There was a stir in the Reception Room just outside the Senate chamber, and it had nothing to do with unemployment benefits.
“Oh my,” squealed Senator Blanche Lincoln, Democrat of Arkansas, “I can’t believe I’m meeting you! I watch ‘The Nanny.’ I am a huge fan.”
The object of Mrs. Lincoln’s affection and admiration, of course, was Fran Drescher, the actress, comedian, writer, and television director and producer, best known for playing the nanny, Fran Fine, on the 1990’s sitcom on CBS.
Ms. Drescher was being escorted through the Capitol by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Democrat of New Jersey and she was quickly surrounded by a number of Mr. Lautenberg’s colleagues. “I’m coming to be a groupie,” Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, said, sidling up to the star guest.
“We’re both cancer survivors,” Ms. Drescher said repeatedly, gesturing to Mr. Lautenberg, and explaining that she was visiting in support of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, which was introduced by three House Democrats on Tuesday and is being championed in the Senate by Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California.
While Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, gave Ms. Drescher a polite greeting and chatted with her seriously about the goals of the safe cosmetics legislation, other lawmakers, including Senator Tom Udall, Democrat of New Mexico, were visibly excited as they walked over to say hello.
“You know John McCain?” a senator asked, as Mr. McCain, the former Republican presidential nominee, headed quickly toward the chamber. Mr. McCain stopped short to shake Ms. Drescher’s hand. “He doesn’t use any cosmetics,” Mr. Lautenberg quipped.
Ms. Drescher, a survivor of uterine cancer and active Democrat, is the author of a book “Cancer Schmancer” and the founder of a nonprofit group by the same name./ Mr. Lautenberg, who at 86 is now the oldest member of the Senate, recently completed treatment for lymphoma of the stomach and announced that he was cancer-free.
“Let’s get carcinogens out of our daily lives,” Ms. Drescher said, as she asked one senator after another if she could meet with them again to press for the bill.
“I think that’s great,” Ms. Collins said.
“I’m going to come visit you people,” Ms. Drescher warned, releasing her trademark growly laugh.
With her cackles echoing, Senator Tom Carper, Democrat of Delaware, came into the Reception Room with Senator Carte Goodwin, Democrat of West Virginia, who was sworn in just the day before as the temporary replacement for the late Senator Robert C. Byrd.
Mr. Carper and Mr. Goodwin walked past without paying much notice to the hubbub. But Mr. Udall, gesturing to the crowd, suggested they go over and say hi. After exchanging pleasantries, Ms. Drescher congratulated Mr. Goodwin, who at age 36 is now the youngest senator, on his appointment and asked him how things were going.
Mr. Goodwin looked at the celebrity actress and replied, “It has been an interesting day.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/the-nanny-and-the-senators/
