Texas Town Responds After Colbert Calls It An "Incorporated Outhouse"

CANTON, Texas — Stephen Colbert's one-man campaign against towns named Canton has its latest target firing back. A city councilman in Canton, Texas, joked that he would "mash his nose" after the comedian referred to the town as an "incorporated outhouse."

"What does that sucker know about it? He's never been here anyway," Councilman John Fuller said in a story Friday in the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

In an ongoing gag on his Comedy Central show "The Colbert Report," Colbert has been taking pot shots at various towns named Canton. It began when he referred to a Georgia town as "the crappy Canton."

Colbert then referred to Canton, Kan., with an unprintable epithet, and referred to Canton, S.D., as "North Dakota's dirty ashtray."

Cantons in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Ohio have so far escaped Colbert's ire.

Leaders of the Texas town of Canton, which has a population of about 5,100, invited Colbert to the town's monthly flea market _ which, according to a city Web site, harkens back to Texas' frontier traditions, "when it was common to trade a rifle for a good hunting dog."

"Canton is known worldwide," City Manager Andy McCuistion said of the town, located about 55 miles southeast of Dallas. "You can go anywhere in the world, and people will say, `Canton? Yeah, I know where that is. It's where that big flea market is.'"

Comments

[Sioen]

Let's just give Texas back to the Mexicans already, please.

[philtll]

Easy there. Texas has juuuust a bit of economic clout, some really cool things to see and do, and most of the people are quite friendly and unassuming. No, not like the stereotype. Although if outsiders believe that Texans hate outsiders, maybe it cultivates the desire to live the stereotype...?

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

A Texan is just a Mexican on his way to Oklahoma.

[Redrover666]

I understand. The toe-tapping thing in a public restroom didn't go over well for you in Amarillo.

[isis]

"What does that sucker know about it? He's never been here anyway," Councilman John Fuller said in a story Friday in the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

What a lovely gentleman. Reminds me of the movie Idiocracy.

[AzRealProgressive]

He is an O supporter.

[Arei]

He actually might not be, a lot of people in that town are like stereotypical republican. Loads of conservatives, nowhere near as many democrats.

[Redrover666]

Typical far-left excuse for humor.

[Andman0121]

typical far-right inability to see humor.

[AzRealProgressive]

Typical far left inability to respect any position other than their own.

[Hirnlego]

"Nope. No WMDs there. Nope, not here either."

Stop it! You're KILLING us!

[Alethea]

Literally.

[GenXer]

LOL Good one! GOP'ers only find humor when someone loses an eye or limb. Nothin'n like a closed head injury from a plosion to roll over laughing. I bet everyone one of them couldn't wait to smack ole' George on the back for that comedy skit.

[thesimulacra]

Typical right-wing poopy-pants.

[Redrover666]

But you like it poopy, don't you sparky?

[nhplanner]

The city manager couldn't think of anything better to say then 'we've got a big flea market?' It sounds like a shi*hole and the city manager should be fired.

[AzRealProgressive]

Sure, he could have just made up something, right? That is a small town. Call it what you want, they would not want you there anyway.

[Sioen]

Wow, and their thumbs-down to my presence would hurt me sooo much, you don't even know.

Funny thing is, I'm a progressive who's been to lots of small towns, and unlike you, the people are often warm and accepting, nothing like the stereotype you paint.

[Arei]

There is nothing there but the flea market. For the other 27 days of the month, yes, it can be a boring sh**hole.

*throws in her 2 cents*

Its a nice place if you're young parents looking for a good, safe place to raise children, and its great for older folks who are retired/retiring and want a nice, safe, peaceful place to relax.

It's bad for teenagers and young adults who are looking for age-appropriate entertainment and "hang outs". I don't know if it's true anymore, but in the 80's, out of the 200 something counties in Texas, this one had the highest death rate when it came to teenagers and accidents while under the influence of alcohol. Honestly, there is nothing better to do then to go out to some pasture in the middle of nowhere, have a keg party and get totally wasted. I'm really glad I did not spend my high school years there.

You have to drive 30 minutes away (any direction) for alcohol, movies, shopping (malls, bookstores, special stores, etc. walmart does NOT count), and most of whatever else you may need.

Canton has the potential to be an all-around good place. I don't know what some of the people in the city are thinking, but they need to get some new stuff in town. Why the heck did the YMCA get shot down? That would do wonders for people of all ages.

[TXfemmom]

I live in TX, and I have been to Canton, and Colbert is right.

[AzRealProgressive]

So, how was the flea market ?

[walk0nwalls]

crappy

[booker52]

This guy is no longer funny... wait he wasn't funny to start with.

[diogeron]

Colbert is the funniest man on television, hands down. The only person funnier is Sean Hannity, although he doesn't know it because he takes himself seriously and has half the IQ and wit of Colbert. To me, however, Hannity is hilarious because he just pulls "facts" out of his ass as if what he is saying would be believed by anyone who actually READS and knows what is going on in the real world.

[AzRealProgressive]

Posters here demean Hannity, you think he is funny. Why drive up his ratings by watching him all of the time. Haven't you read what people here call FOX watchers? Low information voters. Try to do better.

[Boboday555]

It sounds to me like the texass outhouses should be the ones who feel insulted!

[doctordoubt]

Go Dixie Chicks

[ibsteve2u]

I understand Colbert's shift to Cantons....D.C. is altogether too easy.

[Scalawag]

I would be honored to have Colbert make fun of my town.

[AzRealProgressive]

Have your picture taken out front of the town name. Send it in to Colbert, I am sure he will oblige you and your town with the proper insults that pass for comedy.

[MrRex]

We're talking about Colbert aren't we? Looks like his strategy works. If we all kept quiet then he might go away. These folks know how to play us like a cheap guitar.

[Agent420]

Don't be so hard on yourself, Cheap Guitar.

[tdsphil]

MAybe you can buy one at the flea market

[richardwb]

Mr. King Rex ~
Maybe go play with yourself like a cheap guitar.
And if you all keep quiet, then reality might go away.
Best Wishes,
World Peace.

[Redrover666]

Don't take it too personally, nitwit.

[UltraClassic]

Hey fellow Texans from Canton, relax, Colbert just put you on the map. BTW, I'm a Texan, born and raised, and I never heard of you! Ha! And you got to admit it, Colbert is damn funny.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Good attitude Texan!!! I'm glad you can laugh at it..... cause Colbert IS funny....and so is this whole skit he's doing.

I did laugh a lot harder at the red neckish comments from the "councilman"..... who obviously DOES NOT watch the Colbert Report, and therefore, doesn't get it....and may actually shoot Colbert on sight.

[Scalawag]

If you were into flea markets you would have heard of them. But yeah, they need to lighten up a bit.

[Sioen]

I'm scared of whatever mostly-human demographic is "into flea markets."

[Toonadude]

If Canton Texas wanted to hit the lottery they would send a cretin native son to the White House.
But I just can't picture any more Texans being elected president.
Sorry Texas.

[GolfingDevil05]

Bush is only Texan by choice. He was born in Connecticut. To quote Paul Begala (a native Texan), "If hes a Texan, then I'm a Hasidic diamond merchant."

[Toonadude]

I hear ya but I think the end result is the same. I believe that GWB has fouled the nest for all Texans, real or not, aspiring to the presidency for a long time to come. Just like he has fouled the nest for his brother Jeb in that department.

Jeb....the one Poppy and Babs refer to asl "the smart one."

[lex811]

colbert has been in RARE form lately.......very funny guy!!!

[sparkandy]

Please tell me Colbert isn't in New York City, the world's largest incorporated outhouse.

[AzRealProgressive]

I think so.

[Bettysdad]

People that say things like this can't afford to live in NYC.

[sparkandy]

People who say things like that wouldn't WANT to live in NYC. It's the dirtiest city I've ever seen. Nothing wrong with the people. Just didn't like the dirt.

[AmericanSinceFeb08]

Do not mess with Texas, C o l b e r t! ! ! ! ! (The s t a t e that executes prisoners.... even after appeals by the p r e s i d e n t )

[Larry of Corrales]

Whether they are guilty or not. If they look guilty that's enough justification in Texas. What do you expect from a state that thinks Jalepenos are good chili.

[Agent420]

Have you every tasted "Tex-Mex" cooking? It tastes like it's made of long horn cow poop.