Stephen Colbert, You Are My Hero!!
Reported by Marie Therese - April 29, 2006
Tonight Stephen Colbert reaffirmed my faith in - well - just about everything. In a scheduled appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner, broadcast live on C-SPAN, he used his now-famous impersonation of a right-wing talk show host to land barb after barb at everyone in the Bush administration. It was a marvel. The man has guts, folks, because right now in Right Wing Land thousands of fingers are frantically clackety-clacking away, writing insults to post on their favorite conservative websites. They are also dialing right-wing talk shows to call Mr. Colbert every name in the book, threaten him with death and accuse him of besmirching and disrespecting the office of the President of the United States. As for FOX News, expect an avalanche of apoplectic invective come Monday (maybe tomorrow?). Editor & Publisher has already chimed in with its two cents, claiming that the President was not amused.
Thankfully, political comedy is alive and well and tonight Stephen Colbert gave the Washington elite a huge dose of the truth wrapped in humor. He was refreshing, clear-voiced and committed as he delivered the "news and commentary" with the same tart wit we have all come to know and love.
His performance was especially telling coming as it did after a schizophrenic and bizarre routine in which the President stood at the podium next to an impersonation of himself, skillfully done by comedian Steve Bridges.
(AP Photo)
The President would say a few perfunctory things and then his doppelganger would let the audience in on what he was "really" thinking. There were funny moments but the total effect was eerie. It was as if Bridges was the Court Jester for King George. I found the whole thing dissonant and surreal.
You can watch a portion of Colbert's routine at Crooks and Liars.
C-SPAN is rebroadcasting the entire event at 5:30 AM EDT.
If you'd like to drop a note to Mr. Colbert, you can use the Comedy Central online form. They will forward your comments to him.
You can catch him on 60 Minutes tonight, Sunday, April 30, 2006.
