Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) was given a last-minute slot at the DC Improv comedy club in Washington D.C. Wednesday night to prepare for another somber day of testimony in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.
Reacting to reports that the proceedings lacked the “pizzazz” that viewers now prefer over historical significance, the House Intelligence Committee member reportedly worked late into the night to try to improve his delivery.
“Every asshole with a blog or a green screen thinks he’s a comedian nowadays,” Welch said in an email to the Parmelee Post. “You really need to put in the work to rise above all that noise.”
Welch made doing so seem easy during an afternoon set that aired live on C-SPAN, a streaming service that specializes in tragicomedy.
“It felt great to be able to completely roast Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) without even mentioning the multiple accusations that he ignored sexual misconduct at OSU,” Welch said. “It’s still early in the impeachment process, though, so it’s going to take some fresh material to convince news outlets that upholding the law is quality entertainment.”
According to witnesses, Welch’s set at the DC Improv went over well.
“It’s never easy trying out new jokes on an unfamiliar audience,” said club owner Ello El. “Obviously, what works in the House Intelligence room isn’t necessarily going to play well for the late-night crowd at the Improv.”
Most of Welch’s new material reportedly focuses on Ukraine, which El says is for the best.
“I usually advise newer comics to avoid telling Trump jokes altogether,” he said. “You never know who’s in the audience, and the last thing you want to do is risk offending someone who is perfectly happy to ignore dozens of allegations of sexual misconduct, flagrant fraud, child abuse and so on.”
That likely went without saying for Welch, who has already earned the endorsement of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“And I didn’t even have to have a heart attack!” Welch quipped.
The rising Vermont representative is scheduled for another set at the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, when the public impeachment proceedings continue. Welch would not say whether he plans to debut any new material at that time, but it’s probably worth tuning in regardless.
The Parmelee Post is an occasional series featuring tough investigative reporting on news that hasn’t happened.
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This article appears in The Winter Preview — 2019.
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Speaking of comedy:
Mr. Welch, apparently, doesn’t know the President can withhold congressionally approved aid to a foreign country for any reason. “The 1974 Impoundment Control Act allows the president to propose to rescind funding previously approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to consider the request and if they do not act to support the rescissions during that window, the request is denied.”
https://www.govexec.com/management/2019/08…
Welch to Yavonovitch: The President’s prerogative to replace an ambassador “…assumes that the reasons are not related to the personal private political interests of the President at the expense of our national security. Right?”
Yavonovitch to Welch: “Yes”
Oh, really? Flashback:
“The incoming Obama administration has notified all politically-appointed ambassadors that they must vacate their posts as of Jan. 20, [2009] the day President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office, a State Department official said.”
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/20…
The difference? Trump is corrupt.