WOW!!! Colbert admits to voting for Strom Thurmond. . .

[wndycty]

. . .now who knows if he did this in character or as himself, but its interesting if he did vote for Thurmond. If true it does not mean anything about Colbert other than the fact that it reinforces the fact that all of our "heroes" are human and are less than perfect.

-snip-
May 29, 2006 -- FUNNYMAN Stephen Colbert rankled Re publicans with his needling of President Bush at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, but that doesn't mean he hasn't voted Republican in the past. The South Carolina native admitted casting a vote for conservative Sen. Strom Thur mond in an interview with South Carolina Public Television. "I think he was here long enough and had such good constituent services that everybody had either had their family helped, or someone they knew helped, by his constituent-services office," Colbert said. "So, I just felt like I owed him one."
-snip-

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/pagesix/66721.htm

[supernova]

1. I wouldn't be surprised by this

It means SC knows on a very intimate level how to kick them where it hurts. Who better to provide a kick in the rear to conservatives than someone who knows how they think and rejects it?

That could only be a good thing

[Jack from Charlotte]

24. We called him.... Sperm Thurmond back when I lived in Columbia. (nt)

*

[Minnesota Libra]

2. Colbert made the comment one time that he NEVER allows his kids to........

......see his show because "I say things on my show I don't mean and my kids may not understand the difference between a show and real life."

That got me to thinking at the time how much of his politics were his real opinion and how much was put on. From that point on I viewed his show in a whole different light.

[RandomUser]

9. It's really a thinking man's show

I know what you mean. Like a lot of people, I wasn't sure at first, but then as you see more of it, you start connecting the dots that are obvious but always unspoken. Jokes that are waiting for viewers to piece together -- like the bears thing.

The "Stephen Colbert Hates Bears" theme is a running gag, but the humor gets magnified when you realize that his character on the show "loves" Bill O'Reilly and affectionately calls O'Reilly "Papa Bear." It isn't until you bridge the the seeming obliviousness and incongruity that you get the joke. :)

[LynneSin]

21. I'd rather my kids watch his show than anything on Cable News

but that's just me

[XemaSab]

3. A lot of people in SC thought a lot of ol' Strom...

I heard it said that for a small state to have someone with so much influence meant a lot to them. The alternative would be Senator Nobody from South BFE.

[longship]

4. A lot of people have voted for "Sperm" Thurman

nt

[spag68]

5. Talking heads

Don't be surprised by any of the talking heads, even the ones we agree with or who seem to agree with us. Never forget that they are entertainers and what you are getting is a script. Some of the comedians seem to slide from one side to the other with ease. Maher and KO may be exceptions.

[Conker]

6. Is Colbert even a liberal?He seems like more of a moderate.

[DuaneBidoux]

8. You must not have seem him perform in front of Bush.

[Conker]

10. I saw it.Did Colbert vote for Thurmond before or after he was a dixiecrat?

[RandomUser]

12. Are you sure he even voted?

This was listed in the "gossip" section of the NYPost, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was a remark he made while "in character" as his TV persona, in which case it could be an outright joke or satire.

[sweetpotato]

20. Colbert is too young

to have voted for Strom as a Dixiecrat.

Strom ran as Dixiecrat candidate for president in 1948.

Most people in South Carolina had been helped by Strom at one time or another. I am very conflicted when it comes to Strom. I am embarrassed by some of his actions, and his politics, but his office was efficient and they got things done for his constituents. I had some trouble getting some of my SS benefits when I was still in college. I was receiving survivor's benefits due to my father's death when I was a small child. One letter to Strom's office and my benefits were re-instated.

I voted for Strom, but I also voted for Fritz Hollins.

[liberaliraqvet26]

7. Colbert is a comedian I doubt he voted for strom...

did he even live in SC???

[NYCGirl]

11. He's from South Carolina. NT

[Hippo_Tron]

13. How do we know that he wasn't answering the question in character?

And also, who was the Democrat running against Thurmond? When Alex Sanders (D) ran against Lindsey Graham (R) in the 2002 South Carolina Senate race, Sanders tried gay-baiting by talking about Graham's friendship with Rudy Giuliani who supports gay rights. Sometimes the Democrat isn't even more progressive than the Republican.

[jeebie]

15. From an interview with Al Franken:

Colbert: I wanted you to know that I voted for Strom Thurmond.
Franken: You did?
Colbert: My very first election.
Franken: Are you...?
Colbert: I'm not joking. I voted for Strom Thurmond.
Franken: Why was that?
Colbert: Well, he had done a favor for my family, and I thought that I owed him a vote.

You can listen to the interview here:
http://zeuxoled.notlong.com

[REP]

18. So, When He Was 18, He Voted For Thurman

Oh my god, let's kill the bastard! I mean Colbert, since Thurman is dead already.

[CAcyclist]

23. I Confess

When I was 18, on my very first vote, I allowed my college political science professor to convince me ( he campaigned to the whole class) to support Reagan for president (1984). Since then, I have never voted for another Republican my entire life.

I think we all get one slip.

[dalaigh lllama]

14. This hardly gives him feet of clay.

I know I've read that Colbert is a democrat, but that doesn't mean he has always voted straight democratic. I myself am a registered independent, and never voted a straight ticket in my life before 2004 -- that was the first time I voted a straight Democratic ticket. And many times, one ends up voting for the lesser of two evils, as neither candidate seems ideal. I would guess Colbert's like a lot of us; he's probably become more adamantly democratic since 2000.

[TheVirginian]

16. Colbert is on record as saying...

That he was never interested in politics before he got his gig on the Daily Show. He was informed, to be sure, but didn't really care. He's not a liberal activist; I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't a liberal. He's a comedian.

[mike923]

22. He's a hero to most here...

i hope the fact that he considers himself just a comedian doesn't crush those same folks.

When the Democrats take back the White House in '08, do not expect his to be a cheerleader for that person. Rather, i would predict he'll do a similar roast then.

He's out to make a living, not lead a movement.

[question everything]

17. Just confirms that all politics are local

Last week on CNN someone from New Orleans was interviewed and said he was not surprised that Nagin won. That voters really need a reason to vote an incumbent out of office.

And this is why Edwards and Schumer are correct when they do not push for impeachment if and wen we will take Congress. Rather, they emphasize health care and jobs and education and retirement. Because this is what people care. Even the Iraq, unless they know someone who is there - is a far away topic.

And this is why voters keep voting for the ones who bring the pork home. Sure we loath the Dan Youngs of the world, but for their constituents, they do what they want them to do.

[NoPasaran]

19. Five Minute Hate! Five Minute Hate!

Colbert: worse that Hitler!

:sarcasm:

[rniel]

25. I'll forgive him for voting for

Strom, but I'm not sure I can forgive those who voted for Bush.

[Dr Fate]

26. It is true about Thurmond- he was respected for returning calls, etc

I cant stand Thurman- but I've heard my whole life (I'mfrom Augusyta GA, 2 miles from SC)- that Thurman was always good about returning calls, letters etc- often persoanly.

For all the bad things, Thurman's solid constituent-services record is well known.

Colbert never said he was a straight DEM anyway- he's just a comedian who is funny as hell.