"If the Congress won't do it's job, the people will," declares the Citizens Hearing on Disclosure, set to take off in the main ballroom of the National Press Club on Monday. Disclosure? Are we talking health care here, or gun control? No, we're talking extraterrestrial. Of course, the nation's capital may seem like another planet at times, but no matter.
It's become oddly fashionable to bash the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the giddy juxtaposition of journalists, Hollywood celebrities and strategically-minded operatives that arrives in the nation's capital each spring, just like the circus. Critics claim the annual event has become commercialized, off-message and unbecoming.
It was a cast of thousands on a very crowded set: For the 99th time, the White House Correspondents' Association dinner has come and gone on a tide of tuxedos, talking points and a certain license to be daring, minus the political risk.
It's been all the rage this week to bash the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Multiple accounts now claim that the giddy juxtaposition of journalists, Hollywood celebrities and notorious operatives has become commercialized, off-message and unbecoming. Yeah, well. Close to 3,000 "correspondents" will be vying for attention Saturday night as the network cameras roll and the Makers Mark bourbon stylishly flows at myriad cocktail events. And yes, there were only 11 attendees when the event was first staged 99 years ago.
Despite persistent criticism, the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. The event underscores what's wrong with much of Washington journalism. The reporters cozy up to politicians, and both groups want to be part of the Hollywood set.
Late night talk-show host and comedian Conan O'Brien will be spending a late night with President Barack Obama.
President Obama has a very carefully crafted public image, and he's willing to shut out his friends in the press to maintain it.
The White House Correspondents' Association has chosen late night talk show host and comedian Conan O'Brien as the featured act for its annual dinner on April 27.
The tables turned on the White House press corps on Day 3 of the dust-up with President Obama over the White House's decision to shut out reporters during Mr. Obama's all-guy golf weekend vacation with Tiger Woods in Florida.
