The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. She gets the award for the following.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen admitted on Friday, through a spokesman, that she did call for the death of ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro during an interview with a British documentary-maker whom she had earlier accused of altering the video.

''Yes, it's in the documentary, she said that,'' said Alex Cruz, the congresswoman's spokesman.

Ros-Lethinen did not want to respond further, Cruz said, because ``she's focused her energies on issues that are more important for the community.

''Neither she nor I have seen the raw footage, without editing, but if that's in the documentary, she said it,'' Cruz said.

Since last week, as she is about to become the ranking minority member in the House International Relations Committee, Ros-Lehtinen has found herself embroiled in controversy about her credibility and her relations with the media.

She appears in the British documentary 638 Ways to Kill Castro, saying: ``I welcome the opportunity of having anyone assassinate Fidel Castro and any leader who is oppressing the people.''

After a 28-second clip began circulating on the Internet, the Havana-born lawmaker claimed the filmmakers spliced clips together to get the sound bite.

Twenty-four hours after the controversy erupted, director Dollan Cannell sent unedited tapes of his interview with Ros-Lehtinen to reporters.

''Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has made a very serious accusation against the documentary's crew,'' Cannell said. ``Her accusation is totally false and I would like her to retract what she said and to apologize.''

Cannell is right, Ros-Lehtinen should apologize. Her assaination beliefs are also wrong, but its the Congresswoman's turnabout against the documentary and filmmaker that are the most troubling. I see a politician with an out of control ego, who will slime anyone she feels like. That's why Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Rick at SOTP is also commenting.
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