Last night, Stephen Colbert and an assembled cast of Washington’s leading lights raised more than $450,000 for the Spina Bifida Association. A fine outcome for a fundraiser dinner roast, in which Stephen Colbert served as the roast’s subject. Target? Guest of (dis)honor? Never mind the finer points: How did he fare against Eleanor Holmes Norton?

The District’s favorite House fighter appeared at the Washington Hilton event on a panel of roasters that also included Rahm Emanuel, newly appointed chief of staff to President-elect Barack Obama; Sen. Orin Hatch (R-UT); and Dana Perino, White House press secretary. NewsHour pundit Mark Shields, who hosted the roast, got in his own shots on TV’s favorite late-night conservative.

Despite the formidable stature of each of the assembled panelists, all eyes were clearly on Eleanor Holmes Norton, who, unlike the other figures on the panel, appeared on Colbert’s home turf several times — and held her own in every instance.

Last night proved that EHN works best when she’s fueled by the fire of honest indignation. When both panelists and Colbert were introduced to the audience, giant panel screens broadcast clips from her appearances on The Colbert Report: memorable moments, such as when Norton j’accused Colbert (who was born in the District) of Frrrannnnch origins — or the time when Colbert took the opportunity of the House vote bell’s ring to remind EHN that the District has no vote in Congress.