Ben Affleck just can’t seem to get enough Washington in his life. The actor, new dad and longtime activist for Democrats has spent weeks here this winter, filming “State of Play.”
Now, Yeas & Nays has learned he’ll be coming to the White House Correspondents Association Dinner next month as a guest of ABC News. Ashlee Simpson, fresh off her self-confessed plastic surgery, will join him in ABC’s entourage, as will Pete Wentz of frat rockers Fall Out Boy and actor Tim Daly from “Private Practice.” We wonder what they’ll chat about with local “celebs” like Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr., presidential aide Ed Gillespie and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey.
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The network must have a little extra juice this year because its own Ann Compton is this year’s president of the WHCA. “As president of WHCA I have two guests — President Bush and Vice President [Dick] Cheney,” she said. “Really! Both are coming.”
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Meanwhile, Bloomberg News is bringing Harvey Keitel, Glamour will have Chelsea Handler of E! Network’s “Chelsea Lately” at its table, and People magazine is hosting Meghan McCain and her fellow Blogettes who write on McCainBlogette.com.
CBS News has in its corner the infamous former Rep. Charlie Wilson, as well as Martha Stewart Living Chief Executive Officer Susan Lyne, who also happens to be the widow of George Crile, who wrote “Charlie Wilson’s War.” Wilson may have a few words for CIA Director Michael Hayden and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen, who are also sitting with CBS. But humor writer P.J. O’Rourke will be there to lighten the mood.
Among U.S. News & World Report’s guests: Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, former Reagan Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein and Reagan spokesman Marlin Fitzwater.
Other news organizations are also keeping things serious — at least for now. The Wall Street Journal will host FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, Solicitor General Paul Clement, John McCain’s press secretary Brooke Buchanan, White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten and official White House photographer Eric Draper.
The Associated Press has bagged national security adviser Stephen Hadley, while Newsweek is bringing former Bush right-hand man Karl Rove and Hillary Clinton strategist Mark Penn.
CQ will bring former MSNBC anchor Rita Cosby, who set the tabloids on fire with her controversial book on Anna Nicole Smith.
Finally, Atlantic Media is hosting Justice Scalia, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Fran Townsend, the former White House aide in charge of terrorism.
And sorry folks: The rascally folks at TMZ.com aren’t up to any tomfoolery this year.
Expect more names in weeks to come. …
