TV show puts lawmakers on comedic hot seat

The Boston Globe ^ | 3/27/06 | Susan Milligan

[qam1]

Politicians hope laugh a track to young voters

US Representative Brad Sherman of California was pressed to name his favorite porn star. His colleague, Florida's John Mica, was asked how he managed to get through airport security with his rumored toupee.

Representative Barney Frank of Newton, who is openly gay, became annoyed when asked for his wife's opinions, while Eliot Engel, a congressman from the Bronx, suffered the indignity of having his mustache combed on national television.

Public humiliation on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" is becoming a rite of passage for the closely divided House of Representatives, whose members allow themselves and their districts to be ridiculed in the interests of reaching young voters ahead of elections that could decide party control of the chamber.

While few members of Congress survive their appearances with their professional dignity intact, some lawmakers are urging their colleagues to go on the show and its regular spot called ''Better Know a District," part of host Stephen Colbert's ongoing series on the House of Representatives.

"You get Gen-X," said Jack Kingston, Republican of Georgia, who has pushed his fellow GOP members to show their hipness -- and good sportsmanship -- by appearing on Comedy Central." When people who are 25 who have never voted for you think you are funny because you did the show, that's instant validity."

[weegee]

There is no "hipness" in appearing on a SeeBS-Viacom cable network.

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.

[Richard Kimball]

"You get Gen-X," said Jack Kingston, Republican of Georgia, who has pushed his fellow GOP members to show their hipness -- and good sportsmanship -- by appearing on Comedy Central." When people who are 25 who have never voted for you think you are funny because you did the show, that's instant validity."

Twenty-five is getting a little young for Gen-X. Most of the people 25 that I know seem more like the generation following Gen-X. Actually, if you want to make an impression, go on South Park. It got Tom Cruise a lot of publicity.

[TexanToTheCore]

Oh spare me...... Politicians trying to be hip goes back to the 60s.

Almost as bad as longhaired youth pastors who tried to play guitar in the age of aquarius.

Sheesh, grow up.

[vpintheak]

So they are saying, "Vote for me, I'm the mron who allowed myself to be mocked on TV because I want your vote!" Does that sound about right?

[Mr. Silverback]

I think I saw Dick Nixon on that show the other night. He was saying "Sock it to me?"

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Mr. Silverback]

Oh, one other thing...the only thing funnier than Rod Blagojevich getting "mbushed" by the Daily Show is Barney Frank getting riled up at being asked about his wife.

[Mr. Silverback]

mbushed=ambushed

[Conservomax]

Watch the colbert report at least once, the guy is an absolute master of deadpan. Blows the Daily Show out of the water - and I mean the pre-2000 daily show which was one of the funniest shows on TV before it became a thinly veiled piece of propaganda.

[clilly54]

You are so right... I love watching his "guest" sit there like deer in the headlights...

[qam1]

Pretty much,

Almost as pathetic as when politicians speak at colleges/high schools and try and look "hip" by wearing jeans and a sweater