Nashville Songwriter Headlines 15-Minute Congressional Christmas Party That Featured Spray Cheese & Mountain Dew

That’s my kind of Christmas party.

I know this is going to make me sound like Scrooge, but I don’t really get all that into Christmas. I hate snow, I hate Christmas music, and exchanging gifts is more stress than it’s worth. In fact the only thing I really enjoy about Christmas is getting to see my family, and watching Christmas Vacation, which is undeniably the best Christmas movie and I won’t be entertaining any arguments to the contrary.

I usually end up going to a few Christmas parties every year, but that’s usually because I feel obligated to show up. But if they were all like Congressman Tim Burchett’s party, though, I probably wouldn’t dread them as much.

If you’re not familiar with Rep. Burchett, you’re missing out. The Republican from Tennessee is easily one of the funniest members of Congress, and it’s not particularly close.

Well Burchett recently got into the holiday spirit by hosting his annual Christmas party in his office on Capitol Hill. And I know what you’re thinking: Oh great, another elected official throwing massive parties using taxpayer money. But I have a feeling this one didn’t set the American people back too much.

As he announced while extending invitations, Burchett’s Christmas party is only 15 minutes long.

A (pending) PB&J bar? Sign me up. But why only 15 minutes? Well according to the Congressman:

“Last year it went to 16, but we thought it dragged on too much…

You go to a dadgum Christmas party and what happens? You get cornered by somebody who’s half-lit and they got wine breath, and they’re cornering you over there for 15 minutes, and that’s about all you can take. So, I’m thinking, 15 minutes is all you need for a dadgum Christmas party. You can say your piece and go on about it.”

Well yesterday was the big day, and Congressional staff, employees and representatives indeed joined Burchett in his office for his 15-minute party. Even Democrat Senator John Fetterman crossed the aisle, and Capitol Hill, to join in on the fun – and the spray cheese:

The party also featured entertainment from Nashville singer and songwriter Gary Chapman, who was formerly married to Amy Grant and has released a dozen of his own contemporary Christian albums.

Burchett introduced Chapman as he performed his song “Tennessee Christmas,” though he probably didn’t have time to dig very deep into his catalog:

@annalissroyMountain Dew, PBJs and cheese whiz. This annual Christmas party, hosted by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee), brought 15 minutes of merriment to Capitol Hill.

♬ original sound – Anna Liss-Roy

It looks like a pretty good turnout for the annual event, which makes sense considering the refreshments that consisted of Ritz crackers, spray cheese and Mountain Dew. Who wouldn’t want to go to that party?

And after 15 minutes? It was back to work…well, as much as what they do on Capitol Hill can be called “work.”

I interned in the Senate one summer, so I know that this isn’t how most Congressional parties go. (You wouldn’t believe how much people drink in that town…actually you probably would, but it’s a lot). Honestly though, I think this party would be much more my speed.

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