Mr. Elmo goes to Washington

www.cnn.com ^ | April 23, 2002 | Bruce Morton

[xeno]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In what may be the first appearance of a Muppet before a congressional committee, "Sesame Street" favorite Elmo donned his best suit and tie and took his cause to Capitol Hill.

The red furry friend to toddlers everywhere gave evidence before the Education Appropriations Subcommittee to urge more spending on music research and musical instruments for school programs.

[dts32041]

How about that Elmo has finally found some people he can talk down to.

[supercat]

I never did like Elmo. Oscar was always the 'real' grouch; Elmo is just a late interloper.

[hole_n_one]

I know who hired Craig Livingstone

[looney tune]

My personal favorite was always Grover.

[Bogey78O]

This is a joke. Why not get a ventriloquist up there to discuss the serious issue of wood rot. What the hell is a muppet doing up there?

[Vince Ferrer]

In what may be the first appearance of a Muppet before a congressional committee,

No, this has happened before, ( Mauled by Lions, Movie Stars Seek New Laws ), when Kermit the Frog lobbied congress, and it was just as stupid then as now. Congressmen wonder why everyone holds them in contempt, and then they pull this soccer mom stunt, having a red shag carpet testifying to a subcommittee.

By the way, shouldn't Elmo, by virtue of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, be considered a federal employee, and be banned from lobbying congress?

[xeno]

Elmo's visit to the Republican House or Representatives shows that Republicans care about children.

See David Horowitz's Six Principles of Political War
#5. The weapons of politics are symbols evoking fear and hope.

[Salman]

Kofi Annan and Elmo on Sesame Street.
This not photoshopped, Kofi really did appear on Sesame Street.

Here's what Kofi's old buddy Bob the Angry Flower had to say:

[jigsaw]

I know who hired Craig Livingstone

ROTFLMAO !!!!!   THAT is a classic FR response!

BTW, that photo kinda looks like Monica kneeling before The Bent One..

[badfreeper]

"By the way, shouldn't Elmo, by virtue of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, be considered a federal employee, and be banned from lobbying congress?

Nope. Sesame Street airs on PBS, but I believe that all the Muppets rights are owned by Disney. The Muppets just haven't been the same since Jim Henson died. I can't even listen to the new Kermit voice. I think I'll rent The Muppet Movie this weekend.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Yeah, Sesame Street was better back in its heyday with Big Bird and Snuffy, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, and Grover. Nowdays it's all Telly, Elmo, Rosita, and that damn Baby Bear :P

[InvisibleChurch]

soccer moms think it's cute; nations from around the world eye us in a quizzical manner

[general_re]

Where's HUAC when we need it?

[zeugma]

sorry Elmo. Kermit beat you to it a few years ago.

[Charles Henrickson]

"Elmo in favor of school music education." Fine. So am I, Elmo. So go testify in front of your local school board, you little red socialist, and not in Washington, D.C. Show me in the U.S. Constitution where it says one word about school music education being a federal concern. It ain't in there.

[badfreeper]

Who the hell are Baby Bear and Rosita???? I haven't watched a whole lot since my niece started going to school, though mostly it was Sesame Park, the Canadian version. They replace the English-Spanish bilingual characters and segments with English-French. She used to love watching either Sesame version with me because I would get into it much as she would. Now that she's a little older, she's "too old" for Sesame Street and I'm just a big old fool...give it 20 years or so, she'll probably get nostalgic and watch it with MY kids...

[Texaggie79]

Our founders would be so proud! This certainly doesn't make a joke of our system.... < /sarcasm>