Freedonia? New Lawmakers Snared By Troubles Of A Fictional Land

WASHINGTON - What should the United States do to stop ethnic cleansing in Freedonia?

Asked that question, a handful of House freshmen - clearly no Groucho Marx fans - offered answers ranging from "take action," to "it's a different situation than the Middle East."

Not one got the joke.

The joker was Spy magazine, whose staff revived the sovereign but fictitious nation of Freedonia from "Duck Soup," the old Marx Brothers movie.

Posing as the host of a New York radio talk show, Spy staffers called about 20 first-term House members and asked: "Do you approve of what we're doing to stop what's going on in Freedonia?" Or, "Do you approve of what we're doing to stop ethnic cleansing in Freedonia?"

The responses, which appeared to be based on the assumption that the questioner was asking about Bosnia, came readily, according to Spy.

Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash. was candid: "I have to be honest with you, I'm not familiar with that proposal . . . um, but it's coming to the point now that a blind eye to it for the next 10 years is not the answer."

Later, Inslee said, "I was wondering why a New York radio station was calling a fellow from Selah, Washington. What I heard him asking us about was Bosnia.

"I'm a AAA-rated Groucho Marx fan and if I had heard Freedonia, I would have given the complete history of Groucho's unsuccessful efforts to free the Freedonians in `Duck Soup.' "

Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., said, "I think all of those situations are very, very sad and I just think we need to take action to assist the people."

Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., said, "Yeah. It's a different situation than the Middle East."

Jamie Malanowski, Spy magazine's national editor, said the freshmen fell into the trap pretty easily.

"It's completely understandable," he said. "In campaigning they are asked a lot of dumb questions and they are all used to supplying answers."