said.

Good for Ms. Lehtine. I love her skepticism. I wonder how many Republican Congressmen will now try to avoid Obama using the same technique just to avoid talking to Obama.

Here’s Palin’s prank call. I feel bad for her. I really do. It’s a tough prank to foresee but, as I said earlier, the first clue should have been Sarkozy’s interest in talking with her.