Posted on 04/29/2006 5:11:04 PM PDT by leadpenny
WASHINGTON - The political and celebrity worlds were joining forces to honor journalists for their coverage of the White House and the downfall of a corrupt congressman.
Continuing a tradition begun by Calvin Coolidge, President Bush planned to attend the annual dinner Saturday that is hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association.
"I will see you all tomorrow night, I guess," Bush told reporters at the White House on Friday. "Looking forward to it. I hope you are, as well."
Booked as the featured entertainer was Stephen Colbert, whose Comedy Central show "The Colbert Report" often lampoons the Washington establishment.
Yet it's the Who's Who of power and celebrity in the audience — invited by media organizations to their dinner tables — that draws much of the attention.
Expected to join ABC were former Ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife, Valerie Plame, the CIA officer at the heart of a leak investigation that has reached deep into the White House.
Others on the guest list included rapper-actor Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges; James Denton, the hunky plumber on "Desperate Housewives" on ABC; "Dancing With the Stars" winner Drew Lachey; New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin; tennis player Anna Kournikova; and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
There was also talk that George Clooney, speaking at a Darfur rally near the Capitol Sunday, might make an appearance.
The award winners announced earlier this month are:
_Deb Riechmann of The Associated Press and Terry Moran of ABC News, Merriman Smith Awards, the top journalism award for White House reporting under deadline pressure.
Riechmann was recognized for breaking the news of Bush's choice of John Roberts for the Supreme Court. Moran was cited for his broadcast coverage of Bush's first visit to areas hit by Hurricane Katrina.
_Carl Cannon of the National Journal, the Aldo Beckman Award for his profile of presidential adviser Michael Gerson. The award is given for repeated excellence in White House reporting.
_Marcus Stern and Jerry Kammer of the Copley News Service, the Edgar A. Poe Award for a series of stories on Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who resigned in disgrace and pleaded guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes. The Poe award recognizes excellence in news of national and regional importance.
The association was established in 1914 as a bridge between the press corps and the White House. The current president is Mark Smith of AP Radio.
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On the Net:
White House Correspondents' Association: http://www.whca.net
Going down hill now. Bush had too hard an act to follow.
Colbert is NOT funny. W makes him look like an amateur.
This Colbert guy is bombing......no real humor.....typical liberal.
I find it hard to 'believe' this guy is funny......
I turned it off... too painful.
Bush was great. I needed to hear him like that tonight.
Well this guy stinks.:)
I bet over half the room wishes they'd brought their Preparation H tonight. Heh heh.
Ha! He flubbed his line.
Thanks for the link. Surprised to see he bears no resemblance to GWB. Wonder if the prosthetic make-up artist, Kevin Haney, could make me look like a young Liz Taylor, LOL?
Boring especially when he fudges numbers and quotes 32% approval rating.
He's known for playing the straight man, interviewing politicans, and making them look foolish. He can't do it by himself. He actually is funny, with editing, & a stupid politician.
He's pathetic.....nasty undercurrent....irritating voice.
Get the hook.
Dubya is NOT amused.
Wow Stephen is Bombing Bad, kinda like Shock and Awe at the Hilton....
Colbert really sucks.
LOL. The silence from the audience is deafening.
I saw his show last week for the first time....he really needs someone to interview....can't be funny alone.
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