Chris Coons Mocks Jake Tapper

ABC's Jake Tapper was the target of a pointed zinger by Democratic Senator Chris Coons at a dinner on Wednesday.

Coons' jab took place at the Washington Press Club's annual dinner. Congresspeople from both parties always show up to the dinner to do a few one-liners.

Tapper was filling in as emcee for his ABC colleague Christiane Amanpour. She had been slated to host the dinner, but has been in Egypt covering the uprising there.

Before Tapper introduced Coons, he got in a few digs at the Delaware Democrat, saying that he "should not be here" (because he only won due to Christine O'Donnell being his opponent), and calling him a "warlock" and the "Angry Birds champion of the Senate."

According to several people at the dinner, Coons referenced the fact that Tapper was not originally slated to be the emcee of the event, saying it was "not the first time" that Tapper had been the second choice behind Amanpour. This was a clear nod to the fact that Tapper had been tipped as a top contender for the role of "This Week" host--one that Amanpour eventually got.

Tapper didn't let the zinger go unnoticed.

"Senator Bilbo Baggins, everyone," he said after Coons had finished.

See Tapper's full set here.

Comments

[Saxton]

07:48 AM on 02/13/2011

Tapper is so transparent when he reports from the White House. I find him to be snarky and bitter.

[ljc]

07:24 AM on 02/12/2011

Tapper=L.e.t.c.h.

[ninthraphael]

08:09 PM on 02/11/2011

TAPPER WHO?

[amaboss52]

07:13 PM on 02/11/2011

Jake should have gotten the job at This Week, I like Christiane, she has done some excellent work reporting but she's out of her element on This Week. Tapper on the other hand would've done a bang up job, he's unafraid of calling the liars out, and would held the bs"ers feet to the fire.

[PHILVflorida]

03:57 PM on 02/11/2011

Dump Christiane, bring back Tapper to Sunday Morn.

[Jeff Burns]

05:51 PM on 02/11/2011

I've been missing Tapper.

[stagebandman]

11:47 AM on 02/11/2011

It all sounded to me like it was in fun. If that's not the case, I"d be very surprised. I'm also surprised at the number of posters here that don't see it that way. Are we really this jaded?

[tjtoday]

07:51 AM on 02/11/2011

Wouldn't it be nice to have journalists doing their jobs, investigating stories, pushing harder to get at the truth, exposing the hypocrocy in DC and not letting politicians get away with poor job performance.
Keep the personal comments to the bar or the gym.

[holyghostie]

07:47 AM on 02/11/2011

Little Jake.

[Clevelandinwi]

12:31 AM on 02/11/2011

Shut up, tapper.

[Matt12]

09:49 PM on 02/10/2011

Tapper is wya above his stattion

[Carolyn LeBeauf]

06:26 PM on 02/10/2011

Jake Tapper is a wannabee. He could never measure up to Amampour's little finger.

[amaboss52]

07:15 PM on 02/11/2011

I disagree, Amanpour's a real reporter, she does that job fantastically, Jake on the other hand belongs on a political show putting the smack down on liars, which I think he does well.

[ginger42]

05:39 PM on 02/10/2011

childish

[Montcalms Revenge]

04:37 PM on 02/10/2011

Is it me or does Tapper look like Jon Cryer from "Two and a Half Men".... another lightweight... ;-)

[scotia626]

04:21 PM on 02/10/2011

smug with an angry undertone. not funny. a little sad.

[ReMarker]

02:16 PM on 02/10/2011

Tapper is a sorry excuse of a journalist.

If all American journalists were like Jake, all American politicians would be Repubs.