While visiting England, Obama is invited to tea with the Queen. He asks her what her leadership philosophy is. She says that it is to surround herself with intelligent people.
Obama asks how she knows if they're intelligent.
"I do so by asking them the right questions," says the Queen. "Allow me to demonstrate."
Obama watches as the Queen phones Steve Harper and says, "Mr. Prime Minister, please answer this question: your
mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?"
Steve Harper responds, "It's me, ma'am."
"Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir," says the Queen. She hangs up and says, "Did you get that, Obama?"
Obama nods: "Yes ma'am. Thanks a lot. I'll definitely be using that!" Obama, upon returning to Washington, decides he'd better put the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the test. Obama summons John Kerry to the White House and says, "Senator Kerry, I wonder if you can answer a question for me."
"Why, of course, sir. What's on your mind?"
Obama poses the question: "Uhh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your
brother or your sister. Who is it?"
Kerry hems and haws and finally asks, "Can I think about it and get back to you?" Obama agrees, and Kerry leaves. He immediately calls a meeting of other senior Republican senators, and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer. Finally, in desperation, Kerry calls Rice at the State Department and explains his problem. "Now lookee here, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?" Rice answers immediately, "It's me, of course." Much relieved, Kerry rushes back to the White House, finds Obama, and exclaims, "I know the answer, sir! I know who it is! It's Condoleezza Rice!"
And Obama replies in disgust, "Wrong, you fool, it's Steve Harper!"