海角精品黑料’s Dave McConnell receives Career Achievement Award (Video)

McConnell thanked his family and 海角精品黑料 management for the award, pointing out that it takes a lot of people to make such a distinguished career possible. The event was Mardi Gras themed. (海角精品黑料/Brian Oliger)

海角精品黑料's Dave McConnell and Mike McMearty. (海角精品黑料/Mike McMearty)

海角精品黑料's Dave McConnell and Mitch Miller. (海角精品黑料/Kathy Stewart)

海角精品黑料's Dave McConnell and his wife, Barbara. (海角精品黑料/Kathy Stewart)

海角精品黑料's Shawn Anderson and Hillary Howard. (海角精品黑料/Hillary Howard)

海角精品黑料's Shawn Anderson (海角精品黑料/Hillary Howard)

海角精品黑料's Shawn Anderson and Brian Oliger (海角精品黑料/Bob Madigan)

Judy Taub, Dave Johnson and Debbie Feinstein. (海角精品黑料/Debbie Feinstein)

海角精品黑料's Dave Johnson with Caps play-by-play man John Walton. (海角精品黑料/Dave Johnson)

海角精品黑料's Hillary Howard at the event. (海角精品黑料/Meg O'Rourke)

海角精品黑料's Judy Taub and Dave McConnell at the event. (海角精品黑料/Judy Taub)

海角精品黑料's Dave McConnell accepts his Career Achievement Award from the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association. (Courtesy RTCA)

Employees from 海角精品黑料 attended the event to support Dave McConnell and his Career Achievement Award from the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association. (海角精品黑料/Brian Oliger)

Meg O'Rourke poses for a photo at the dinner. (海角精品黑料/Kristi King)

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle say they respect McConnell's reporting. (海角精品黑料/Ari Ashe)

Kristi King poses with a jester at the dinner. (海角精品黑料/Kristi King)

海角精品黑料's Kristi King and Kathy Stewart at the dinner. (海角精品黑料/Kristi King)

McConnell, an employee of 海角精品黑料 since 1965, covers Capitol Hill and has done so for more than three decades. (海角精品黑料/Ari Ashe)

Judy Taub, Dave Johnson and Debbie Feinstein pose for a picture at the event. (海角精品黑料/Debbie Feinstein)

海角精品黑料's Dave McConnell received the Career Achievement Award from the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association. Here, 海角精品黑料's Dave Johnson, Joel Oxley, Debbie Feinstein and Mike McMearty celebrate with McConnell. (海角精品黑料/Debbie Feinstein)

海角精品黑料's Dave McConnell holds his Career Achievement Award from the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association. (海角精品黑料/Kristi King)

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WASHINGTON – 海角精品黑料’s Capitol Hill Correspondent received the first-ever Career Achievement Award from the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association.

McConnell, an employee of 海角精品黑料 since 1965, covers Capitol Hill and has done so for more than three decades.

“For all the time he has covered the Hill, Dave has been a voice of reason, of moderation and of fairness set against the backdrop of partisan hyperbole and the political intrigues that often distract from the issues Americans care about. His has always been the way of careful investigation, clear-headed interpretation and honest reporting,” says House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle say they respect McConnell’s reporting.

“I don’t think there’s any correspondent who is better known, better respected and better informed than Dave McConnell,” says House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif.

“I can’t really think of a Capitol press corps without thinking of Dave McConnell. He’s been the Rock of Gibraltar,” says Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R- Ky.

The two are among several who honored McConnell during a 1 minute, 30 second video tribute. Rep. Chris Van Hollen and D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, botth Democrats, also paid their respects.

McConnell thanked his family and 海角精品黑料 management for the award, pointing out that it takes a lot of people to make such a distinguished career possible.

Calling Congress “the greatest show in Washington,” McConnell still said that despite the partisan bickering, lawmakers came together to honor the work of Frank Lautenberg, the New Jersey senator who died Monday at age 89.

Hoyer also joked about McConnell’s longevity.

“We’ve had relatively parallel careers, although he’s been much more successful than I have been,” Hoyer said, drawing a few laughs.

“Broadcasting in Washington for more than 45 years. Hey, that’s even longer than me,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., whose political career began in Baltimore in 1971.

Even McConnell himself poked fun at his age and long career, talking about the history of the National Building Museum, the location of the Radio and Television Correspondents dinner.

“It was built back in the 1880s during the administration of President Chester A. Arthur. I did not cover Chester A. Arthur,” he said.

McConnell is the only full time Capitol Hill correspondent for a local radio station in the entire country.

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