LIVE: Stephen Colbert testifies on Capital Hill on his day working in the fields

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/39341403#39341403

[Pathwalker]

1. John Conyers just asked him to leave. Not sure why.

:wtf:

[flpoljunkie]

2. Weird, huh? Conyers noted he'd be at the 10/30 rally, but he needed to be home to GOTV

Perhaps Conyer's idea of being funny and getting in a little jab at Colbert at the same time.

[rocktivity]

7. So he cancelled the hearing on the spot?

Maybe it was because he found out it was going to be televised.

Or, in keeping with their decision to hold off on the tax cut vote until after the election, he as worried about what either Colbert or the Rethugs would do with the resulting footage.

:shrug:
rocktivity

[annabanana]

8. He's sitting right there at the end of the table (?)

[flpoljunkie]

3. TPM: Link to transcript of Stephen Colbert's prepared remarks

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/09/stephen-colbert-congressional-testimony.php?page=1&ref=fpb

[Ian David]

5. There's not a whole lot there. I guess the heart of the thing was to be the questioning. n/t

[flpoljunkie]

11. Let's hope so.

[Ian David]

4. John Conyers just kicked Stephen Colbert out of the meeting.

It sounds like Conyers' excuse was that he was afraid of what would be shown on The Colbert Report with the footage.

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!

2426 Rayburn H.O.B.
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http://conyers.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.OnlineContactForm

[annabanana]

10. Colbert didn't leave.. He's sitting right there

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN3.aspx

[Ian David]

13. Just been told Conyers has been over-ridden and Colbert WILL testify!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9193114&mesg_id=9193233

[rocktivity]

6. Did Colbert get to say anything at all?

And exactly what did Conyers say?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[annabanana]

9. He hasn't come up yet.

[RepublicanElephant]

12. stephen's testifying right now....

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

[flpoljunkie]

Colbert does not disappoint!

[warrior1]

14. oh dear god

what the fuck is he doing...this is awful.

[flpoljunkie]

15. Are you kidding? He was great!

Conyers pointed out that he pulled a fast one--as this was not the statement he submitted!

[Ian David]

17. I think that annoyed John Conyers more than a little.

Why don't they have any questions for Mr. Colbert?

[jefferson_dem]

16. Idiocy by Colbert, in my opinion.

Many will guffaw but I'm not feeling his mockery this time.

[Ian David]

18. I think Stephen made some excellent points, had some good data.

Didn't like the intro bit, which was pure schtick.

But the finish was very good.

[flpoljunkie]

21. Any attention to the plight of migrant farm workers and exploitation of illegal immigrants is good.

[Hello_Kitty]

25. But Colbert's stunt didn't really accomplish that

It wasn't intended to expose the plight of farm workers. The point seemed to be "Americans are too lazy for hard farm work. Thank god there are sturdier people from Mexico and elsewhere to pick our fruit!"

[flpoljunkie]

26. Disagree. Zoe Lofgren said she will introduce a bill to allow farmworkers to organize nationally-

like they can in California.

[Hello_Kitty]

27. Yeah, because organizing has done a fat lot of good in CA.

UFW appears to be a co-opted and largely worthless union. They're the ones who came up with this pointless and divisive Colbert stunt.

[flpoljunkie]

29. Co-opted by whom? Worthless?

[Hello_Kitty]

30. Farm owners. eom

[mcollins]

28. We might as well had Tiny Faye dressed like palin testify.

We asked a comedian, in character, to testify before Congress?

The pukes are going to have a field day with this saying that Democrats don't even take the country seriously. A bad move. The less educated population will not understand the nuance of such an act.

[Hello_Kitty]

31. Working class Americans are going to see a rich guy saying they're too lazy for farm work

[warrior1]

19. that was a massive fail

not funny at all.

[flpoljunkie]

22. Laughed out loud at times. Colbert made his point with Colbert humor.

HIs testifying brings attention to the plight of migrant farm workers and how we rely on them for back breaking work to put fruits and vegetables on our tables.

[jefferson_dem]

20. Video here --

http://www.mediaite.com/online/stephen-colbert-testifies-in-character-to-congressional-sub-committee/

[flpoljunkie]

32. Thanks. Here's one short clip where Colbert explains why he's advocating for farmworkers

He quotes the Bible.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/24/john-boehner-affair-lisbeth-lyons_n_738007.html

[RepublicanElephant]

23. bizzaro world repubs talking increased wages for workers?

who do they think they're kidding?

if they could, they'd ship every farm to china to take advantage of their slave labor.

[RepublicanElephant]

24. ha-ha! maxine waters just pointed out repub hypocriscy on higher wages...

...when they constantly fight minimum wage increases!