Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey confessed to radio jock Don Imus the other morning that he made a mistake by trying to cover his gray hairs with dye. His hair turned orange. The admission came by way of conceding that all politicians sometimes do “nutty” things. It was his way of deflecting criticism about Vice President Gore’s hiring feminist author Naomi Wolf, who among other things advises the Veep about his wardrobe.
And perhaps we don’t know the real Al Gore yet. Who ever thought we’d wake up to hear him one-on-one with the I-man? Odds are becoming even that consultant Naomi Wolf’s “alpha dog” won’t be the “underdog” for long. This week he confronted Don Imus, who has made a career ridiculing the Vice President.
U2 rock star Bono on Capitol Hill lobbying Members of Congress to forgive Third World debt stopped to debate California Rep. Mary Bono about the correct pronunciation of their last names. As Sonny Bono used to say: “It’s Bone-o.” But his widow may not have to worry about that last name for long given her serious relationship with Diamond Rio’s Brian Prout. . . unless, of course, Naomi Wolf advises her to keep the name “Bono” for political reasons.
Connecticut Rep. Sam Gejdenson, world martial arts champ and Tae-Bo creator Bill Blanks, and former San Diego Chargers Head Coach Don Coryell were recognized as outstanding learning disabled achievers by the Lab School of Washington. Blanks, who developed the fitness craze known as cardio kick boxing, didn’t learn to read until age 37. He spoke from his heart when he advised learning disabled kids, “Don’t let ’em take away your self-confidence.” He added, “You have to have soul and spirit and a will or your body won’t move.” This year’s recipients join a long list of outstanding past honorees, including artist Robert Rauschenberg, actor James Earl Jones, singers Harry Belafonte and Cher, and basketball star Magic Johnson.
The event once again attracted Washington luminaries, among them, dinner co-chair, political satirist Mark Russell, who quipped: “Al Gore was so confidant, he was at Banana Republic today picking out his inaugural outfit.” Other political hopefuls were Russell targets as well. He asked, “Will Hillary have Chelsea bat mitzvahed?” and “Reform party candidate Donald Trump is really Hugh Hefner without the viagra.”