Posted on 09/29/2015 4:46:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
Stephen Colbert spent nine years mocking conservatives on a comedy program premised on mocking conservatives. It was a good fit; Colbert's political views lean left, and even after leaving his right-wing loudmouth character behind, he's been happy to dive into the most contentious political issues of the day. (Just watch the video he made in June celebrating the Supreme Court gay marriage decision and deriding its dissenters.)
Recently the new play-it-straight Colbert had Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz as a guest. Not long before, on his Sept. 8 premiere, Colbert had Jeb Bush. The appearances raised questions for Republicans considering future visits. Is Colbert really playing it straight? And is it worth appearing on his program?
Bush had a fairly easy time of it, and aides and candidate alike came away happy with the experience.
"The first Colbert show was a huge platform to reach a broad audience," Bush spokesman Tim Miller said. "Republicans in the past too often have avoided opportunities to do so. Jeb enjoyed it -- he thought the Colbert 'Jeb!' shtick was hilarious."
Yes, the "Jeb!" exchange was funny -- when Colbert asked Bush about the "!" in the logo and Bush explained that it "connotes excitement." The funny part, of course, was that it so obviously does not connote excitement in the current Bush campaign, so it's unclear if the exchange, taken as a whole, was good or bad for the candidate.
With Cruz, a good deal of the interview consisted of Colbert throwing out a tired set of Democratic talking points about Ronald Reagan and immigration. Colbert also seemed eager to pin Cruz down on gay marriage. When Cruz said, "What I'm fighting for are simple principles: live within our means, stop bankrupting our kids and grandkids, follow the Constitution," Colbert quickly added: "And no gay marriage. And no gay marriage."
When Cruz explained his belief that the Constitution leaves marriage to the states, the audience booed. Colbert shushed them. "Guys, however you feel, he's my guest, so please don't boo him," he said.
Later, Colbert almost begged Cruz to show that he's not a rigid, doctrinaire Republican.
"It's a matter of compromising," Colbert said to Cruz. "Will you be willing to compromise with the other side?"
Cruz handled it all pretty well, even winning some tepid applause at the end. His advisers thought the experience was positive; Cruz got to show a little humor, engage the issues in an informal context and appear before an audience that probably hadn't seen him before.
Maybe Cruz's team is right. Or maybe an interview crafted around an attempt to coax the Republican into explaining why he isn't one of those bad Republicans isn't entirely productive.
Of course, Democrats have appeared on Colbert, too. Bernie Sanders was on this week, before a very friendly audience that broke into chants of "Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" And Colbert also challenged Sanders, but in a way that seemed to make fun of the challenge, as opposed to making fun of Sanders.
For example, bringing up the fact that Sanders is a socialist, Colbert proposed to "play capitalism's advocate" for a moment. The United States is rich because of its capitalist system, he said. "If we became a socialist nation, we would be just like some Scandinavian country. We'd be eating pickled herring and we would have a high suicide rate. Why do you want that for the United States?"
The questions had a decidedly different feel than those directed at Cruz. And Colbert did not ask Sanders, who is at least as far to the left as Cruz is to the right, whether he could compromise with the other side.
So what should Republicans do? On the one hand there is the argument that they should not be afraid to step into a forum in which they will be challenged and even ridiculed. And there are always those much sought-after voters who will see the candidate for the first time.
On the other hand, Colbert is a talented professional comedian with a political bent. If he wants to make a candidate's positions look vaguely ridiculous -- all while seeming entirely civil -- he can. Do Republicans need to show that they are good sports by going along? And do such appearances really change any minds, anyway?
Whatever the case, GOP candidates are ready to go along. "The governor has been on Stephen's show many times, and they have a great rapport," said Mike Huckabee spokeswoman Alice Stewart, who added that an appearance is under discussion. "We welcome the opportunity to appear on his show because it allows Gov. Huckabee to discuss the issues, show his personality, and connect with an audience we may not reach through traditional news outlets."
Back in 2006, The New York Times looked at places which had the most Google searches for the name of Colbert's old show, "The Colbert Report." The result "reads like a ranking of the most liberal places in the country," the paper reported -- Portland, Madison, San Francisco, and other deep blue locales.
Of course, Colbert is on a different network now, without the right-wing cartoon character. But he's still Colbert, and Republicans have questions to ask themselves before appearing on his program.
Colbert was never playing a ‘character’ - its him
For Yebby to appear on Colbert makes sense.... He is Dhimmicrat Lite after all..... And that goes for Crispie Cream, Linda Graham and Juan McCain and a cast of hundreds of RINOS.
Republicans have about the same incentive Christians had meeting the lions. They are just entertainment. Most of rheir base probably doesn’t watch Colbert, just libs that like watching the carnage. And why give a jerk like this ratings?
The President has a duty, from "time to time" to address Congress on the State of the Nation, but, there is no requirement for any politician, from president on down, to talk to the press, formally or informally.
Conservative politicians should never talk to these hostile press outlets like Colbert.
There should be no White House press room or bureau or whatever it is called.
They should be thrown out of the White House.
Turn the room back into a bowling alley the way Nixon had it decked out.
Never. Don’t feed the ass.
I’ve never watched Colbert, Maher or Stewart and never will. Total and complete a-holes.
In politics, the purpose is to defeat your opponent, not appear on their hyperpartisan propaganda vehicles.
I can’t watch the guy, his ears creep me out. Besides, he is a liberal puke.
+1
Cruz ROCKED that appearance. He was way too smart for Colbert. I dont know how he thinks so fast on his feet. He’s brilliant.
Listen, it is what it is. We dont own the media. They do.
Cruz got applause at the end. applause!! it was tepid but maybe made some people think.
He was respectful and did tell the audience to stop booing.
I watched Cruz, then Trump on Colbert. on youtube.
He was neither fair nor unfair but I could see this man has character defects of such magnitude that he should not be allowed by any network to be cast in a spot that gets the national eye because of the example he sets, even if the spot is late night because that’s the younger crowd and his example misinforms and misguides them.
Fortunately, cable and satellite programmed television is on its way out. Free streaming is replacing it.
Given this trend, the left picks talent in the form of wisecrackers and clowns to forward their message. The remedy is for conservatives to promote their brands of talent over those of the left. New comedic talents such as Brian Regan or old talents such as Jackie Mason help win hearts and minds of younger people to conservative philosophy.
Same here
Colbert is not a practicing Catholic. He is pro-abortion, pro-sodomite-pretend-marriage, etc.
In other words, Cardinal Dolan’s favorite kind of “Catholic.”
Yes, all stripes of Republicans shoud appear on the Colbert late night show!!! This guy is easily taken down. His initial ratings are less then stellar, at best. Can’t wait to see the viewer ratings that Michelle Obama generated versus Donald Trump!!!
Actually, I believe that CBS screwed up, royally with this lightweight empty head. He is boring and not fummy at all!!! I don’t think he has legs for the long run!!! This episode is going to painful and costly to CBS!!!
“A man’s got to know his limitations.” - Police Inspector Harry Callahan (Magnum Force, 1973)
All “progressives” are pro abortion, so what is new?
Why is it that Conservatives or Republicans are the ones always cajoled into some kind of admission that they are “at least willing to compromise/discuss” with the other side. Why is it they (liberals, progressives, Democrats) assume they have the position of immutability? We all know why, really. It is pointless to interface with them.
As far as Colbert, he’s a snake, just like most of the other Comedy Central “Stars”.
Not all progs claim to be Catholic.
Progs like Colbert make money from their claim to be Catholic. A Catholic pro-abort is much more valuable to the progressive blob than a run-of-the-mill Jewish pro-abort.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.