Stephen Colbert's testimony

[Uncle Ted]

Well stated and I concur. What a waste of time and energy Washington D.C. is, the whole thing is a sham and there is no reason to get worked up between Dems and Repubs. What a joke, I might never vote again.

Both Dems and Repubs are a joke... This is yet another reason to keep voting Libertarian.

[oxcoug]

The whole spectacle bothered me. I thought the subcommittee chair was ridiculous for inviting him. She then compounded the mistake by asking him to stay after Chairman Conyers asked him to leave. I won't be surprised if she faces a pretty big internal political hit for that.

I'm also disappointed with Colbert. I think he puts on a great show and make me laugh quite a bit. But he had an opportunity to testify before Congress on behalf of a group who have almost no political allies, but he blew it just to be an asshole. Nobody will remember anything he said to raise awareness for the plight of migrant workers, instead it will be about his request for his colonoscopy video to be inserted into the record and a Brazillian wax reference.

I know I'm being uptight about this. It just doesn't sit well with me that in the middle of a war, budget battle (still no FY11 budget passed or even a CR vote), immigration debate, tax cut debate, and record unemployment we get this kind of tomfoolery. This is what leads the news and I find it pretty frustrating.

With you on this man. I like Colbert, I think he's got one kind of comedic genius. But this stunt was dreck - I don't really fault him as much as the people who put him there but I thought he'd have enough dignity to at least respect the institution.

[All-American]

With you on this man. I like Colbert, I think he's got one kind of comedic genius. But this stunt was dreck - I don't really fault him as much as the people who put him there but I thought he'd have enough dignity to at least respect the institution.

He's got a job to think about. The more he breaks character, the more he compromises the integrity of his brand. I don't know that I can fault him.

[DU Ute]

I think he missed an opportunity. The jokes didn't bother me too much, I just kept waiting for him to wrap it up on a serious note, but it never came.

[Tim]

I think he missed an opportunity. The jokes didn't bother me too much, I just kept waiting for him to wrap it up on a serious note, but it never came.

The video I saw, he definitely turned the character off at the end and closed on a serious note. Im on my phone so I don't have the link.

[Flystripper]

That's because you agree with him. Would you have found it equally genius for Dennis Miller to be invited to mock the Democrats?

Actually I would

[frank ryan]

Id never heard of the Take Our Jobs program, by the United Farm Workers. He is at least getting it some publicity. It may or may not be effective but he has raised their profile.

[il Padrino Ute]

Colbert is, has always been and will always be an ass. This spectacle was just a mockery of the process and he only did it to further his own asshattery. The largest amount of blame - or shame perhaps - falls on whoever it was who invited him to testify. Did she really think he would say anything pertinent or valuable?

I didn't think it was possible, but a new low was reached.

[Maximus]

I think some people here are way too uptight. I do not see how 5 minutes of joking in congress is a big deal. He made some jokes, some people laughed, and everyone moved on.

Might I add, different characters from different shows have been invited before to testify before congress.

[woot]

I used to be a big Colbert fan but have mostly moved on, as I find his shtick pretty tiring now. I think his character limits what he can do to stay fresh. That having been said, congress is a joke. It's perfectly fitting that they'd invite a comedian to testify.

[BoylenOver]

I think the whole thing was a waste of time and money. You'd think the people on the committee would have more important things to do like meet with lobbyists.

Also, why invite a funny person pretending to be a pompous asshole when there's hundreds of dreadfully serious people who are actually pompous assholes?

I think it's funny that a lot of people in this thread find it to be a waste of time. The political process as it stands is a waste of time. Who actually expects progress on the important issues of the day?

[thesaint258]

The political process as it stands is a waste of time. Who actually expects progress on the important issues of the day?

I keep hoping that someone in charge (at this point I don't care of it's a Republican or a Democrat) steps up and says that they need to start running the country rather than treating governance as an election tool. I think the process, though slow, is important. It lets issues be debated and it allows liberals and conservatives to work out compromises. It can take time, but I think that's good. The biggest problem that I see is that pretty much everyone in Congress has getting reelected as their top priority, so they act and legislate accordingly.

[CardiacCoug]

I keep hoping that someone in charge (at this point I don't care of it's a Republican or a Democrat) steps up and says that they need to start running the country rather than treating governance as an election tool. I think the process, though slow, is important. It lets issues be debated and it allows liberals and conservatives to work out compromises. It can take time, but I think that's good. The biggest problem that I see is that pretty much everyone in Congress has getting reelected as their top priority, so they act and legislate accordingly.

Great point. Limiting the Presidency to a single 5-6 year term might be one way to increase the amount of political compromise, at least at the Presidential level. There is a reason that the Senate is more moderate than the House -- they don't have to run for re-election every 2 years.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Also, why invite a funny person pretending to be a pompous asshole when there's hundreds of dreadfully serious people who are actually pompous assholes?

LOL

[myboynoah]

Stephen Colbert becomes another circus of Congress's making

But Colbert's testimony was not history repeating itself as farce -- it was history starting as farce. That's to be expected when lawmakers appear, at their own risk, on "The Colbert Report." But there is a difference between lawmakers electing to be a prop in Colbert's show and letting Colbert turn their show into his prop.

- - - - - - - -

Colbert and Jon Stewart have more than enough material to lampoon politicians without Congress inviting them over for more. As usual, Stewart said it best, during his show Monday night. "Of course Colbert is more embarrassed than the House of Representatives," he said. "Colbert still has dignity and integrity left to lose."