Friday, September 24, 2010

To the House Committee on Immigration:

When Stephen Colbert testified before your Committee today, the People weren't laughing with you -- not because you weren't laughing, but because we were laughing at you.

In this compartmentalized society we separate drama from comedy and family shows from news, and you've had your own private pomposity network. That ended today, when Mr. Colbert lampooned you to your face.

Since the hearing, your Democratic members have been wringing their hands, calling Mr. Colbert's testimony "sad" and wondering aloud if it damaged the cause of migrant workers. Republican members, amplified by captive partisan bullhorn FOXNews, have called it "disrespectful" and "a mockery."

We, the People, see it differently. We know that nothing could be sadder than the liberal naiveté demonstrated by your Chairwoman in inviting Mr. Colbert in the first place, unless it's the Committee's confidence that he'd actually deliver the politically correct pabulum that he submitted in advance of the hearing.

Self-serving conservatives on this Committee and of this Congress, those of you so adept at making campaign hay on the issue of illegal immigration but accomplishing absolutely nothing, display institutional disrespect for the People you purport to serve.

You've made a mockery of yourselves and of governance. Your impotence and inaction have done more damage to the House of Representatives -- and to our nation -- than a comedian's five-minute statement ever could.

Mr. Colbert simply walked into your hallowed halls today and served his satire to you personally. It's time someone did.

Sincerely,
KintlaLake


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"...the true counterweights on the left to the crowd-rousers on the right are the comedians." (Alexandra Petri, The Washington Post)

"As Stephen Colbert asked committee members if he could enter into the Congressional Record a video of his colonoscopy as evidence of the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, I realized that decorum is dead, celebrity rules and maybe bringing a clown into these proceedings is just what's needed to show the extent to which our Congress has become a circus." (Dave George, AolNews)