Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Friday, September 24, 2010
Olbermann points out the serious message contained in Stephen Colbert's comedic testimony on behalf of migrant farm workers before Congress.
Sorry for the O/T comment but I got such a kick out of the 'demonsheep' ad you posted back then, and I thought you might find this tidbit of news interesting:
"California-based Republican ad man Fred Davis signed a contract today with Delaware Senate Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell to craft her television ads for her general election battle against Democrat Chris Coons.
"We'll be doing something interesting, I hope," Davis told National Journal.
His firm, Strategic Perception Inc., is behind some of the GOP's most buzz-worthy ad spots in recent election cycles. It has produced two viral hits of 2010 so far: the "Demon Sheep" ad for California Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina and the "Worst President in History" ad for Arizona Republican House candidate Ben Quayle."
What the Congressmen don't want to hear is exactly what Colbert said: there is a shortage of field hands. Picking beans, tomatoes, strawberries, etc. by hand, in fact any kind of stoop labor, is hard work. I have done it myself (really!). You get paid for shit, you're out in the hot sun for hours on end, no toilet facilities (if you're lucky, the farmer has a two-holer between fields), you show up when the farmer says and frequently can't leave until he says, because you meet at the equivalent of a bus stop and ride in the back of a pickup to wherever you're working, the breaks are few and far between and short, etc. etc. If you're really lucky, the farmer has a fair tally system set up so you can get paid at the end of the day what you actually earned (many used poker chips or similar items - they handed you the chips when you brought in your load, and you had to keep track of them to turn in for your pay).
Unfortunately, the humor-impaired missed the message and went straight for the messenger.
Why not have a field worker or several testify? I think that would have had much more of an impact.
The working class needs to speak up for themselves--there are certainly more of us than those assholes in Congress.
Misery shouldn't be reduced to a comedy routine, although I know SC's heart was in the right place, as he demonstrated in the end. I just hope it had some effect where it really matters--on the workers themselves.
And let's not forget, Original Lee, all the toxic crap these folks are exposed to in the way of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. While we who eat the produce can wash off this crap, the folks who pick it are not issued hazmat suits to protect them and their children from harm.
i read about colbert's testimony on huffpo, and i was really surprised to see the number of negative comments from people saying they are "liberal" (whatever that means anymore), stating that he did the cause harm with his antics and insulted hispanics. i couldn't disagree more - i think that his satire was telling on many levels, not least of which the fact that we wouldn't even be hearing about his except because colbert was there, a fact not at all lost on him. testifying in character was necessary - this is the stephen colbert that we know. he is rarely out of character in public. why can't this be his public persona? it's not lying, but folks who only see in black and white can't quite summon the gray matter to understand this and that satire is a necessary part of our democracy. where would we be without humor, especially in these times, without the humor of stewart and colbert?
If they expected seriousness they were sadly delusional. All they had to do was remember Colbert's address to the White House Press Correspondents Dinner.
His final remarks were eloquent. When asked why he chose this as his issue, he stated that he likes to speak for those who don't have any power or voice. I got a little teary-eyed when he spoke from the heart...we will be judged by how we treat the least among us.
I'm not sure if the faces we saw in the background were all stick-up-the-ass Republicans or not, but I was still shocked at the blatant incomprehension of not only the humour, but also the serious message it delivered.
It was like watching grade school children reacting to a college philosophy professor's lecture:
We (meaning FOX NEWS BIMBO's and HIMBO's) are so offended at the ridiculousness of a celebrity comedian conservative pundit being an 'expert' witness, when we have a quitting Oil & Gas Commissioner and Governor being taken seriously as a frontrunner in the 2010 Republican Presidential race?
STFU Fox, I take NEWS away from you because all you are is a social commentary mechanism, more of a brain and time suck than Facebook, Twitter and the Immoral Minority could ever be. ;p
I watched his testimony and thought he did a brilliant job.
He got some laughs from his audience, but that was a very tough crowd. Most of them did not want to hear his information and suggestions.
I think the journalists at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner have not forgiven or forgotten the sound (and deserved) verbal whipping he gave them for their wretchedly bad behavior during the Bush years.
He kicked them, and now they are kicking back. Yep, they're still a bunch of groveling dogs, ever ready to give up their integrity for a splashy tabloid rumor.
Colbert knows exactly when to be honest and serious. And he has the education and eloquence to make his point.
You better believe Fox and the right wing wouldn't show those clips of the hearing. They'll only show the jokes that support their ridiculous viewpoint.
Yeah, that one ear has a mind of it's own. Didn't you notice when he got the buzzcut? Looked like one ear was in hiding & the other was trying to escape.
I figured Colbert's ear-issue, was from his days on Jon Stewart's show. That ear looks suspiciously like a handle.
Go Stephen! I hope a few million REAL Americans show up to the Stewart/Colbert's rally!
ReplyDeleteThat Faux blonde is so futarded, along with the rest of them.
Stop the hate mongering:Turn off Fox News in public establishments!
http://colorofchange.org/turnofffox/sticker/tof.html?&credo
Sorry for the O/T comment but I got such a kick out of the 'demonsheep' ad you posted back then, and I thought you might find this tidbit of news interesting:
ReplyDelete"California-based Republican ad man Fred Davis signed a contract today with Delaware Senate Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell to craft her television ads for her general election battle against Democrat Chris Coons.
"We'll be doing something interesting, I hope," Davis told National Journal.
His firm, Strategic Perception Inc., is behind some of the GOP's most buzz-worthy ad spots in recent election cycles. It has produced two viral hits of 2010 so far: the "Demon Sheep" ad for California Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina and the "Worst President in History" ad for Arizona Republican House candidate Ben Quayle."
I can't wait.:-)))
Source: http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/09/fred_davis_sign.php
What the Congressmen don't want to hear is exactly what Colbert said: there is a shortage of field hands. Picking beans, tomatoes, strawberries, etc. by hand, in fact any kind of stoop labor, is hard work. I have done it myself (really!). You get paid for shit, you're out in the hot sun for hours on end, no toilet facilities (if you're lucky, the farmer has a two-holer between fields), you show up when the farmer says and frequently can't leave until he says, because you meet at the equivalent of a bus stop and ride in the back of a pickup to wherever you're working, the breaks are few and far between and short, etc. etc. If you're really lucky, the farmer has a fair tally system set up so you can get paid at the end of the day what you actually earned (many used poker chips or similar items - they handed you the chips when you brought in your load, and you had to keep track of them to turn in for your pay).
ReplyDeleteWell done, Stephen. Very well done!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the humor-impaired missed the message and went straight for the messenger.
ReplyDeleteWhy not have a field worker or several testify? I think that would have had much more of an impact.
The working class needs to speak up for themselves--there are certainly more of us than those assholes in Congress.
Misery shouldn't be reduced to a comedy routine, although I know SC's heart was in the right place, as he demonstrated in the end. I just hope it had some effect where it really matters--on the workers themselves.
Don't mourn, organize!
And let's not forget, Original Lee, all the toxic crap these folks are exposed to in the way of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. While we who eat the produce can wash off this crap, the folks who pick it are not issued hazmat suits to protect them and their children from harm.
ReplyDeletei read about colbert's testimony on huffpo, and i was really surprised to see the number of negative comments from people saying they are "liberal" (whatever that means anymore), stating that he did the cause harm with his antics and insulted hispanics. i couldn't disagree more - i think that his satire was telling on many levels, not least of which the fact that we wouldn't even be hearing about his except because colbert was there, a fact not at all lost on him. testifying in character was necessary - this is the stephen colbert that we know. he is rarely out of character in public. why can't this be his public persona? it's not lying, but folks who only see in black and white can't quite summon the gray matter to understand this and that satire is a necessary part of our democracy. where would we be without humor, especially in these times, without the humor of stewart and colbert?
ReplyDeleteIf they expected seriousness they were sadly delusional. All they had to do was remember Colbert's address to the White House Press Correspondents Dinner.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s
A little levity doesn't hurt any issue...
His final remarks were eloquent. When asked why he chose this as his issue, he stated that he likes to speak for those who don't have any power or voice. I got a little teary-eyed when he spoke from the heart...we will be judged by how we treat the least among us.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if the faces we saw in the background were all stick-up-the-ass Republicans or not, but I was still shocked at the blatant incomprehension of not only the humour, but also the serious message it delivered.
ReplyDeleteIt was like watching grade school children reacting to a college philosophy professor's lecture:
"Duh.....whatsee sayin?"
We (meaning FOX NEWS BIMBO's and HIMBO's) are so offended at the ridiculousness of a celebrity comedian conservative pundit being an 'expert' witness, when we have a quitting Oil & Gas Commissioner and Governor being taken seriously as a frontrunner in the 2010 Republican Presidential race?
ReplyDeleteSTFU Fox, I take NEWS away from you because all you are is a social commentary mechanism, more of a brain and time suck than Facebook, Twitter and the Immoral Minority could ever be. ;p
Thank you KO, for pointing out that Colbert was framing his response in Christ's words.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the Right was bashing it until the memo went out that it was biblical and whatnot.
Simply a brilliant man that the US doesn't deserve to even hear speak.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's why Colbert is my hero. He is a good man.
ReplyDeleteI watched his testimony and thought he did a brilliant job.
ReplyDeleteHe got some laughs from his audience, but that was a very tough crowd. Most of them did not want to hear his information and suggestions.
I think the journalists at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner have not forgiven or forgotten the sound (and deserved) verbal whipping he gave them for their wretchedly bad behavior during the Bush years.
He kicked them, and now they are kicking back. Yep, they're still a bunch of groveling dogs, ever ready to give up their integrity for a splashy tabloid rumor.
Colbert knows exactly when to be honest and serious. And he has the education and eloquence to make his point.
ReplyDeleteYou better believe Fox and the right wing wouldn't show those clips of the hearing. They'll only show the jokes that support their ridiculous viewpoint.
Yeah, Stephen's testimony went right over Repubs head (LOL)
ReplyDeleteYeah, that one ear has a mind of it's own. Didn't you notice when he got the buzzcut? Looked like one ear was in hiding & the other was trying to escape.
ReplyDeleteI figured Colbert's ear-issue, was from his days on Jon Stewart's show. That ear looks suspiciously like a handle.