by INFORUM
Colbert delivers the whole truthiness’ to Congress
September 24, 2010 at 8:22 am in INFORUM
WASHINGTON Colbert Nation came to Capitol Hill on Friday, turning a hearing on the contentious issue of illegal immigrant employment into an extended skit for the Comedy Central television host. Continue Reading
If you don’t want a Capital Hill hearing to be turned into a comedy skit, don’t invite a comedian to speak. When you do indeed invite a comedian to speak, expect to hear jokes.
I bet, tho, that Colbert had an absolute blast! Should give him a week’s worth of fodder for his show, I’m sure.
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Unfortunately satire is lost on republicans who, I’m sure, think Colbert is completely serious.
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LMAO!!
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Amazing that we keep hearing from the right about how there are all these Americans willing to do these jobs and after all the attention this got across the country a mere 16 people came forward to work in the fields.
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I love it! Colbert and Stewart are great! Fun to watch.
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I’m a huge fan.. but IMO, it wasn’t the time or place.
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I agree. Of course, then Mr. Colbert shouldn’t have been invited…
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Not sure why the
, just because I tend to vote Democrat doesn’t mean I think they can do no wrong.
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Actually, it should have been just an outright smile…
rather than a winky-grin… my fingers tend to get ahead of me…
Wasn’t trying to imply that you somehow blindly follow party lines, Barb. (and I do agree – both parties have a laundry list of faults they can’t seem to shake …) Sorry for the misunderstanding.
(intentional smiley face)
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I have always considered congress a joke…….
Now they have proven it. And we paid for this frivolous demonstration!
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The taxpayers paid for all the water he could drink and the electricity to power his microphone for 5 minutes.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/360017/september-23-2010/fallback-position—migrant-worker-pt–2
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If congress thinks this is serious enough to bring Colbert in then Congress is the joke. Time to vote for replacements.
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Yea how dare he address one of the major talking points of the Republicans and (mostly) the deluded Tea Partiers? I mean, I thought they were the ones bringing these bills to the forefront and if you don’t support them you are what’s bringing America to the bottom? That’s how Hannity says it anyway.
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That he was invited to speak before Congress in a time when there are far more pressing issues shows the depravity and not ready for prime time democrats. That it is news is a testament to the sad & pathetic times we live in.
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No, it is a testament to the fact that he actually took part in the program.
Of course, he did it as part of his show, so his “character” showed up vs him which I guess is logical on some level. However, if more serious people had taken part, especially the ones crying about all the jobs illegal immigrants are stealing, then I’m sure they would have been invited.
Like so many things today we see the hypocrisy. Hypocrisy of people complaining about losing jobs that they wouldn’t do even if they were starving.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Marty…do you have information we don’t have? I’ve seen more than one documentary about this topic and there are just some jobs people have to do, aren’t there?
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Actually there wouldn’t be any need for farmers. If the large corps took over the ag industry they could run all the machines like robots and it wouldn’t require any labor. With GPS and all of the technology out there, it can be done now. Then we could get rid of the billions of dollars in federal ag supports that drag down the economy and take hard earned dollars from taxpayers and give it to the rich.
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Many farms are large corporations on their own.
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Most of the Red River Valley farmers I know are Democrats.
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I signed up for those jobs, nobody contacted me.
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Yeah–I’d much rather hear the tea party speaking their lofty thoughts and waving their lofty signs…No pubic option is my favorite. Spelling is a must when making a sign!
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How can I be mad at my favorite goofball? Maybe if he wasn’t so good-looking it would help.
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I thought the steroid hearings were about as foolish as Congress could look. I was wrong, this tops it. What next, putting a bunch of congressmen/women together in a huge house on a hill in Hollywood and watching them ‘interact’ once a week on MTV? This is what they think of us, a bunch of rubes who want to be simply entertained by Congress. Remember this whenever these idiots in congress start telling you how this or that bill is going to help the ‘little guy’. This is what they think of the ‘little guy’ – you are an idiot who will agree with anything as long as it comes out of the mouth of a ‘celebrity’.
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How about calling Elmo to testify!? Oh, wait. The republicans did that already.
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Didn’t say Democrat or Republican. I think the steroid hearings were done under Republican leadership. I just think Congress in general thinks we will forget how horrible they are at their jobs if we are provided a little distraction. ‘Don’t ask us about runaway national debt, look at the funny man behind the microphone!’
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The people behind Colbert were hilarious. They were trying to keep a straight face, but you could tell they were enjoying it and trying not to laugh. I think we should have a Laugh at Congress and Politicians Day. It would just confirm how big of a joke Congress and government really is.
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Brilliant marketing on the part of the liberals in congress. Why not bring in a popular celebrity to make yourselves looks like one of the people? It has two purposes. One, it makes Colbert more credible to a large number of people, and two, the congress looks more fun and personable. Additionally all the mockery of anyone who opposes their ideas does not have to come from congress. They have a comedian to call more than half the country stupid.
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This makes Colbert more credible? I rest my case on my earlier comments.
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The Democrats show us how seriously they take the real issues that are troubling the nation. Such bipartisanship! We will show them the same respect after November. Count on it. The Democrats have shown utter contempt for the American people.
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“The Democrats” are no more one body responsible for the actions of everyone in their party than “The Republicans”. That’s the problem. Individuals on BOTH sides get to hide behind the apron of their party leadership and throw rocks at each other instead of being held accountable as individuals.
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“utter contempt”? Ah, come on – that’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? A stupid, stupid idea, I will agree… (yes, stupid, despite how amusing Colbert was…)
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The free lunch bunch is toast! LOL!
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I found his appearance less humorous than I expected (from a critical standpoint, I think he was “trying too hard” for the funny), but there were some fantastic points made. Especially during question period.
I’d be interested in reading a critique and counterpoint to his remarks if anyone cares to post it. I’m fairly conservative, but found little with which I could argue. I may have missed serious rebuttal…if so, I apologize.
To Kevin I ask, “Which free lunch bunch?” The one that wants free lunch for “main street” or the bunch that wants it for “Wall Street?”
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Colbert and Stewart should be applauded for getting younger viewers to take an interest in what’s going on around them. Personally, I find their news programs cover much of what is not discussed in other “more serious” news outlets. They bring in valid and credible guests. A while back, FOX tried to copy their format, but the right really doesn’t seem to grasp irony or satire. It was a half hour of two hosts staring straight into the camera reciting hateful, sophomoric one-liners against anything and anyone progressive or liberal. Kinda like cheney/bush “looking for WMD” in the Whitehouse. Lasted about a month I believe. Colbert rocks!
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Who cares.
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I signed up to work in agricultural jobs at the union website. No one contacted me about it. I have been doing that kind of work on my own accord anyway this summer, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I wouldn’t mind doing it for a career, however I will now be the owner of the farm as well. It isn’t the work that would make me not want to work with them, it is the union. I will not work at a union run facility, thank you.
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I find Colbert funny, but that he was brought into a committee hearing, which presumably, was about a serious topic, is a bad joke. Unfortunately, this is the kind of Congress we elect.
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There is absolutely nothing humorous about the sad state of this country. The fact that a sorry bunch of people think that his appearance is funny, speaks volumes.
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The fact that people believe anything that is spewed to them is sadder yet. Want to run for political office–gather your spouse and children for a picture and put it on your ads (even though you cheat on your wife, are gay, never see your children, etc)–the ignorant public who doesn’t want to read will believe you have family values. Once again gather the family, get a bible and get photographed leaving church and the idiots will clap and say yes, a man/woman of religion. Then the icing on the cake–make your adoring public fear another group different from them and you have it made. You can now get them to vote against their pocketbooks while you merrily suck up all the corporate money and do the CEO’s bidding.
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I could care less if they hold a bible, but then I don’t see a bible as a qualifiying characteristic that is required of any politician. I could care less if they are married with children, single or gay or that they cheat on their wife/hubby. So what, as long as what they do isn’t illegal, it shouldn’t disqualify them from being considered to become elected. If anything, the sordid details that certain outlets get wet over are insignificant smear campaigns to take the heat of themselves and try to redirect attention to something that has NOTHING to do with what ails this country.
It’s pretty sad that the national news has such a limited focus, and that major media puts out the kind of stories that it does. The narrative is controlled and orchestrated according to the dictates of a political party and it’s agenda. Currently, the focus is on this woman. Who’s next?
What is really odd is that there is little focus on local election coverage…why aren’t we discussing what’s direcly affecting OUR own area and the candidates that we have? Instead we’ve been stuck on a race taking place somewhere half a country away, where NONE of us will be voting.
Yesterday, I got a visit from the local sheriff, who’s up for re-election this fall. To be honest, I can’t even consider his opponent because I have NO clue who the guy is, and to date, he hasn’t bothered to stop by and introduce himself either. The local paper hasn’t bothered to print a single article comparing stances on issues or anthying.
He could have great ideas, or be exactly what the county needs, but since I haven’t met him, nor read a single thing about him, why should I consider blindly coloring in a dot next to a name that I only recognize as a candidate for sheriff? Seriously, as a resident, I have concerns and I have lived here my whole life, thru a number of sheriff elections to know that it does matter WHO you put in that office. The right person will do the job, the wrong one will pander to a special interest by looking the other way.
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I’m pretty sure what is happening in Washington affects us all, however, I agree with you that it would be nice to see more local coverage.
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Do we concern ourselves with one rep out of 435 or the political ideals of a party?
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I concern myself with 435 reps of 435, and 100 senators of 100, and 1 president and one vice president. I also concern myself with every initiated measure, and all statewide races. At the county level, I do the best I can to gather information to make myself the most aware voter I can be.
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not to mention the myriad of political hacks working in the various departments of gov’t, and politics within other state governments, and the general political culture. And then, I also think about the judiciary, mainly at the federal level, but occasionally at the state level as well.
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And this message is approved by______________ fill in the blank. So sick of politicians that use that line.
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You and me both, JC!
That sounds so much like a modern day rubber stamp.
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