"I just took care of Lizzie's Emails."
Posted on 06/17/2009 6:49:49 PM PDT by llevrok
If you want to score a meeting with Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), know this: His scheduler/office manager, Elizabeth Becton, is to be addressed by her full name — not Liz or any other variant.
An executive assistant at McBee Strategic recently learned this the hard way. A few weeks ago, the assistant e-mailed Becton seeking a meeting with McDermott and a client, JPMorgan Chase. Days later, the assistant checked back in and unfortunately began the e-mail with “Hi Liz.”
Becton curtly replied, “Who is Liz?”
When the assistant wrote back with an apology, Becton turned up the heat. “I do not go by Liz. Where did you get your information?” she asked.
The back-and-forth went on for 19 e-mails, with the assistant apologizing six times if she had “offended” Becton, while Becton lectured about name-calling.
Becton told the assistant that if someone said using “Liz” was acceptable, then “they are not your friend”, and “If I wanted you to call me by any other name, I would have offered that to you.” Plus, it’s “rude when people don’t even ask permission and take all sorts of liberties with your name,” she said, adding: “Please do not ever call me by a nickname again.”
But the tirade didn’t end there. Becton continued her riff — responding that the assistant “got played” by someone who was trying to “tick” Becton off. Becton’s final, searing missive stated: “In the future, you should be VERY careful about such things. People like to brag about their connections in D.C. It’s a pastime for some. It’s also dangerous to eavesdrop, as you have just found out. Quit apologizing and never call me anything but Elizabeth again. Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Elizabeth. Are we clear on this? Like I said, it’s a hot button for me. And please don’t call the office and not leave a message. My colleague told me you called while I was away. ... I do sometimes leave my desk.”
McDermott spokesman Mike DeCesare told us Tuesday, “An apology is being issued as we speak,” adding, “This isn’t reflective of the way we do business in this office.”
Read the saucy email exchange after the jump:
» Continue reading No name-calling
Here’s a redacted version of the exchange:
From: XXX Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 11:38 AM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: JPMC Meeting Request
Elizabeth,
Attached is a meeting request for JP Morgan Chase who will be in DC June 3rd-4th and would like to request a brief meeting with the Congressman.
Let me know if you need any additional information.
Thank you!
Best, XXX
________________________________
From: XXX Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:05 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Liz,
just checking in on whether the Congressman is available next week. [REDACTED] can confirm a meeting time for you - she is available at [REDACTED].
Thank you!
Best, XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Elizabeth Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:07 PM To: XXX Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request Importance: High
Who is Liz?
Elizabeth Becton Executive Assistant/Office Manager Office of Congressman Jim McDermott XXXX Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 XXX phone XXX fax ________________________________
From: XXX Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:07 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elizabeth, I thought you went by Liz - apologies if that is incorrect. Best, XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Elizabeth Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:08 PM To: XXX Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
I do not go by Liz. Where did you get your information? ________________________________
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:10 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elizabeth, I'm so sorry if I offended you! I thought you had gone by Liz at Potlatch, this was my mistake. Best, XXX
________________________________ From: Becton, Elizabeth Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:11 PM To: XXX Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
NEVER. I hate that name.
________________________________
From: XXX Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:13 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elizabeth, I'm so sorry if I offended you! I must have mis-heard. My mistake! Best, XX
________________________________
From: Becton, Elizabeth Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:20 PM To: XXX Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request Importance: High
XXX:
If I wanted you to call me by any other name, I would have offered that to you. I think it's rude when people don't even ask permission and take all sorts of liberties with your name. This is a real sore spot with me. My name has a lot of "nicknames" which I don't use. I use either my first name or my last name because I row with a lot of other women who share the same first name. Now, please do not ever call me by a nickname again.
As for your meeting request, who is the point of contact for this meeting? If it's not you, then I need to know who because it's very time-consuming to deal with a lot of people for one meeting.
Thanks,
________________________________
From: XXX Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:23 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elizabeth, I'm so sorry I offended you! My mistake!
XXX can confirm a meeting time for you - she is available at XXX XXXX.
Thank you!
Best, XXX
________________________________ [UNRELATED EMAILS REDACTED]
From: XXX Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:33 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Of course! Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I must have mis-heard and it was in no way my intention to make you upset. I always enjoy working with you and seeing you at the WSS events J
Best, XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Elizabeth Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:37 PM To: XXX Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Sounds like you got played by someone who KNOWS I hate that name and that it's a fast way to TICK me off. Who told you that I go by that name? They are not your friend...
________________________________
From: XXX Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:38 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elizabeth,
Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I don't want to cause trouble as I clearly must have mis-heard the person at Potlatch. It was in no way my intention to make you upset.
Best, XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Elizabeth Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:41 PM To: XXX Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request Importance: High
I REALLY want to know who told you to call me that.
________________________________
From:XXX Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:44 PM To: Becton, Elizabeth Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elizabeth, Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I don't recall who I overheard. It was in no way my intention to make you upset. Best, XXX
________________________________ From: Becton, Elizabeth Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 6:04 PM To: XXX Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Let me put it this way, they don't know me and perhaps they were PRETENDING to know me better than they do and pretended that I go by Liz. They did YOU a disservice.
In the future, you should be VERY careful about such things. People like to brag about their connections in DC. It's a past time for some. It's also dangerous to eaves drop, as you have just found out.
Quit apologizing and never call me anything but Elizabeth again. Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Elizabeth. Are we clear on this? Like I said, it's a hot button for me.
And please don't call the office and not leave a message. My colleague told me you called while I was away at the Ladies' room. I do sometimes leave my desk.
How about "Beth, baby"?
They all seem to be morons concerned with only themselves.
Liz, Liz, Liz, Liz, Liz, Liz
Ya think I will get an appointment with her boss? :)
She’s under the influence of “self-importance”.
Let's INUNDATE the pompous self-important old meanie. It's not even her importance by right, she just works for a self-important old guy.
I wouldn't call her a bitch, my dogs are respectable females who always treat visitors politely.
Couldn’t agree more. I have some very important bitches living with me. LOL
"I just took care of Lizzie's Emails."
Send 'em to Liz and she can judge...
As Black Bart, the PO-8 of Crime, said when a reporter asked him upon his release from prison (for robbing a couple of Wells Fargo stagecoaches) if he was going to be writing any more poetry,
"Son, didn't you hear me say I've given up a life of crime?"
It is bitches like Liz who give the rest of us women a bad name.
:)
ROTFLOL.
Good one. I like that you called her Lizzie too. I can hardly type, I am laughing so much.
Maybe Liz should go work for Barbara Boxer:
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to a General at a hearing yesterday: “Do me a favor,” she said. “Could say senator instead of Ma’am It’s just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it, thank you.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273865/posts
Like you JRochelle, I’m getting tired of women who are perpetually offended. It does make the rest of us women look bad. If no offense is intended, why make a big deal out of it?
This is a really good thread.
If I may... Women have a great name. B*tches are b*tches.
Confident Men and Women know the difference.
Hi Liz,
I read about your e-mail exchange in the news. Wow, you must have some real anger issues. Why is it that all liberal Democrats are so angry?
You know I have a daughter named Elizabeth. When she was growing up she did not like her name so she went by her middle name. Then while in High School she decided she did not like her middle name and wanted to be known as Elizabeth. But now she has graduated from college and we laugh about the things she did as a teenager.
I don't think I read in the article; but how old are you?
Well, I am sorry you don't like to be called Liz; but think of it this way you could be called by a name a whole lot worse...
Maybe you should think about some anger management counseling. Maybe its your boss. I know I have had some real embarrassing bosses in my life time.
Anyway, lighten up after all we are paying your salary; which from what I read, you appeared to be highly overpaid.
Take care Liz
Sincerely,
Donald
BTW, people have also called me Don, Donny, and Donna but its okay because I am a grown up :)
Having worked in politics and as a Human Resources employee, my recommendation for dealing with this twit would be to send a letter reporting this snot assistant to the Congressman. I would inform him that you have all the emails sent by his twit assistant and that you plan to post them on blogs on the Internet so the world can read what rude employees he has representing him. I would also say that I’m sending the emails to Glenn Beck and Hannity at Fox News. Further, you will be keeping the emails to be used by his opponent when he runs for re-election. I would tell the Congressman that he was sent to Washington to serve the citizens of his district and they should be able to contact him without be subjected to a rude, arrogant, snot.
She would love that one. ROTFLOL
Boxer was a loser a long time ago.
Yep, she’s a real peach, isn’t she? LOL
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