Colbert Discusses His Presidential Ambitions On "Meet The Press"

Today, Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report, appeared on "Meet the Press," with Tim Russert. Russert interviewed Colbert about his recent announcement that he is running for president, although so far only in South Carolina. Russert seemed incredulous about Colbert's presidential bid, but Stephen set him straight, assuring Russert that he was very serious about his candidacy, and that this was not "a dream you will wake up from." Colbert's "Meet the Press" appearance, a required venue for any serious presidential contender, solidifies Colbert's intention to seek the White House. Let us know what you think about the substance, and the odds, of Colbert's White House bid.

Watch the video from "Meet the Press" below:

Stephen Colbert livelies up "Meet the Press" with a discussion about his bid for the presidency and his views on gay marriage. From NBC 10/21/07. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1256280208http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

Comments

[Nonamnesiac]

I'm not a Russert fan. I stopped watching Meet the Press after Russert joined the "let's attack Iraq" bandwagon, ignoring the overwhelming intelligence AT THE TIME that Saddam: (1) had no WMDs (Blix, relying on US intelligence, was unable to find any); and (2) was an enemy of bin Laden (bin Laden had called Saddam an "infidel" numerous times prior to 9/11.) He was part of the MSM campaign to cheerlead the American people into supporting the Iraq invasion, intentionally ignoring the dishonesty of the Administration -- reporting that dishonesty as fact while knowing it to be untrue. I don't believe Russert has integrity as a journalist or as a human being.

Having said that, I thought he handled the Stephen Colbert interview well. He sort of played straight man to Stephen, who was hilarious -- brilliant (as usual). Russert used a tongue-in-cheek, pundit-like style that played well.

I will watch Meet the Press in the future -- but only when Russert has on Stephen or Jon Stewart, and just for that portion of the program.

[thatvisionthing]

I had more hopes for Russert re Iraq -- I remember him interviewing Hillary Clinton after her yes enabling vote in 2002. He was urgent, trying to get her to recognize the ramifications of what she had done, and she just brushed it off. What, we worry? So to say he's been a disappointment is putting it mildly.

[Bushwhacked]

Agreed - but he's not the only msm person to drop the ball. And I think the news channels are all still not doing enough investigative journalism. I guess Britney and O.J. are more important - which says a lot about society. Maybe if news was done in the nude ratings dollars would skyrocket and then we'd get more real digging and accountability journalism. But we'd be too distracted to notice.

[rabun666]

Nude news, well it's done in Russia, Canada I think. It would have to be an improvement and appropriate to have to put up with the drivel that is pushed as "new". I mean if news which is just considered entertainment, make it worth watching. Also they may have to get some new news casters, I mean watching Russert, Matthew, Limbaugh and the rest of them nude, well no thanks.

[chocco]

Stephen Colbert is brilliant. I think it was likely that the whole Meet the Press thing was staged and Russert tried to banter with him to make it look legit, but he was totally out of his league. Although Colbert is like a 2007 version of Mark Twain, I don't think the neo-cons will "get" how he is making fun of them. Most right-wingers were in church when MTP came on anyway, so they didn't see it.
I can't wait to see what happens in South Carolina when colbert officially gets on the ballot. I hope he chooses Bill Mahr as his running mate.

COLBERT/MAHER 2008 !!!!!!

[godlessclif]

Maher is a libertarian, will he run in the Republican and Democratic Primaries?

Maher is also half Jewish, that could hurt in a Southern State like South Carolina.

[ReverendBob]

Colbert is an actor, not a standup comedian, as his work is a set piece - as opposed to improv. Yes, he is more like Mark Twain.

He is so talented to be able to pull off his act in an interview. Borat, as talented as he is, had trouble with regular interviews.

[Average]

Maybe Russert is trying to become more like Chris Matthews.

[godlessclif]

You mean hysterical and suicidal

[billyc]

Good Grief, Charlie Brown ... you people actually don't get Colbert, do you????

[ignatov]

Who doesn't get what, now?

[FeloniouslyAnnoying]

Hes only PRETENDING to be a liberal playing a conservative. He's REALLY a conservative. DUh. duh, Duuhhhhh.

[NoContest]

BORING>>>>­>>>>>>>>>>­>>>>>>>>>

Russert was in fact, far cooler than Mr. Elf Ears..

@!#

[ariuszme]

Russert cool? eegads.. nice yeh, honest yeh, but cool? never

as for elf ears, he has one elf ear and he's deaf in that ear.. the other is normal!

I find him adoring and like him 3 degrees under Jon Stewart whom I love, but if Stephen doesn't give kudos to the people he is simply copying (The Smothers Brothers and Pat Paulsen who were way ahead of their time), then I'm going to lose a lot of respect for him!

http://politicaldiscontent.blogspot.com/2007/10/before-jon-stewart-and-stephen-colbert.html

[thatvisionthing]

Lay off Stephen's ears. They're perfect.

[godlessclif]

Colbert had a childhood ear accident. The rumors about him being Vulcan are shameful.

[ElimGarak]

A childhood accident when he got his head caught in a mechanical rice picker, right? OK, now he's got my vote twice over.

Colbert 08 - he is the logical choice.

[zaneblue]

and hot

[HermioneGranger]

I just saw the rerun (on MSNBC) - that was HILARIOUS! When Russert held up this Bert doll - is the man for real? Is he imitating Colbert and trying to be funny or does he actually mean it?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

That's "Ber" to you. :-)

[Zentomato]

oops I meant "would not"

[Zentomato]

Testing the new comment software. I tried to comment but the new and improved software would allow it to post.

[Americano]

Why is Meet the Press wasting time with Colbert? Meet the Press is a serious politically minded program. Colbert is a comedian. Totally foolish programing and a waste of time.

[boomer1949]

Waste of time? I think not. After what this country has been through over the last 6 years and with the path the Congress has chosen up to now, anything is possible.

I hope he asks John Stewart to be his running mate; they both have common sense and "get it".

Julie G.
Columbus, OH

[ariuszme]

It's Jon not John and Stephen made a joke about who his running mate would be. On his show he held up a bumper sticker that said "Colbert/Stewart '08", he then tore off the bottom part with Stewart's name!

He has joked about Huckabee being his choice because Huck said he'd make stephen his vp if he got the nod..

[raoulxxx]

I'll probably get flak for this but I LOVE the guy and would definitely vote for him since Kucinich doesn't have a snowball's chance.

[who38]

Especially if you give up on him before you vote for him. Typical Reid/Pelosi stance.

[paige]

I do wish everyone would just AGREE & PROMISE to vote for Kucinich (or someone who could save America) then we can go on to other subjects and agree on more. This is why the Rep. & Dem. get what they want. The people can't decide on an alternative & they know it. So they know they can do whatever they want and no one is going to stop them. Meanwhile "Rome" burns. In this case it's America and it's people. Those rich people will just leave the country whenever they want and have to.

[leftionthenews]

People keep referring to this interview as "extreme satire." Nonsense. Satire (or really parody) requires that you exaggerate the characteristics of your target. Unfortunately that's impossible given the target, and nothing Colbert said would have raised an eyebrow had it been said by any number of Republican candidates or pundits.

Imitation is not satire! The entire interview was just more right-wing ranting; don't we get enough of that?

[ariuszme]

"Right wing ranting"? eh?

Alot of people actually think Stephen is a republican, are you implying the same?


lol

[newsweek1945]

It should not be surprising, but some of those inbreds really take his right wing buffoonery seriously! you know, the bushites.

[ariuszme]

yep, I just posted the same thing b4 i read your msg.. it is funny to see those who hate jon, rosie, keith O, Alec Baldwin, anyone leaning left..but then they say they love and watch stephen colbert.. hysterical!

[Geovan]

Did Russert and his broadcasting corporation break the law by not allowing Colbert to announce his web site?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

LOL.

They need to let him roll. As long as he's running for BOTH tickets, Colbert provides his own "equal time."

[Zentomato]

Colbert is always on the top of his game but I thought Russert just sucked the satire right out of this interview. Russert came across as a wet blanket.

[IanToronto]

Totally agreed. He couldn't handle Stephen at all.

[rabun666]

Russert was outclassed

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Correction: wet noodle.

[protagonia]

Russert Potato?

[Mr.Fitz]

The media is not equipped to handle Colbert or any satire that speaks volumes about how ridiculous things are. It would be like the New York Times reporting on some part of Candide.