By Amy Shelter/AllPolitics

WASHINGTON (November 12) -- With impressions of President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore after smoking marijuana and jokes that targeted Republicans and Democrats alike, Newsweek columnist Matt Cooper won top honors Wednesday night as "Funniest Celebrity in Washington."

Cooper triumphed over nine competitors in the annual comedy contest which benefits the Child Welfare League of America.

Monica Lewinsky's former attorney William Ginsburg took second place. While he refrained from poking fun at his most famous client, Ginsburg brought down the house with jokes about Linda Tripp and Ken Starr.

"What's the difference between a catfish and Ken Starr?" Ginsburg asked a crowd of Washington, D.C. movers and shakers. "One is a bottom-dwelling, scum-sucking scavenger and the other is just a fish."

American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Norm Ornstein shed his intellectual skin and pushed the envelope with his comedy stylings, taking home third prize.

Also competing were Capital Style Magazine Editor Bill Thomas, Norah O'Donnell of Roll Call, Kellyanne Fitzpatrick of the polling company, inc., Westwood One Radio's Jim Bohannon, USA Today's Walter Shapiro and Tony Snow of Fox News.

Fitzpatrick, a frequent guest on political talk shows, suggested slogans for various presidential campaigns. For Al Gore: "Action figure sold separately." Lamar Alexander: "Dead men do wear plaid." And a Ross Perot/Jesse "The Mind" Ventura ticket: "A mind-and-a-half is a terrible thing to waste."

Former Lewinsky attorney William Ginsburg was the second place winner

The audience was also treated to a performance by Regular Joe, the band led by Florida Republican Rep. Joe Scarborough. The 35-year-old conservative showed the crowd that politicians are people too, performing his original song, "I Guess I'll Be A Congressman."

Contestant Letitia Baldridge, the former White House social secretary and etiquette expert, shared humorous anecdotes about the Kennedy White House.

Performing at the event, but not competing, were local comedian Bob Somerby and Guest of Honor Mark Russell who had patrons doubled over with laughter from his song parody. Set to the tune of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," the song included all the body parts detailed in the definition of sexual relations as used in the Paula Jones case.

Washingtonian Magazine Editor Chuck Conconi emceed the lively event which was held at The D.C. Improv Comedy Theater.

Thursday, November 12, 1998

• Newsweek columnist takes home D.C. funniest celebrity prize
• Judge throws out three of 12 embezzlement charges against McDougal
• Literary agent Goldberg testifies before Tripp grand jury
• Secret Service director to resign to run security for Cleveland Browns
• Gore questioned on campaign finances
• Court weighing Jones' appeal looking for evidence of possible perjury by Clinton
• Study finds 'logistical hurdles' in privatizing Social Security
• Gephardt weighs presidential bid; some Democrats say aim for speaker
• Aide: Espy worried brother's debts would tarnish family name
• Ousted Republican regrets 'Twinkle, twinkle, Kenneth Starr'
• Al Gore courts new Iowa governor
• Lewinsky weighs interview offers

Election briefs
• Democrat squeaks by in Nevada Senate review
• New York attorney race still too close to call
• Kerrey to decide on presidential bid by end of year

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