Fresh off farm gig, comedian Colbert set for House hearing today

[NNN0LHI]

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

By Jason Hanna, CNN
September 24, 2010 8:50 a.m. EDT

(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 at 9:30 a.m.

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.

[Ian David]

1. Here's the link to watch live...

http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN3.aspx

[leveymg]

2. Last night, Stephen's offer to "roll in the hay" with Congresswoman Zoe Loftgren

Wow! You should have seen the expression on her face . . . somewhere between fear and disbelief!

Wonder if she knew about Colbert's "unorthodox" interview style :crazy:

[warrior1]

3. it's starting

[arcane1]

4. They're asking him to leave??

:wtf:

[Ian David]

6. Yes, they are! WTF is up with that!?! n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. He prefaced it by referencing how many cameras are in the room

Maybe he thinks it is going to be a circus?

While funny, Colbert can be a serious spokesman for causes he believes in.

[Ian David]

8. There wouldn't have BEEN any media there if not for Colbert.

This was extremely rude and disrespectful.

I called Conyers' office and spoke to his aide, who says he has no idea why he did this.

I pointed-out that Conyers can't manage to get people to testify when he has a legally enforceable subpoena, yet when someone voluntarily shows-up, they get KICKED OUT!?!

Fuck you, Johnny Letter!

[Ruby the Liberal]

9. Thank you for doing that. It was a truly wtf moment. nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. Conyers just asked him to leave

and submit his statement in writing.

:wtf:

[Ian David]

10. Contact John Conyers' office

http://conyers.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.OnlineContactForm

2426 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5126
202-225-0072 (Fax)

2615 W. Jefferson
Trenton, MI 48183
734-675-4084
734-675-4218 (Fax)

669 Federal Bldg.
Detroit , MI 48226
313-961-5670
313-226-2085 (Fax)

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. That was hilarious.

"as evidence (of the benefits of fruits and vegetables), I would like to submit a video of my colonoscopy into the congressional record"

:rofl:

[gristy]

12. So he was allowed to speak after all?

[Ruby the Liberal]

13. Oh yes. It was really funny too. Should be on YT shortly.

[gristy]

14. So can you explain what this thread was all about?

[Ruby the Liberal]

15. To promote "Take our Jobs", Colbert worked with migrant workers all day

yesterday. As part of the debate on immigration, he was asked to appear before congress due to his activism with that group.

Conyers asked him to excuse himself before he spoke and the chair asked him to stay. Just before he spoke, Conyers withdrew his request.