Those who attended Tuesday night’s Capitol ‘Careaoke’ fundraiser learned a lot about Washington’s media types. For one, MSNBC’s Luke Russert could moonlight for Bruce Springsteen. Also, CNN’s Ed Henry looks simply fabulous in a feathered boa. And WUSA’s Topper Shutt should really stick to just delivering the weather.
At the event, which raises cash for the charity Childhelp, journo after journo took to the stage, waging vocal wars against their on-air competitors. “Fox News and CNN will not touch this,” Russert shouted, after receiving a standing-0 for his rendition of Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” Earlier in the evening Sen. Mark Warner, in a recorded message, had chided Russert’s singing abilities. “I do wonder about Luke Russert as a singer,” Warner said smirking. Russert, clearly, won that war of words.
Meteorologists Shutt and Doug Hill of WJLA were pitted against one another with Shutt singing Van Morrison and Hill belting Engelbert Humperdinck. Shutt’s performance was pitiful, whereas Hill dazzled the ladies.
At last came the epic battle of the night: CNN versus Fox News. The Fox News team, lead by Shannon Bream, went first with Pat Benatar‘s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” while CNN chose the clean version of Cee Lo Green‘s hit “F— You.” After a flurry of voting through donating cash, CNN was proclaimed the winner. “It’s all in good fun,” said a beaming Dana Bash, whose husband John King donated a large sum from the sidelines to help team CNN. (Fox News’ Bret Baier also phoned in a donation to aid Fox).
Henry felt his green and white feathered boa, borrowed from his six-year-old daughter, had done the trick. “I thought it would inspire CNN over the finish line and I think that did it, plus John King’s wallet,” he said. “I think we were too formidable for Fox frankly.” He then turned his attention to Russert. “Luke Russert was up there talking smack and he really should know better,” Henry told Yeas & Nays. “I think Luke does a good Bruce, but he’s not up to the CNN level of karaoke.”
Henry then concluded the evening with a message to Fox. “Basically after this wipe-out, I’ve just got two words,” he said. “Fox you.”
Capitol ‘Careoke’ raised more than $150,000 for Childhelp.
