Chappelle on the Hill

Producer Zach Wolf blogs about an odd moment of political levity: Walking up the steps from a weekly stakeout of Senators off the Senate floor, just now, some reporters encountered comedian Dave Chappelle, who was wearing blue jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt and was in the midst of a civics field trip — or perhaps getting some material for the phantom and much-anticipated season three of Chappelle’s Show. (At left, Chappelle last month.) He wasn’t doing an event or talking to cameras or meeting with a Senator. And he did not have an entourage. He said that while he is from Washington, D.C. and he’d never been in the rotunda before and a buddy of his, a plain clothes Capitol Hill police officer, was showing him around. "Just checkin’ out the hot button issue, you know." he said. "Immigration. On the Senate floor just now I saw John Kerry doin’ part of my act." (At right, Kerry in January.) John Kerry was (and still is fifteen minutes later) speaking on the Senate Floor about immigration. After taking several pictures and signing some reporter’s notebooks, Chappelle said, "Catchya later," and continued walking down the steps with his police officer friend.