Congratulations to Colbert
by digby
Just this:
And lordy, remember this?
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Beltway Quilting Bee And Ladies Pearl Clutching Societyby digby
Oh dear. It appears that Stephen Colbert offended the delicate sensibilities of the Beltway Quilting Bee and Ladies Pearl Clutching Society:
Comedian Stephen Colbert commandeered a hearing on migrant farm workers with lewd one-liners Friday morning, creating a public relations pile-up at the tail end of a legislative session that is limping into a pre-election recess.
It was lost on no one that the Comedy Central faux news anchor delivered his off-color rant against the backdrop of the House canceling floor votes for the rest of this week as Democratic leaders struggle to reach consensus on how to move a simple stopgap spending bill that will prevent the government from shutting down on Oct. 1.
“I would like to submit a video of my colonoscopy into the Congressional Record,” he told mortified lawmakers at one point. “Sorry for saying cornpacker, I know it’s an offensive term for gay Iowans,” he told conservative Iowa Rep. Steve King. He made reference to getting a “Brazilian” — a wax-based hair-removal service in a very delicate area of the body — from a Chilean at a spa serving tomatoes sliced by a Guatemalan.
Colbert’s comedic rant was also a sleight of hand – his “prepared” testimony was passed out to the media before he spoke, and it was a bland, seemingly straightforward speech on migrant workers in America.
Asked about whether the comedian’s appearance before a House panel Friday morning was appropriate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hadn’t seen it but applauded him for testifying before Congress…
[I]t’s not as if some Democrats on the committee couldn’t see the disaster coming.
Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) implored Colbert to simply enter his testimony into the record without speaking.
Some in the room gasped. Colbert muttered into the mic: “No hablo Ingles,” before straightening up and asking Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the subcommittee chairwoman, if she’d prefer if he left the room.
@Chuck Todd has been wringing his hands for hours. Rough translation:
Lawdy, lawdy lawdy!! Bring me the smellin’ salts Miss Mellie, I almost like to daaaah! Ah have nevah been so appalled in mah laaaahf! Why, po Aunt Pittypat fainted dead awaaay!
Of course in a world where Glenn Beck is considered a serious political figure, I suppose you can’t blame them for not getting the joke.
I will miss “Stephen Colbert” more than I can say. But Stephen Colbert couldn’t keep that up forever. He’s actually a wonderful interviewer and a super smart cultural observer, whether in character or not. He’s an excellent choice to take on Late Night. I’m very happy for him.
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