Nearly two weeks after many members of Congress and the media gave Stephen Colbert a giant wag of the finger for testifying during a congressional hearing about immigration, the Colbert Report host appeared on the Late Show last night to chat with David Letterman about the ordeal. Even more refreshing than seeing a sense of humor on Capitol Hill in late September was watching Colbert talk to the late-night host out of character. (Something that’s rarer than a Stephen Jr. sighting!) “When Congress asks you to testify, how do you say no?” said Colbert, who was invited to testify by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren after he spent 10 hours on a farm in Upstate New York, working with the United Farm Workers of America and the Take Our Jobs campaign. He also addressed the media hullabaloo surrounding his testimony: “I said … ‘I’m happy to bring attention to this issue if you think that would help in some way, but I’m going to do it the way I do it because there’s no other reason for me to go.’ And [Lofgren] goes, ‘That’s great, that’s what I want.’ And I said, ‘Now you don’t think there’s any chance that people are going to go, I don’t know, apes—?’” (See video embedded below.)
Who else still thinks Colbert deserves a tip of the hat for his testimony?
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Stephen Colbert testifies for Congress
Sometimes you can take a joke too far. The Reps ae the real problem. They obviously didn’t take this issue seriously if they invited Colbert.
You can never take a joke too far. You can take being an hypersensitive, d-bag, pu*sy too far (which you obviously have), but never a joke.
Wow, you’re classy!
While I do think that you can (rarely) take a joke to far, I don’t think Colbert did. The issue is being discussed, after all. And for the record, some of my ancestors immigrated here illegally. They were on the Mayflower, and they were not invited.
Okay, Ceballos, we get it…you’re a horrible person.
What else ya got?
No…you can never take a joke too far. Just ask the kid who killed himself after someone posted his gay make-out on the internet.
That really wasn’t a joke, and in no way should it be compared to Colbert testifying in front of Congress, in character.
I dont think what colbert did to congress was really a joke… People listen to Colbert when he is in character, no one paid attention to him before he created that platform. And I know more about what went on in that session from his “joke” than I ever would have if he just went and testified. Heck, it probably would of come off pretentious to most people; that he thinks he is qualified to testify seriously. But he is obviously qualified to highlight the hypocrisy and contradictions held by too many members of congress. If people actually do care about the issue, what else could they ask those testifying to bring to the table: he highlighted many of the issues, brought attention to the commentary, got people talking about it, and made some people think about whether their beliefs make a lick of sense. Seriously, who cares how this is communicated as long as it actually is.
Colbert does not deserve a “tip of the hat”, nor does he deserve any condemnation for his testimony. Congress called him and he appeared. Representative Lofgren should be the one being ridiculed for not taking this seriously. Props should go to the committee chairman for trying to defuse this before it started.
How many of those reps – or anyone else for that matter – would’ve have taken up on the offer and done it?
I rest my case.
By ‘done it’ I meant go and work the fields. According to Stephen’s piece, the invitation was extended in early spring and at the time he went, he was only the seventh person to do it.
hella lame
Hella is hella yesterday
you’re just hella jealous.
Totally tired of Colbert’s self-importance, which at this point is greater than that of the guy he mocks. Also, I wish those amused by his simplistic plea to excuse all the illegal vegetable pickers would read Michelle Malkin’s column in which she gave voice to victims of horrible crimes committed by illegals — some of whom were kicked out of the country and then breezed back in! They’re not all good-hearted farmer types, to say the least. What’s wrong with supporting LEGAL immigration?
Oh Michelle Malkin, what a big hearted woman she is…talk about a self-important idiot who will do anything to put her face in front of cameras. She will use anybody’s story for her own gain. Give me a break… I don’t believe she cares a bit for people. If people were hurt by crimes committed by corporations – don’t believe for a second she would be on the people’s side.
HWWHAT!? “Colbert’s self-importance”… uh, noooo.
He brought attention to a problem that is ignored. Hats off too him
I found the whole thing kind of cringe-worthy; Congress should’ve known what they were getting themselves into. But his last statement was very sincere and pretty heartbreaking.
Stephen Colbert rocks ,if you don’t get it change the channel!!if you know how.
I love listening to politicians and wagging my finger at Colbert.
It takes away time from wagging my finger at Congress for failing to pass a bill to give free HI to 9/11 First Responders.