Dear Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), please blow it out your ass.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Judiciary Democrat Blasts Colbert’s Plan to Testify
By Jennifer Bendery
Roll Call Staff
Sept. 23, 2010, 6:44 p.m.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/50178-1.html?type=aggregate_friendly

Comedian Stephen Colbert is sure to draw plenty of media attention Friday morning when he testifies before a House Judiciary subcommittee about immigrant farm workers. But at least one Democrat on the committee is not happy about the prospect of treating the Comedy Central host as a policy expert.

“I don’t think he should be here. It commercializes the committee,” Rep. Steve Cohen (Tenn.) said.

Colbert plans to testify about his role in a United Farm Workers campaign called “Take Our Jobs,” an effort that invites U.S. citizens and legal residents to replace undocumented immigrant field laborers. The goal of the campaign is to build momentum for passing legislation that would give undocumented farm workers the right to earn legal status by continuing to work in agriculture.

The comedian spent a day in August working on a New York farm to highlight how demanding the work is; he will feature the experience on his show, “The Colbert Report,” on Thursday night.

Cohen, who emphasized that he is “a big fan” of Colbert and has even been on his show, said that unless the comedian intends to testify about issues related to acting or television, he should not appear before a Congressional panel.

“Picking vegetables for 10 hours doesn’t make him worthy of testifying before a committee,” the Tennessee Democrat said.

Cohen said he has “great respect” for Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who invited Colbert to testify before her panel, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law. “But I don’t know why” she sought out Colbert, he added.

A GOP Judiciary Committee staffer said the panel’s ranking member, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), is not commenting on the matter until Friday’s hearing. But the aide emphasized that Colbert is not a Republican witness.

“Ms. Lofgren is the one who invited Mr. Colbert. She is the one who should answer questions about whether it is appropriate to have him in attendance,” the staffer said.

A spokeswoman for the committee did not immediately return a request for comment.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Maybe next they will ask the Fonz to testify on the dangers of jumping the shark. n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

3. ROFL!

:rofl:

[frazzled]

2. I kind of agree with Cohen

Witnesses for committees should really have some experience or credentials, not just opinions (even if we agree with those opinions). While I think it's noble that Colbert is taking up this cause, I don't think it does the cause any good to have him testify in Congress. There are plenty of people with real expertise in agricultural workers and immigration. Celebrities have a role to play in public, but Congressional committees should be a bit more serious in their work.

[bluestateguy]

4. Prissy, elitist and establishmentarian

nt

[guruoo]

5. Cohen's the one who's trying to end credit check job discrimination...

Representative Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee, is pursuing his own legislation that would
prohibit employers nationwide from using credit checks to discriminate in hiring.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/10/business/10credit.html


Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., has introduced federal legislation to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act
to stop companies from using credit checks as part of the hiring process. Currently, the act requires
employers to get permission from applicants before running their credit, but many say they feel they'll
be penalized if they refuse.

Businesses and credit bureaus oppose the bills.

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-05-02/business/20882825_1_credit-checks-credit-history-fair-credit-reporting-act

[DeltaLitProf]

6. I like em both. Steve needs to realize this brings needed attention to the cause

. . . and I wish he understood that politics involves its share of theatre. He could benefit himself from understanding that. The guy's great. I love his votes and his advocacy, but boy could he use a charisma transplant.

[AC_Mem]

7. Steve Cohen

Is one of the good guys for democrats. He is extremely hard working and cares about Tennessee. He is not backing away from his vote on healthcare reform and supports President Obama's agendas.

I think he is going to be one of the democrats that is going to stand strong during primaries and he will have our vote. He has helped make my city better in many ways and is always busy working on our behalf.