OMD: Listen to Nicolas Sarkozy's prank call to Sarah Palin!

Sometimes having a bit of knowledge of foreign cultures or languages can pay off.

Fer instance, perhaps if Gov. Sarah Palin had taken a trip to France, she'd have known immediately on Saturday night that the person she was speaking to was not French President Nicolas Sarkozy. And here's another easy tip-off that Palin was being pranked: French rock singer Johnny Hallyday was mentioned as holding a political role.

We'll forgive her for not knowing French lingo, such as "du rouge à lèvres sur une cochonne" (lipstick for a pig).

Here's what happened: Seems the notorious Montreal-based comedy duo named The Master Avengers made a prank phone call to Palin on Saturday, claiming to be Sarkozy.

Palin talked -- and nervously laughed -- for nearly six minutes as the conversation touched on increasingly bizarre and off-color topics such as porn, hunting animals and Dick Cheney's hunting skills. Even Sarkozy's "beautiful wife" Carla Bruni was used for joke fodder, but our favorite part was when it was said that the French leader could "see Belgium" from his house.

As the French might say, "Oh, mon Dieu!" or OMD.

Palin's campaign spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt has confirmed in media reports that Palin took the call. "Gov. Palin received a phone call on Saturday from a French Canadian talk show host claiming to be Sarkozy."

She added that Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy himself, and other celebs in being targeted by these pranksters.

Wow. These guys are the radio version of Ali G! 




Here's The Times' story on the call.

FNS: You know we have a lot in common also except that from my house I can see Belgium. That's kind of less interesting than you.


SP: Well, see, we're right next door to other countries that we all need to be working with, yes.

FNS: Some people said in the last days, and I thought that was mean, that you weren't experienced enough in foreign relations, and you know, that's completely false, that's the thing I said to my great friend, the prime minister of Canada, Stef Carse [a Quebecois country singer].


SP: Well, he's doing fine too, and, yeah, when you come into a position underestimated, it gives you the opportunity to prove the pundits and the critics wrong. You work that much harder-

FNS: I was wondering because you are also next to him, one of my good friends, also, the prime minister of Quebec, Mr. Richard Z. Sirois; have you met him recently? Did he come to one of your rallies?


SP: Uh, haven't seen him at one of the rallies, but it's been great working with the Canadian officials in my role as governor; we have a great cooperative effort there as we work on all of our resource development projects. You know I look forward to working with you and getting to meet you personally and your beautiful wife -- oh, my goodness! You've added a lot of energy to your country, even, with that beautiful family of yours.

FNS: Thank you very much. You know my wife, Carla, would love to meet you. You know even though she was a bit jealous that I was supposed to speak to you today. 


SP: [laugh] Well, give her a big hug from me.

FNS: You know my wife is a popular singer and a former top model, and she's so hot in bed. She even wrote a song for you.


SP: Oh, my goodness! I didn't know that.

FNS: Yes, in French, it's called "Du rouge à lèvres sur une cochonne" [Lipstick for a pig] or if you prefer in English, Joe the Plumber: [sings] "It's his life, Joe the Plumber..."


SP: Maybe she understands some of the unfair criticism, but I bet you she is such a hard worker too, and she realizes you just plow through that criticism like...

FNS: I just want to be sure, I don't quite understand the phenomenon "Joe the Plumber," that's not your husband, right?


SP: Mm-hmm, that's not my husband, but he's a normal American who just works hard and doesn't want government to take his money.

FNS: Yes, yes, I understand, we have the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France, it's called, "Marcel, the guy with bread under his armpit," oui.


SP: Right. That's what it's all about, is the middle class, and government needing to work for them. You're a very good example for us here.

FNS: I seen a bit about NBC, even Fox News wasn't an ally, an ally, sorry, about as much as usual.


SP: Yeah, that's what we're up against.

FNS: I must say, Gov. Palin, I love the documentary they made on your life, you know, Hustler's "Nailin Palin."


SP:  Oh, good. Thank you. Yes.

FNS: That was really edgy.


SP: [laugh] Well, good.

FNS: I really love you. And I must say something, so, governor, you've been pranked.
By the Master Avengers. We're two comedians from Montreal


SP: Oohhh, have we been pranked? And what radio station is this?

FNS: This is for CKOI in Montreal.


SP: In Montreal? Tell me the radio station call letters...

MA: Hello? If one voice can change the world for Obama, one Viagra can change the world for McCain.


Assistant: Hi, I'm sorry, I have to let you go. Um, thank you.

Did Sarah handle herself well? After all, this is one of the potential VP's first attempts at communicating with a foreign head of state in an emergency, off-the-cuff manner.

So how'd she do?