Posted on 05/02/2004 11:01:52 AM PDT by BillF
The D.C. Chapter's Sixth Annual FReep of the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) Dinner took place on Saturday afternoon and evening. Our gathering of eagles included: Angelwood, Kristinn, Staytrue, tgslTakoma, GunsAreOK, Cobol2Java & his wife, Pippin, BufordP, Mudboy Slim, Sauropod, L_Von_Mises, and BillF.
Speaking truth to the power that is the press, FReepers adopted the theme that the media's overly pessimistic coverage of Iraq is getting our troops killed. The media distortions are causing others, both friends and foes of the U.S., to question our resolve.
Although the theme of the evening was quite serious, we had a blast gently chiding the liberals and giving kudos to some of the good guys in the press. We received a more positive response from people passing by than more would expect, considering that the location was one of the most liberal areas in one of the most liberal cities in the country.
tgslTakoma created some great Peter Arnett awards. Soldier action figures lying face down in the sand with tiny balsa wood knives that tgsl hand carved and glued into their backs with pools of blood around the stab wound that the media was inflicting on our troops.
The awards for those who stabbed our troops in the back were won by:
1. Ted Kennedy
2. Hillary Clinton
3. Peter Jennings
4. Andy Rooney
5. Michael Moore
6. Dan Rather
7. Kopple and Nightline
8. David Gregory
9. NBC
10. Rick Reilly
None of the individuals were seen. Therefore, they could not be given the actual awards tonight, but further efforts may be made to deliver them to the winners.
Staytrue had prepared numerous brilliant signs including one like this:
Several times rain showers, which may have caused some not to attend, forced us into a covered area next to our sidewalk location.
In Washington, DC, the White House Correspondent's Association Dinner is one of DC's closest occasions to LA's Academy Awards. Indeed, recently more movie and television stars have been attending. Press luminaries and their guests assemble with government officials and members of Congress. The President usually gives a self-deprecating speech followed by a guest comic who makes fun of press and pol alike.
Actress Drew Barrymore talked for about 15 minutes with various FReepers. She is making a documentary and had a full camera crew with her. Remembering that she and the other Charlie's Angels movie stars (Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu) wore t-shirts on a premiere night referring to our President as a "son of a Bush," I'm not a fan of hers. I didn't hear her "interviews" of Kristinn, tgslTakoma, and others.
I did move in to take photos of Barrymore when she was interviewing BufordP. I heard Buford articulately describe an unusual path that led him to become a conservative. He explained that he was a Democrat a few decades back and laughed when Robin Williams did an imitation of William F. Buckley, but was not familiar with Buckley. Changing channels one time, Buford saw Buckley on Firing Line and thought "that's the guy that Williams makes fun of, wonder what he says." Buford watched a while, started reading National Review and books from Buckley and converted to conservatism.
As Barrymore and her crew interviewed FReepers, a couple people walking by shouted something like, "don't put them on camera, it only encourages them." The press, with some exceptions, did not like us crashing their party. Of course, if we demonstrated against Republicans, they would cover us, instead of shunning us.
Al Franken talked with Kristinn, Angelwood, Sauropod and others for about 10 minutes. At one point, Franken held Sauropod's video camera and taped Sauropod being interviewed by Franken. I'll let 'Pod fill in details if he wants to, but Franken was using the old, ridiculous, totally illogical argument: "you weren't in the military, so you can't criticize those [Kerry, former Senator Max Cleland] who were, even for actions they took after their military service."
Matt Drudge stopped by and talked for a couple minutes. I told him that I still remembered his National Press Club speech years ago about the media gatekeepers. He said that maybe it was time for him to go back there. Drudge took a photo of tgslTakoma's creative Peter Arnett awards
Joel Scarborough, former Congressman and current host of MSNBC's Scarborough Country, stopped by and posed for photos with FReepers.
Jeff Gannon of CNS News stopped by to talk with the FReepers.
BufordP recognized Michael Fumento, author of The Myth of Heterosexual Aids and conservative columnist, who concentrates on scientific issues. Buford, who had read Fumento's book, talked with him for quite a while.
At separate times, Jonah Goldberg and Byron York, both of National Review online, stopped by briefly to talk with FReepers.
Others, who briefly talked with FReepers, included Fred Barnes of Fox News and George Stephanopolous of ABC.
FReepers gave brief words of encouragement to Greg Kelly of Fox News and Bill Sammon and Bill Gertz, both of the Washington Times.
Norah O'Donell of NBC and MSNBC walked by quickly and would not stop for photos (in fairness, she was probably running late), but acknowledged Kristinn's compliment "You look good" with a "thank you."
As Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) walked by, Buford said to me "there goes 'roller coaster' Markey." Markey heard his name mentioned and turned around briefly saying "what," but just smiled when Buford said "nothing" or "never mind." I don't think Markey heard the "roller coaster," a reference to Markey talking about roller coaster safety standards.
Others who were seen included Congressman David Drier and C. Boyden Gray, White House Counsel for the first President Bush.
Other FReepers are invited to add their accounts. I've listed all the people that I saw and recognized, but other officials and press were seen by other FReepers. I didn't see Stephanopolous, but discussed his presence with several FReepers who did see him.
We got several thumbs-up and verbal kudos from people just passing by. "Keep up the good work" was the comment of one person. Another guy, who seemed quite gay, was quite supportive of our efforts. (Coincidentally, the event was a few blocks north of the heavily gay Dupont Circle area.)
Buford argued with quite a few liberals who passed by. I think that it was all good-natured, but he can fill in any details if he wants. I did overhear one liberal arguing about Saudi oil with Buford and then telling him, "let's say that your wife can't bake apple pie, but she has apples and trades them to someone who can bake apple pie." I had to bite my tongue to keep from interupting with "Do you have any of the apple pies?" (I was hungry at that stage, late in the FReep.)
We saw the President's motorcade only after he was in the hotel, via a side entrance down a ways from us. A short time later, we relocated to the restaurant in the hotel for post-FReep food and drink.
Notwithstanding the serious message of press bias about Iraq getting our troops killed, we had a great time. FReepers are invited to join us next year for this event.
That's me holding the "UN Oil For Food" sign. :-)
:-)
(I used to be thin...)
Every DC Chapter memebr whose posted on FR about a freep or other event is in the most true sense of the word a CORRESPONDENT.
Can the DC Chapter apply for a WH press pass?
LOL!-- Angelwood looks like she's about to elbow him right off his feet!
"Unhand me, you dastard!!"
I've thought about doing that; wondered if I could apply, actually. But I have a day job.
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