Oregon lawmaker convinced his colleagues to ‘Rick Roll’ the state legislature

[Tondtar]

Source : How one Oregon lawmaker convinced his colleagues to ‘Rick Roll’ the state legislature

Jefferson Smith loves a good political joke.

Early last year, the then-freshman Oregon House member from Portland was getting ready for bed when he and his wife, Katy, began bantering back and forth about what might be the ultimate political prank, something that could lighten the increasingly divisive political mood among his colleagues.

As Smith recalls, the idea came almost instantly. "What if we were to Rick Roll the legislature without anybody noticing?" he wondered.

And that was the seed for what may ultimately prove to be one of the most elaborate political jokes of all time: A nearly two-minute long video of members of the Oregon House of Representatives saying the lyrics of Rick Astley's ubiquitous '80s pop ballad, "Never Gonna Give You Up," literally one word or phrase at a time while in session.

As The Ticket reported yesterday, the video, which was posted to YouTube on April Fools Day, has quickly gone viral, meriting write-ups on dozens of blogs and even getting play on MSNBC.

The big question: Was it real?

The answer, according to Smith, "absolutely."

"I've been reading the online chatter," Smith, a Democrat, told The Ticket in his first interview about the video. "Were they actors? Were people's voices dubbed? The answer is that it's all real. Every second is real."

You can watch the video here:

[JayKay335i]

way to go old man

i hungover loled

[yakev724]

Guess there's not much governing to do in Oregon...

[CollinsE90]

I hope they discussed tightening airport security in Oregon, a terrorist will be going up there in August

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

I hope they discussed tightening airport security in Oregon, a terrorist will be going up there in August

ghosti?

[stimpy]

clever!

[escobar929]

Hilarious but didn't we just also get Rick rolled by watching it? It's like the prank that doesn't stop pranking

[Tondtar]

Originally Posted by escobar929

Hilarious but didn't we just also get Rick rolled by watching it? It's like the prank that doesn't stop pranking

You just blew my cover, bro ...Should have kept it to yourself

[rgpwr]

Would've been better 3 years ago

[ghosthi32]

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

I hope they discussed tightening airport security in Oregon, a terrorist will be going up there in August

you got the month wrong brah

[Blake]

i lol'd

[persian54]

nicely done