Castro crank callers paying in pennies

CNN ^ | Wednesday, April 28, 2004 Posted: 8:21 AM EDT (1221 GMT)

[Bon mots]

MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) -- Two Miami radio hosts who duped Cuban President Fidel Castro with a prank call are soliciting pennies from their fans to pay a $4,000 fine proposed by U.S. regulators because of the on-air stunt.

We're asking people to just go through their drawers and cars for any old pennies and drop them off.

[Bon mots]

They should get a medal.

[CalifornianConservative]

Ditto.

[knarf]

"The FCC said it acted because it received an informal complaint about the call, but did not say who complained."

My guess ... a Clinton.

[freebilly]

LOL! This is a great story!

[Jet Jaguar]

After getting Castro to agree to hunt for the suitcase, they called him a killer and told him he was on a Miami radio show. Castro replied with a string of curses and hung up.

Bravo!

[HiTech RedNeck]

This relatively tiny fine (compared to what they do for, say, someone who mentions certain excretory or copulatory words on the air) is but a slap on the wrist. I bet the FCC is quietly chuckling to itself as it orders 8,000 penny roll papers.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

They SHOULD be fining Castro for obscenity!

[Colosis]

*Sigh* A world turned upsidedown.

[cyborg]

bwahahahahaha

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I had the privilege of hearing this broadcast (a replay), and it was totally, totally hysterical. In fact, I played it over and over again, and I would laugh all over again as if it was the first time heard. It was wonderful. I sent it to all my family and friends.

By the way, the recording was posted here on FR. Would anybody have a copy of it and post it again? I lost it when my computer crashed – not because of the recording. Thank you.

If I lived in Miami, I would also take them a bucket full of pennies. This is really outrageous.

[Bon mots]

Yo quiero oigarlo tambien! Si encuentras un 'link', digame por favor!

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Yo tambien.

Again, if anybody has a copy of it, please repost.

Bon mots, do you think Guillermo has a copy?

[hchutch]

My money would be on Senator Dodd.

Short version, the FCC is going to be made fools of for that ruling.

Of course, if Castro WAS cursing, even in Spanish, then the fine may be warranted (DAMNED DECENCY CRACKDOWN) since it would have been understandable by a large part of the audience.

Too bad Fidel didn't vapor-lock...

[smith288]

The translated transcript of an audiotape made of a prank phone call placed by Miami radio announcers Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero on WXDJ-FM/Miami:



Olga: "One moment. It seems that they are establishing a communication through another line. Maybe we can establish a bridge. Explain this to the president."



The DJs pretend to explain this to Chavez.



Recorded Chavez: "Yes, yes. Correct."



Olga: "We've just made a communication. One moment President. You will hear some music but it's only for a few seconds. It's just to transfer you. One moment. I'm transferring you."



Chavez: "Yes, yes. Of course."



Voice identified by the DJs as Castro: "Hello."



Ferrero, pretending to be a Chavez aide: "Lt. Camil is speaking."



Another person named Balenciaga comes on the line in Havana.



Balenciaga: "Ah, Camilo. Do you have president Chavez on line?"



Ferrero: "Yes, yes."



Castro: "Hello."



Chavez: "Fidel, good morning. Do you hear me? Hello. I thank you. I spoke to German yesterday."



Castro: "Tell me. I'm listening. Oh, yes."



Chavez: "Yes."



Castro: "Yes, yes."



Castro: "There are a lot of issues."



Castro: "I am listening."



Chavez: "Yes."



Castro: "I am listening."



Ferrero: "We have a third person on the line and it's my duty to let you know. Do you understand?"



Castro: "Yes."



Chavez: "Yes, brother. How are you?"



Castro: "Tell me and let me see if I hear you. Tell me you haven't returned yet."



Ferrero: "We have a problem with the line."



Castro: "I can't hear him. I hear certain words. I hear him say Fidel. And then I don't hear anything else. What do you think we should do?"



Ferrero explains to Castro that there was an issue with one of Hugo Chavez's suitcases that got lost when he went to Argentina last month. Castro was there, too.



Ferrero: "Do you know about the lost luggage? It has sensitive material. President Chavez is extremely worried because of that. Now in Venezuela the situation is grave and it has something to do with this. Do you understand?"



Castro: "Correct."



Chavez: "Correct."



Ferrero: "Fidel, we have to investigate this."



Castro: "Correct. I understand. We have to investigate into that."



Chavez: "Good."



Ferrero: "Your agents that were with you in Argentina must make an extensive search. And the people that are responsible for this must be told. Are you informed that this is a number one issue?"



Castro: "I am informed and absolutely in agreement."



Ferrero: "So you agree with the (expletive) that you have done to the island, assassin?"



Castro: "What?"



Ferrero: "Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero from Miami, El Zol 95.7 You fell just like Hugo Chavez."



Castro: "What did I fall for you (expletive)? What did I fall for (expletive)?"



Ferrero: "All of Miami is listening to you."



Castro: "What did I fall for, you big (expletive)?"



Ferrero: "What do you have to say?"



Castro: "(expletive)"



Castro: "I won't say anything.... shove it in your mother's (expletive)."



Ferrero: "Miami is listening to you Fidel Castro."



Source: Radio station WXDJ-FM.

[Libertarian444]

The call was broadcast five times over two days, to the delight of Miami's Castro-loathing Cuban exiles.

Don't you just love how the Casto kneepadders in Atlanta always manage to squeeze this not-so-subtle perjorative into any story dealing with Cuban exiles and Castro.

BTW, anybody got an address for the radio guys? I've got a huge jar of pennies I'd be willing to send.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Freeper David1 in an earlier thread was kind enough to supplies us with the following address. Go to: http://www.elzol.com/caiste/

[rrrod]

I love the Miami Cubans!!!! this is a riot!

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

supplies = supply

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

It would be a good idea for Bush to pardon them, especially with the upcoming elections. Maybe even fun a Castro phone harrasment campaign.