Literally. They will not take his calls. Okay, it’s just the one. Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hung up on Obama not once . . . but twice yesterday, assuming that it was a prank call.
Hold the phones (ha). This woman is the ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, not to mention, um, a congresswoman. Isn’t it part of her job description to take important phone calls? But wait . . . there’s more! Here is an exerpt from the official press release from the office of the congresswoman:
“Cong. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen thought it was a hoax when President-Elect Barak (sic) Obama called her twice today and she proceeded to hang up on him, twice.”
Really?! I mean, REALLY?! So, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel called the Congresswoman to tell her that she had hung up on the President Elect. Ros-Lehtinen then hung up on him and spelled his name wrong in the press release as well (not to be accused of playing favorites):
“A short time later, Cong. and Chief of Staff designate Rahm Emmanuel (sic) called Ileana and stated ‘Ileana, I cannot believe that you hung up on the President-Elect.’ Ros-Lehtinen told Rahm that she didn’t believe the call was legitimate and hung up on Emmanuel (sic).”
Obama and Ros-Lehtinen were finally able to have a chat about Cuba and Israel (thank goodness he wasn’t calling about anything important . . . ) after Chairman Howard Berman of the Foreign Affairs Committee called the Congresswoman, proved his identity over the phone by sharing a story only the two would know (creepy . . .), and broke the news that she had indeed hung up on the President-Elect. Twice.
Once, I accidentally sent an e-mail to the president of my university which accidentally said that I loved him. That was pretty embarassing but I think hanging up on the President-Elect of the United States twice in one day would be worse. When Barack calls me and offers me a job (any day now . . . ) I will be sure not to make the same mistake.
[Posted by Madeline]