Philippine Daily Inquirer

TORONTO—Sarah Palin told a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a prank call on Saturday that she would be the US president “maybe in eight years.”

The US vice presidential nominee unwittingly discusses politics, the perils of hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney and Sarkozy’s “beautiful wife” in the telephone call with comedian Marc-Antoine Audette.

In the recording, John McCain’s running mate enthusiastically takes the call from the comedian impersonating Sarkozy. “It’s so good to hear you, thank you for calling us … we have such great respect for you, John McCain and I, we love you!” Palin says.

When the caller tells the Republican nominee in a strong French accent that he can see her as the US president, Palin laughs and says: “Maybe in eight years.”

Call confirmed

Palin campaign spokesperson Tracey Schmitt confirmed that the Republican vice presidential candidate received the prank call.

“Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy and other celebrities, in being targeted by these pranksters. C’est la vie,” Schmitt said.

Audette and Sebastien Trudel make up Canada’s popular Masked Avengers. The comedy duo have previously used their impersonations to target Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, former French President Jacques Chirac, rock stars Mick Jagger and Britney Spears, and Sarkozy himself.

A recording of the prank call, which has been posted on the duo’s website (http://www.justiciers.tv), is scheduled to air on Monday on a Quebec radio station.

“This was our most explosive coup so far,” Audette told Agence France-Presse, adding that it was “difficult” for him and Trudel to get their request for a phone conversation with Palin past her entourage and Secret Service detail.

Clueless

In the recording, Audette drops several clues that the call is a trick. He refers to French rock n‘ roll singer Johnny Hallyday as his special adviser to the United States and to Canadian singer Steph Carse as Canada’s prime minister. The Canadian prime minister is Stephen Harper.

At one point in the conversation, Audette tells the clueless Palin that he enjoys hunting: “I just love killing those animals … take away life, that is so fun!”

“We should go hunting together,” she replies. “I think we could have a lot of fun together as we’re getting work done. We could kill two birds with one stone that way.”

Audette then tells Palin that they should not invite Dick Cheney along, referring to a 2006 incident in which the US vice president accidentally shot a friend with buckshot while quail hunting.

“I’ll be a careful shot,” she says.

Playing off Palin’s much-mocked comment in an early television interview that she had insights into foreign policy because “you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska,” the comedian tells her: “You know we have a lot in common also, because except from my house I can see Belgium.”

The candidate replies: “Well, see, we’re right next door to different countries that we all need to be working with, yes.”

‘So hot in bed’

Palin praises Sarkozy throughout the call and also mentions his wife Carla Bruni, a model-turned-songwriter.

“You know, I look forward to working with you and getting to meet you personally and your beautiful wife,” Palin says. “Oh my goodness, you’ve added a lot of energy to your country with that beautiful family of yours.”

Sarkozy has three children with his previous two wives and Bruni has a child from a previous relationship.

Impersonating Sarkozy, the comedian tells Palin that Bruni is “so hot in bed” and then informs her that Bruni has written a song for her about Joe the Plumber called “Du rouge a levres sur une cochonne”—which actually means “lipstick on a pig.”

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had derided McCain’s call for change in Washington as “lipstick on a pig,” days after Palin made a lipstick joke at the Republican convention. The McCain-Palin campaign then released an ad implying Obama was calling Palin a pig with that remark.

Joe the Plumber

At one point in the recording, the comedian asks Palin if Joe the Plumber is her husband and adds: “We have the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France. It’s called Marcel, the guy with bread under his armpit.”

Joe the Plumber is an Ohio man who has gained fame after McCain used him as an example of an everyday American concerned about Obama’s tax plan.

Audette tells the Alaska governor that he loved the “documentary” made about her, and referred to a pornographic movie made by Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt featuring a Palin lookalike.

Palin answers tentatively: “Oh, good, thank you, yes.”

Prank revealed

Audette and Trudel then reveal the prank and identify themselves and their radio station.

“Oh, have we been pranked?” Palin asks, before handing the phone to an aide who ends the call.

Later, Audette expressed some remorse for the hoax.

“I hope we won’t have a one-way ticket to Guantanamo Bay,” he said.

Commenting on the prank, Obama’s campaign spokesperson Robert Gibbs said: “I’m glad we check out our calls before we hand the phone to Barack Obama.”