Sometimes I hate my job as a small town reporter.
I hate when a congressman’s press secretary calls up and catches me off guard.
“Hi, this is Sweet and Perky from Congressman Running for His Second Term’s Office and he just got back from a trip to the U.S.-Mexican border. Would you like to interview him about his trip?”
Not wanting to be rude, I say “of course,” hoping to do a little research before I actually have to talk to him.
But oh no. Less than five minutes later the front office pages me again.
“Hi, this is the Congressman’s Press Secretary again and I have the congressman on the line for you.”
Oh crap.
“Hi Congressman, how are you?”
“Good. Good.”
“That’s great…..”
What follows is the most embarrassing failed Journalism 101 lesson ever.
“Sooo, you went to the Mexican border to investigate….” lean over to look at press release emailed five seconds earlier… “Project 28 and to see if it has improved. Soooo… uh…has it?”
“Why yes, I’m happy to report blahdeda, blahdeda, blahdeda….etc.”
“OK. And uh… so… how many people went with you…?”
“Like 7 members of congress.”
“Oh. And uh–who do you report your results to?”
“I don’t understand the question…”
“Actually neither do I. Lets just skip that….” nervous, unprofessional giggle.
“Soooo….anything else you would like to tell people about this trip?”
“Nope.”
“OK. Well, I’ll call your secretary if I need anything else. You have a nice day Congressman.”
Congressman in Washington. Washington D.C. - our nations Capital. Aaaargh!
I hang up.
Press secretary calls back to inform me, in a very perky and sweet way, “You know that question about who he reports to? Well, he’s the chair of this committee so he doesn’t report to anyone. He’s in charge of the committee. It’s a pretty big deal for a freshman congressman to be in charge of a committee like this.”
Slam forehead off desk 20 times. Should do the trick.
I am idiot — hear me whimper.
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Humor-blogs.com. Read it. Breathe it. Love it.
Well, its not your fault… that was totally random that they’d call and ask you if you wanted to do an interview with him RIGHT THAT VERY MINUTE! ANd the Congressman himself sounds like he had nothing of interest to say. Hmm, maybe it was a prank call!
Oh, Honey!
Lisa, I think that is the funniest post of yours I have read so far! And not just because I am laughing at you… which I am. It was also VERY well written and I laughed… a lot!
Oh man! Ouch!
(but kind of funny)
Hey, I love your pic in your banner at the top of your blog! It’s so cute
Hehe…
No fair of Sweet and Perky to catch you off guard like that! Not nice at all!
I am positive I would do worse. I would probably ask him if he wears boxers or briefs.
Jen:
I’ve never thought to ask him that, but he looks like a boxers guy to me.
oh dear, although very embarrassing for you, it made very entertaining reading - hilarious!!
Is it just me, or do these political types specifically excel at catching people off guard and off balance? The few run in’s I’ve have with office holders have always left me with a “deer in the headlights” sensation and nearly always regretting what I said or didn’t say.
I take it as proof that they are mostly from planets other than our own.
Turkish Prawn
http://foxandmaus.wordpress.com/