U2 frontman Bono made his triumphant return to Washington on Wednesday night, and Roll Call’s Alison McSherry reports that the superstar drew quite the crowd — which included several Members of Congress — when he picked up an award for his humanitarian work.

The rock star joined dignitaries from near and far (including former President Bill Clinton) at the awards dinner for the Atlantic Council held at the Ritz-Carlton. Bono, who co-founded the ONE Campaign, received an award for distinguished humanitarian leadership, while Clinton took home a prize for distinguished international leadership.

Clinton arrived late to the party, leaving Bono to deal with throngs of well-wishers on his own. And there were plenty of well-wishers.

The Irish rock star, who wore blue-tinted glasses to the black-tie gala, was seated in the middle of the room beside Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). But he appeared gracious about all the attention — during a break in the program, he abandoned his seat to chat with the mob of guests jockeying for photos and handshakes.

McCain introduced Bono on stage, joking that he’s “found over the years that the only ethnic jokes that can be told in politics are Irish jokes.”

Several other Members attended the dinner as well, including Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who spent much of the evening comparing BlackBerrys with his dinner companion, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, who acts as chairman of the council, also appeared at the star-studded soiree. So who would Hagel rather have a drink with: Clinton or Bono?

“Both of them,” Hagel replied. “I’ve already had drinks with Bill Clinton, and he’s a lot of fun. This is kind of like having drinks with Bono.”

Sure, drinks with Bono and 900 of his closest friends.

Making the Cut

Three current Members of Congress were named to Time Magazine’s 2010 Time 100 on Thursday, the annual list of people chosen by the magazine as those “who most affect our world.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi makes a repeat appearance, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton writing in an essay that the California Democrat “became famous for being the first female Speaker, and she will always be a role model for women and girls because of her trailblazing accomplishments.”

Sen. Scott Brown was also named, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) writing that “the course of American politics was changed” with the Massachusetts Republican’s special election win. (HOH can’t help but love Time’s photo of Brown, who is spinning a basketball on his fingertip in an ornate Congressional hallway.)

Also on this year’s list: Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) writes few “people have his command of policy, his knowledge of its nuances or his grip on how they fit together.”

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