On Thursday June 12, the Radio and Television Congressional Correspondents Association held their 70th annual dinner and awards night at the brand new Marriott Marquis in Washington DC. Billed as the largest gathering of Washington journalists, sources and members of Congress on any night of the year, like every such event these days it was hosted by a comedian.
On this occasion, it was headlined by Parks and Recreation star, Nick Offerman, sans mustache. He interspersed light-hearted jokes with acerbic wit and stinging remarks about the toxic realities of DC, the ramifications of gun legislation and a brief Bill of Rights refresher course (video below).
With the dinner scheduled just two days after Cantor’s primary defeat, it was inevitable that this should be the running theme for the night and Offerman didn’t disappoint:
I’m sure you all heard the news about Eric Cantor. On Tuesday he tragically got himself a job at Fox News. He’s the first House majority leader to lose a primary since 1899, which also was the last time we were at war with Spain... so watch yourself, Spain.
Though Offerman provided the official comic relief, for me the funniest joke came from one of the invited speakers. As always happens at such gatherings, every speaker takes the opportunity to air their “inner comedian” and the best of them was White House Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, who dead-panned the joke of the night:
Recently the President has taken to slipping out unannounced to the Interior Department, to a burger joint, to Starbucks. It can get kind of frustrating. You know, if I wanted a boss who was on his way out when nobody expects it, I would’ve tried to work for Eric Cantor.
Now
that’s funny!
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