The United States Government Is Pure Crap. Yes, I said It.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

We are now relying on the testimony of a TV comedian who spent a "day in the life" moment with farm workers.

This is sad. This is pathetic. We really can't get much worse than this as a nation right now.

If we weren't a joke in the world, we sure as hell are now....

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http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/24/colbert.house.testimony/index.html?hpt=T1

(CNN) -- Stephen Colbert shined his comedic light on farm labor and immigration for his TV show. Now a House subcommittee is about to have him draw attention to the issues on Capitol Hill.

The Comedy Central funnyman, fresh off Thursday night's "The Colbert Report" episode showing him packing corn and picking beans on a farm as part of a challenge from a pro-immigrant-labor group, is to appear before a House subcommittee on immigration.

He is expected to relate his experiences during the "Take Our Jobs" campaign, in which he spent a day with immigrant farm workers.

"They say that you truly know a man after you've walked a mile in his shoes, and while I have nowhere near the hardships of these struggling immigrants, I have been granted a sliver of insight," according to his opening statement released in advance of his testimony.

He didn't answer any questions as he entered the chamber, but tweeted, "There's no good emoticon for testifying before Congress. This'll have to do: [8^($) The $ represents the value of the truth I'll be spewing."

Colbert will appear alongside United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez, whose group over the summer launched "Take Our Jobs," a campaign that challenged U.S. citizens to replace immigrants in farm work.

The group, which says only seven citizens or legal residents have taken it up on the offer, argues that immigrant workers aren't taking citizens' jobs, and is pushing for a bill that would give undocumented farm workers currently in the United States the right to earn legal status.

Pedro Ribeiro, a spokesman for the panel's chairwoman, Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, said he didn't know how much in character -- the hyper-patriotic, mock-conservative talk show host that he plays on TV -- Colbert would be. According to The Daily Caller website, Colbert would appear before Congress in character.

Two sources told CNN that Colbert's prepared testimony is straightforward.

"It's not quite clear which way it's going to come out, but it's not going to be the same bombastic style you see on TV because there's a certain decorum, and he's aware of it," an aide familiar with the testimony said. "It will be funny, but not insulting."

"I don't think its a stunt," Lofgren said. "Celebrities add pizzazz to an issue."

On his show Thursday night, Colbert mocked those who deride his appearance, saying he agreed that showing up in character would "sully the good name of experts that Republican-controlled Congresses have actually called to testify in the past," like Elmo, the Sesame Street character who promoted music education before a House subcommittee in 2002.

Ribeiro said the Colbert's appearance in Washington was precipitated by his day on the upstate New York farm, which Lofgren also visited.

"It stems from [Colbert and Lofgren] having worked together on the farm for a day," Ribeiro said.

Phil B. Glaize, chairman of the U.S. Apple Association, and Carol M. Swain, a Vanderbilt University professor, also will testify at the hearing, according to the committee's witness list.

A Republican on the subcommittee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, didn't seem impressed Thursday that Colbert was called to testify. On his Twitter account, Chaffetz said: "What a joke. All the serious issues and we have Colbert as an 'expert.' I am a fan of Colbert, but immigration expert???"

A House Democratic aide, meanwhile, told CNN that House Democrats were buzzing about Colbert's appearance, saying that although he is a comedian, his testimony would be a good way to get attention on the issue.

Colbert explored the issue in July, when Rodriguez came on his show to discuss the "Take Our Jobs" campaign. When Rodriguez told him only three citizens signed up to work on a farm, Colbert told him he'd be the fourth.

The intersection between comedy and politics is nothing new for Colbert, who frequently interviews politicians and commentators.

Colbert this week aired two episodes on his visit to the farm in Hurley, New York, the first of which showed him interviewing Lofgren. When talking about migrant farm workers, she said the United States has two types of signs at the border -- one that says, "No trespassing," and another that says, "Help wanted."

Playing his role as a host with exaggerated conservative views, Colbert responded, "Just take down the help wanted sign. Problem solved. We could get a lot of people in America back to work."

Colbert, along with Comedy Central cohort Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show," also is involved in a send-up of conservative talk show host Glenn Beck's "Restoring America Rally" on Washington's National Mall.

Beck's August rally urged large crowds to "turn back to God" and return America to its founding values. Stewart responded by planning a "Rally to Restore Sanity" for October 30 in Washington. Colbert is countering Stewart with a "March to Keep Fear Alive."

Colbert also announced a bid for the presidency in October 2007, saying he would try to get his name on Democratic and Republican primary ballots in his home state of South Carolina. Democrats rejected his bid, and Colbert said the fee to get on the GOP ballot was too expensive, so he backed down.

A source familiar with Colbert's strategy told CNN at the time that he was using the candidacy to promote his home state. Colbert asked supporters to donate money to South Carolina schools.

Colbert was in character on Thursday when he told ABC's "Good Morning America" about his experience at the New York farm.

"I went out there, and I worked 10 hours in the fields. And I had to stop because my doctors told me I had developed a condition known as a blister," Colbert said on the ABC program.

[^_^ 5,021]

On his show Thursday night, Colbert mocked those who deride his appearance, saying he agreed that showing up in character would "sully the good name of experts that Republican-controlled Congresses have actually called to testify in the past," like Elmo, the Sesame Street character who promoted music education before a House subcommittee in 2002.

I thought he was kidding about Elmo testifying but it turns out he wasn't!

In what may be the first appearance of a Muppet before a congressional committee, "Sesame Street" favorite Elmo donned his best suit and tie and took his cause to Capitol Hill.The red furry friend to toddlers everywhere gave evidence before the Education Appropriations Subcommittee to urge more spending on music research and musical instruments for school programs.But why was this issue so close to the red-furry heart of the oft-tickled one, who's only 3?

His mission was to ensure that "when Elmo goes to school, there will be the instruments to play," he explained before joining Joe Lamond, head of an international trade association of musical instrument makers, in the committee room.

Edited September 24, 2010 by Legacy member

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I thought he was kidding about Elmo testifying but it turns out he wasn't!

In what may be the first appearance of a Muppet before a congressional committee, "Sesame Street" favorite Elmo donned his best suit and tie and took his cause to Capitol Hill.The red furry friend to toddlers everywhere gave evidence before the Education Appropriations Subcommittee to urge more spending on music research and musical instruments for school programs.But why was this issue so close to the red-furry heart of the oft-tickled one, who's only 3?

His mission was to ensure that "when Elmo goes to school, there will be the instruments to play," he explained before joining Joe Lamond, head of an international trade association of musical instrument makers, in the committee room.

*sigh*

How 'low' can we go?

[^_^ 5,021]

to the window, to the wall!

to the sweat drop down ma ballz

eta:the next two lines are against tos.

Edited September 24, 2010 by Legacy member

[spookyturtle 9,466]

to the window, to the wall!

to the sweat drop down ma ballz

eta:the next two lines are against tos.

You'll probably be suspended for referring to something against TOS. It's the new, tough love moderation.

[^_^ 5,021]

You'll probably be suspended for referring to something against TOS. It's the new, tough love moderation.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

And I'll probably be suspended for posting that too.

[^_^ 5,021]

Looks like he really did stay in character. I can't wait to watch his show tonight!

Stephen Colbert ... failed to amuse lawmakers Friday during a House panel hearing on farm jobs and illegal immigrants.

The host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" stayed in character during testimony as he made light of his experience working for one day as a migrant laborer on a vegetable farm in New York.

"America's farms are presently far too dependent on immigrant labor to pick our fruits and vegetables," he said. "Now the obvious answer is for all of us to stop eating fruits and vegetables and if you look at the recent obesity statistics, you'll see that many Americans have already started."

While some audience members laughed, most the members of the House Judiciary subcommittee barely cracked a smile.

"This is America," Colbert continued. "I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian."

...

In his testimony, Colbert discussed his one-day experience as a migrant laborer.

"I started my my work day with preconceived notions of migrant labor but after working with these men and women picking beans, packing corn for hours on end side by side in the unforgiving sun, I have to say -- and I do mean this sincerely -- please don't make me do this again," he said. "It is really, really hard work."

Colbert said his day on a farm left him traumatized.

"I don't even want to watch Green Acres again," he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/24/stephen-colbert-appears-capitol-hill-hearing-illegal-immigrants/

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I hear harp music.

Well, but you aren't talking about Republicans though, right? Are you?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

*sigh*

How 'low' can we go?

We should be SO glad the Soviet Union was dismantled before this bunch of clowns got in control. Hopefully we will recover and get a goalie back in the net before someone realizes what is going on.

[alienlovechild 75]

In what may be the first appearance of a Muppet before a congressional committee, "Sesame Street" favorite Elmo donned his best suit and tie and took his cause to Capitol Hill.The red furry friend to toddlers everywhere gave evidence before the Education Appropriations Subcommittee to urge more spending on music research and musical instruments for school programs.But why was this issue so close to the red-furry heart of the oft-tickled one, who's only 3?

I don't think Elmo is a real person on a show that expresses a political slant unlike Colbert.

[Darnell 8,478]

it's interesting - one of the committee members , at first minute of the hearing -

asked him to recuse himself (get the f out) and only rely on his written testimony.

I was waiting for the explosion from Stephen, but his microphone was turned off.

Finally, the committee chair 'allowed him to stay'.

Nice 'shot across the bow' , though, from that committee member.

his testimony might have had more weight if he was able to answer those 'other' questions:

1. how many workers in the field with you that day?

2. how many were illegal aliens?

3. what was the wage paid to illegals?

4. what was the wage paid to legal immigrants?

5. what was the wage paid to us citizen workers?

ya, I watched it, live, taped it also, made copious notes. Stephen had a chance to make a difference with testimony, and IMO, just wasn't 'serious enough' to make a difference.

Edited September 27, 2010 by Darnell

[Heracles 417]

Is this a joke or did this guy really testify?

[mawilson 2,133]

Is this a joke or did this guy really testify?

He really did.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Is this a joke or did this guy really testify?

Seriously he did. Well, not so seriously. He was called there by a Democrat commitee chair, just a coincidence she was a Dem, I am sure, could have been a Republican that called him to "testify" on any other day. Sheeeesh. When asked to leave by the adult members of the, ahem, Senate (can we still call it that?) He said he would only leave if the person that invited him said to. Nyah, nyah.

Change you can believe in.

I hope the whole lot of fu*kwits gets tossed in November.