Buffett pokes fun at himself at annual meeting

[May 07, 2012]  OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Billionaire Warren Buffett's secretary got to attend the State of the Union speech in January because of Buffett's complaints that tax laws are too easy on wealthy investors.

At Saturday's Berkshire Hathaway meeting Buffett joked about the fame Debbie Bosanek gained because he says she pays a higher tax rate than he does.

In a video skit, Bosanek started ignoring calls into the Berkshire office. That forced Buffett to start picking up the phone only to find that the callers wanted to reach Bosanek.

Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama and CNBC all wanted to talk to Bosanek instead of Buffett. Obama even told Buffett that his tax reform proposal might have a better chance of passing if it were renamed the "Bosanek Rule" instead of the "Buffett Rule."

Even Buffett's partner, Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, called to run an investment idea past Bosanek instead of Buffett.

Later in the meeting, when Buffett was questioned about his recent prostate cancer diagnosis he joked that the reason he disclosed the illness last month was to distract attention away from Bosanek.

The movie also featured a skit where Buffett tried out to join the glee club by performing on his ukulele with the cast of Glee. Actress Jane Lynch joked that Buffett was her character's past lover from the days when the character coached cheerleading at the University of Nebraska.

In another skit in the movie, Buffett sought out the advice of Jimmy Buffett as a therapist for his ukulele playing. But Jimmy Buffett seemed bored during the session and played video games on an iPad while Warren Buffett talked.

[Associated Press; By JOSH FUNK]

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