Politicians and journalists descended upon the Washington Convention Center last night for the 2010 Radio and TV Correspondent’s Association dinner.
We spoke to CNN’s Candy Crowley who was looking forward to sharing the table with Kathy Griffin, but thought the crowd noise might be a problem. She told us, “I’m worried I won’t be able to hear her… Oh wait, what am I saying?”
CNN’s main table had Griffin, Crowley, John King, and Dana Bash as well as King’s invited guest: Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). TVNewser, was a guest of CNN and at the table next to us, we spotted the Fox Newsers Brit Hume and Bret Baier, fresh from his interview with the president. Also, RNC Chair Michael Steele, and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Meanwhile, former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and the Rev. Jesse Jackson brushed past each other nearby. Miss America was even there.
Pres. Obama sent a funny taped message apologizing to the crowd of media industry pros who he characterized as “following me incessantly and waiting for me to screw up.”
Vice President Joe Biden appeared in place of the president and delivered a handful of hit-or-miss zingers. He told the story of St. Patrick who chased the snakes from Ireland, and said, “There were no snakes. He made that up. That’s why he’s the patron saint of Fox News.” Biden joked that “the only media outlet that ever gave me a fair shake in this town was Amtrak Magazine.”
CBS News’ Bill Plante presented the Joan S. Barone award to NPR. While BBC News correspondent Lyse Doucet was presented the David Bloom Award for her reporting in Afghanistan.
Comedian Joe Wong was the evening’s entertainment and made some new fans in the crowd. Afterward, TVNewser stopped by the “BBC World News America” party where everyone from David Shuster to Wolf Blitzer to a stylin’ Roland Martin were enjoying themselves.
FishbowlDC’s Betsy Rothstein was invited to the Fox News pre-party and has the full scoop on that bash.
In between bites we pulled out the FlipCam. See how many newsers you can spot:
• More photos after the jump….
Bret Baier chatting with Michael Steele.
Chuck Todd bumps into Jesse Jackson.
A very blurry Joe Biden greeting guests after the event.
BBC party was hoppin. (Megyn Kelly on the left.)