Congresswomen Anticipate 'Ass-Whooping' in Charity Softball Game Against Press
Members of Congress are gearing up for the annual Congressional Softball Game, aiming to secure a victory against the Washington press corps.
Female members of Congress are expressing confidence and a competitive spirit ahead of Wednesday's annual all-women Congressional Softball Game, where they will face off against the female press corps.
"The press will probably report it as ‘mostly peaceful,’ but make no mistake. … It’s going to be an ass-whooping. For charity, of course," said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), highlighting the bipartisan nature of the friendly competition. "Very bipartisan of us," she added.
The congressional team is aiming to build on last year's success, having defeated the press's "Bad News Babes" team with a score of 5-3 before the game was cut short by thunderstorms.
The annual softball game, which began in 2009, is a charity event that has raised approximately $5 million for the Young Survival Coalition, an organization supporting breast cancer survivors. The game mirrors the longstanding Congressional Baseball Game, which pits bipartisan teams of lawmakers against each other for charitable causes.
Emily Goodin, White House correspondent for The Post and captain of the "Bad News Babes," described the softball game as one of the few bipartisan activities remaining in Washington. "Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle team up to take on the press. And we all join in on the common cause of beating breast cancer," Goodin stated. She expressed the press's eagerness to reclaim their victory, noting that last year's win for Congress was attributed to an unexpected thunderstorm. "Beat cancer, beat Congress!"
This year, the weather forecast predicts clear conditions for the game, removing the possibility of a weather-induced advantage for Team Congress. Additionally, with the House leadership canceling a previously scheduled session, many representatives are currently in their districts. However, senators will be in session, and many congressional players are expected to be in town to participate.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a team captain, emphasized the event's dual purpose of friendly competition and raising awareness for breast cancer prevention. "I’m looking forward to tomorrow night’s game and am confident my colleagues from the Hill will be ready to bring home a win," she said.
Historically, the "Bad News Babes" have a winning record in the series, with 10 victories compared to Team Congress's five. The game is scheduled to proceed without the threat of thunderstorms that impacted last year's contest.