You got a point.
I actually tried with him, with Joe, and with the recruiter - multiple times. I didn't insist as much as you suggest, perhaps due to the fact that my Visa back then (L1) didn't allow me to work for them in the US, and my green card was still several months away.
It sounds like a frustrating situation. If you still want a position, keep on trying to get through to them. Worst case you get to a definitive no and then you can drop it.
