Time for The Shoutout. Where would you find the Brumidi Corridors, the Hall of Columns and the Crypt?If you think you know it, shout it out!Is it the U.S. Capitol, the Vatican, St. Basil's Cathedral or St.Louis Cathedral?You've got three seconds, go!All three of these are features of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.There were also a couple movie stars on Capitol Hill yesterday.They were talking about some different issues that otherwise might not have been in the spotlight.They were raising awareness. But how much influence do celebrities have when they talk about issues that lawmakers already know about?How much the star power influenced you? How much does it influence Congress?When celebrities come to Washington, the media and the politicians take notice.But does the spectacle of the star outshine or shed light on the cause they've come to promote.Often hearings in Congress are not about members of Congress learning something that they don't already know.It's performance art. If they wanted to really learn about issues they could get it from a briefing book.On Wednesday, Oscar winner Ben Affleck arrived in Washington D.C. to speak about the crisis in the Congo.Finally, it's just a pleasure to be back here in the State Department after-the real State Department so I had to fake it for Argo.I get to see the real thing.The Argo director has brought his cause to the table time and time again.
