The Senate majority leader uses a memorable phrase coined by Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper.

Updated, 3:39 p.m.

Ever since Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper laughed off a question about drinking beer by telling a reporter, "that's a clown question, bro," there's been an unofficial sweepstakes in D.C. Which politician would be the first to use the phrase in an official context? Would it be the fratty Rep. Aaron Shock? Wannabe hipster and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney? A Twitter enthusiast like Senator Claire McCaskill?

The real winner is surprising: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. On Tuesday afternoon, Roll Call's Steven Dennis asked Reid whether his Republican counterpart Mitch McConnell was waiting for Mitt Romney to weigh in on President Obama's immigration order before speaking out. That's when Reid delivered the line:

"That's a clown question, bro."

Though he seems bone-dry, the Nevadan is actually full of surprises -- for example, he's also a Deadhead and once got into a fistfight with his father-in-law. And as Ben Jacobs points out, both Harper and Reid are Mormons from Nevada.

Meanwhile, Fox News' Chris Wallace merits an honorable mention. Although he's a member of the press and not a politician, we're still impressed by the way he smoothly dropped the phrase Monday, confusing buttoned-up colleague Shep Smith: