Posted on 04/19/2006 4:38:04 PM PDT by Zeppo
NEW YORK Will Valerie Plame be the talk of this year's White House Correspondents Dinner? E&P has confirmed that she is slated to attend this year's gala, along with her husband Joseph Wilson and several other notable non-journalist guests, such as Alex Trebek and Ben Rothlisberger, according to organizers.
As in the past, attendees at the annual black-tie affair, to be held on April 29 this year, often look for a controversial visitor who might spark extended gossip around the open bar. When outsiders such as Donna Rice, Michael Moore, Fawn Hall or Ozzie Osborne were escorted to the gathering, they sometimes drew nearly as much attention as the president during his remarks.
Plame, the former CIA operative whose outing by columnist Robert Novak sparked a U.S. Justice Department probe that has already sent one reporter to jail and brought a White House official under indictment, may take that role this year. It is unlikely she will be seated next to Novak, but perhaps Bush may have a good view of her from the dais.
She and Wilson will be guests of ABC News.
Other "outsider" guests include tennis star Anna Kornikova, rap star/actor Ludacris and James Denton of "Desperate Housewives."
Mark Smith, White House Correspondents Association president and an Associated Press reporter, declined to weigh in on what Plame's presence might bring. "That's not for me to comment," he told E&P, also declining to reveal who invited Plame. "It comes at a time when we are wrestling over a lot of different things, like access issues."
The annual event that has become a must for local news and political types is set for the Washington Hilton. While Smith declined to opine about Plame's presence, he talked up the guest host, Comedy Central "newsman" Stephen Colbert. "He lampoons us as much as the politicians," Smith said. "So it will be great."
Admitting he does not watch much television, Smith said asking Colbert was actually the suggestion of incoming WHCA president Steve Scully of C-SPAN. "It was suggested and he was agreeable," Smith said of the TV talker. "I just kind of happened in to it."
The $175-per-person dinner has also brought more demand for tickets than ever before, according to Julie Whiston, who has organized it as WHCA executive director for 10 years. She said all 261 tables with 10 guests each are sold out. In fact, some $113,000 had to be returned to those who sought tickets, up from $107,000 in refunds last year.
"Regular members are allowed to request up to eight tables, associate members [who do not regularly cover the White House] may request up to three," she said. "I choose who gets them with the president of the association and we take care of the board members' organizations first, then the regular members who participate in the travel pool, and then the associate members."
Frog march Joe the Liar Wilson out of the dinner.
That about says it all.
If you don't watch The Colbert Report every night, you are missing something!!! He is unique!!
doesn't this amount to a t.v. network manufacturing news again?
"doesn't this amount to a t.v. network manufacturing news again?"
Manufacturing news is the business a lot of these news outlets are in.
The Wilsons should be under investigation by the CIA and the Justice Department.
I wish Christopher Hitchens and Scooter Libby could attend and be seated at the table right next to the phony baloney Wilsons. Christopher has been detailing Isuzu Joe and Val's fibs in recent columns.
best way to win a Pulitzer I guess.
Tried once, too geeky for this child.
What ever became of Fawn Hall? I thought her to be a nice lady, very feminine, and very pretty.
Bush should "leak" the names of Plame's CIA coconspiritors from the rostrum.
I'm wondering how many tickets they have to set aside for Ludacris' possee.
and maybe someone ought to give O'Reilly a heads up.
ping
Isn't this the venue where the DC Chapter of FR does such a terrific job every year of confronting the biggest jerks of the MSM? Imagine having the opportunity to freep the liar Wilson and the not-so-undercover spook Plame together... Wonder whether they will be guests of George Stephanopoulos...
Here you go - - it is apparently confirmed: BOTH scumbags will attend the White House Correspondents Dinner. Talk about no class....
Time to break out the Boris and Natasha outfits.
Ho so very nice/not!
I wonder how much I would have to donate to FR for Jim to let me use profanity for one hour.
Hard to believe that ABC News, as fair as it is, would invite Plame and husband-liar Joe Wilson, to the event. :)
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