TREASURY SECRETARY RIPPED FOR FRIGGIN BANANA REPUBLIC REMARKS
White House Apologizes For O'Neill's Ricky Ricardo Imitation
Continuing his difficult tour of Latin America, Treasury Secretary Paul ONeill apologized to Argentinas President Eduardo Duhalde today for remarks in which ONeill called Argentina a friggin banana republic.
Secretary ONeills controversial comments, made to reporters as his plane touched down in Argentina, were as follows: Lend money to Argentina? No way! Im not giving one thin dime to that friggin banana republic.
Mr. ONeill later characterized the remarks as insensitive and offered the cash-strapped Latin American nation $30 billion in loan guarantees to make amends.
But right after his meeting with President Duhalde, the Treasury Secretary turned to reporters and said, Well, thats thirty bill down the drain. Ill bet old Duhalde just goes out dancing with a bowl of fruit on his head.
After his bowl-of-fruit remarks created a furor in Latin American circles, Secretary ONeill apologized once again and granted Argentina another thirty billion dollars worth of loan relief.
But upon boarding the plane to leave Argentina, Mr. ONeill fanned the flames of controversy yet again, saying he did a killer imitation of President Duhalde, launching into a performance reminiscent of a hotheaded tirade by the Ricky Ricardo character on the old I Love Lucy television series.
By the time the day was over, the U.S. had pledged over ninety billion dollars in loan guarantees to Argentina to apologize for Mr. ONeills various missteps, leaving many White House aides frustrated by the Treasury Secretarys penchant for costly faux pas.
Every time ONeill opens his piehole, it costs the taxpayers another thirty billion dollars, one aide groused.
**** BOROWITZ ON NPR THIS SUNDAY ****
Andy Borowitz talks about the violation of sacred trusts -- and why it's cool with him. This Sunday morning on National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Sunday." Check local listings.
White House Apologizes For O'Neill's Ricky Ricardo Imitation
Continuing his difficult tour of Latin America, Treasury Secretary Paul ONeill apologized to Argentinas President Eduardo Duhalde today for remarks in which ONeill called Argentina a friggin banana republic.
Secretary ONeills controversial comments, made to reporters as his plane touched down in Argentina, were as follows: Lend money to Argentina? No way! Im not giving one thin dime to that friggin banana republic.
Mr. ONeill later characterized the remarks as insensitive and offered the cash-strapped Latin American nation $30 billion in loan guarantees to make amends.
But right after his meeting with President Duhalde, the Treasury Secretary turned to reporters and said, Well, thats thirty bill down the drain. Ill bet old Duhalde just goes out dancing with a bowl of fruit on his head.
After his bowl-of-fruit remarks created a furor in Latin American circles, Secretary ONeill apologized once again and granted Argentina another thirty billion dollars worth of loan relief.
But upon boarding the plane to leave Argentina, Mr. ONeill fanned the flames of controversy yet again, saying he did a killer imitation of President Duhalde, launching into a performance reminiscent of a hotheaded tirade by the Ricky Ricardo character on the old I Love Lucy television series.
By the time the day was over, the U.S. had pledged over ninety billion dollars in loan guarantees to Argentina to apologize for Mr. ONeills various missteps, leaving many White House aides frustrated by the Treasury Secretarys penchant for costly faux pas.
Every time ONeill opens his piehole, it costs the taxpayers another thirty billion dollars, one aide groused.
**** BOROWITZ ON NPR THIS SUNDAY ****
Andy Borowitz talks about the violation of sacred trusts -- and why it's cool with him. This Sunday morning on National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Sunday." Check local listings.
