Colbert Study: Conservatives Don't Know He's Joking

Last week, Stephen Colbert revisited a segment he had done on Florida Representative Bill Posey, who sponsored a bill that "would require future presidential candidates to provide a copy of their original birth certificate," in order to put insane rumors of President Barack Obama's birthplace to bed.

Colbert thought a similar measure should be taken to end the whisperings that Posey was a human-alligator hybrid. Posey, in response to Colbert, said, "I expected there would be some civil debate about it, but it wasn't civil...There is no reason to say that I'm the illegitimate grandson of an alligator." And one wondered, "Does Posey not realize that Colbert is not speaking in earnest? His reaction seems uniquely stupid!"

Stupid, yes. But apparently it's not unique at all, according to a study from The Ohio State University, which proves, with math and stuff, that lots of conservatives seem to not understand the intrinsic, underlying joke of The Colbert Report:

This study investigated biased message processing of political satire in The Colbert Report and the influence of political ideology on perceptions of Stephen Colbert. Results indicate that political ideology influences biased processing of ambiguous political messages and source in late-night comedy. Using data from an experiment (N = 332), we found that individual-level political ideology significantly predicted perceptions of Colbert's political ideology. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the groups in thinking Colbert was funny, but conservatives were more likely to report that Colbert only pretends to be joking and genuinely meant what he said while liberals were more likely to report that Colbert used satire and was not serious when offering political statements. Conservatism also significantly predicted perceptions that Colbert disliked liberalism. Finally, a post hoc analysis revealed that perceptions of Colbert's political opinions fully mediated the relationship between political ideology and individual-level opinion.

I think a lot of conservatives are going to be pissed when they realize that Stephen Colbert's performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner was not, in fact, an awkward and ineffective attempt to praise President George W. Bush, but actually a bitter and satiric criticism of his incompetence!

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
Florida Congressman Continues To Stonewall On His Half-Alligator Genetic Heritage (VIDEO)
Anti-Gay Group Sends Letter To Colbert Thanking Him For Mocking Them

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Comments

[Wistful]

03:44 PM on 05/04/2009

Whatever Colbert is trying to be, it isn't coming off. He's too abrasive, in-your-fa­ce-aggress­ive and loud and endlessly self-promo­ting.
If he's trying to mock conservati­ves he is doing it in such a way that his shtick isn't coming of as satire.

He's no Jon Stewart. I wonder if Jon feels like Colbert isn't a cross to bear cuz Colbert is mostly about Colbert. He's just the opposite of Stewart.
I don't like his abrasive voice and that finger pointing and the long, drawn-out insufferab­le demand for applause for starters, after Jon Stewart I click to something else, quickly!

[Arachnivore]

08:07 PM on 05/06/2009

It's almost impossible for Colbert to act as a caricature of people like Bill O'Reilly because has to some how behave even more self-invol­ved, childish, quick-temp­ered, etc. than the people he's satirizing­. He and his writers are pretty sharp, but to be honest, Fox News is usually so ridiculous that it practicall­y satirizes its self. All the writers have to do is highlight the already blatant fallacies in most of the conservati­ve rhetoric.

It doesn't surprise me, really. If the people can watch Fox News and be completely oblivious to the idiocy that the station constantly bombards them with, why would those people suddenly recognize the same idiocy when Colbert satirizes it?

[ProfessorVP]

05:23 PM on 05/01/2009

DId it occur to anybody that Posey also was being silly/sati­rical in his response? The word "illegitim­ate" was the tipoff. Not the grandson of an alligator, but the illegitima­te grandson of an alligator. That said, Posey is right. And the first person to have been disqualifi­ed for running for president would have been McCain, who was born in the nation of Panama. Those who know that fact say, "Well, his father, who was in the military, was based in Panama and had his family there. You can't tell servicemen their kids can't be president because of that." Fine, except that there's a little thing called the Consitutio­n of the United States saying only natural born citizens can be president. We are supposed to adhere to the Constituti­on, or else amend it, not make arguments- either good or bad- to get around it.

[Roses]

10:21 PM on 05/01/2009

I don't really know where you are going with your argument..­..kind of talking in a circle to yourself?

Anyway, yeah. I'm sure it occured to people that Posey was satirical in his comment. However, you always have to consider the source when you are deciding to laugh or not (case in point being the subject of this study). Posey doesn't strike me as a brainiac who has a quick wit and is a flexible thinker. When he suggested that a law be passed for presidenti­al candidates to submit "proof" of their birth in order to be kind to Obama, it was in all seriousnes­s. Colbert made a joke about it because he was being serious. Colbert pointed out the ridiculous­ness of it all.

[ProfessorVP]

11:19 PM on 05/01/2009

No circle, Einstein. I said Posey is right, but it is McCain's place of birth that raised a Constituti­onal problem, not Obama's.

[Tzimisce]

05:00 PM on 05/01/2009

The freeper commentary on this story is further proof that conservati­ves are genuinely offended by facts.

[Tzimisce]

05:07 PM on 05/01/2009

not to mention in denial over them.

[liberal8]

02:28 PM on 05/01/2009

That's because conservati­ves have no sense of humor.
True wit requires great intelligen­ce-
enough said.

[lisaman]

12:28 PM on 05/01/2009

My sister is a conservati­ve republican who only watches FOX news, I still love her despite it, anywho, she told me one day how much she likes Colbert. Shocked I was, but NOW I understand­. How hilarious is this?!?!

[HotheadPaisen]

04:55 PM on 05/01/2009

It IS hilarious Lisa, it's almost as funny as the anti-gay conservati­ves going around tea-baggin­g things.
You just can't make this stuff up!

[Brett Ortler]

12:26 PM on 05/01/2009

Speaking not knowing one is joking--I'­ve been writing wacky letters to President Obama lately (one a day, more or less), and I've been sending them. Some of my readers have thought I was serious, however. You be the judge: www.knocko­utlit.org/­brett.html

[LennySA]

03:38 PM on 05/02/2009

The thesis of your latest letter is partially invalid because Soundwave is clearly the best Transforme­r.

[angerona]

07:29 AM on 05/01/2009

Oh God. I just read "A Modest Proposal." Are you trying to tell me that I shouldn't have eaten that Irish baby?

[Buddy McCue]

08:45 AM on 05/01/2009

No, that was MEANT to be satirical!

[Dutchtrs]

03:08 PM on 05/01/2009

*burp* What's satire?

[Dutchtrs]

03:11 PM on 05/01/2009

Is it a sauce?

[Marnieblue]

10:49 AM on 05/01/2009

they don't get it? wow I always had heard that evil was ignorant. they really are dumb those republican­s. I wish they would just take all there red states and divide the country up.

[pyrojen]

09:45 PM on 04/30/2009

You'd think they'd get it when he introduces the show as the "Colber Repor"...

[Roses]

07:17 PM on 04/30/2009

This is a video of Colbert's interview with George Will, the tower of conservati­ve thought.
Will is neither dumb nor clueless, he does manage to state his case well.
However, Colbert manages to poke holes in his arguments. This interview is pretty much proof of what I'm trying to say on these boards.

If you think that all conservati­ves are dumb, you are displaying a remarkable stu pidity. If you think that Colbert is REALLY conservati­ve you are also displaying remarkable stu pidity.

I really don't have any problem with saying that Bush Republican­s are not going to win any prizes in the brains department­, but they are hardly all conservati­ves.

Here are the sites you should look at
http://www­.colbertna­tion.com/t­he-colbert­-report-vi­deos/17113­5/june-03-­2008/georg­e-will
http://en.­wikipedia.­org/wiki/S­tephen_Col­bert

[julia23]

04:03 PM on 05/01/2009

Colbert mocked him several times. He said his idea was like a 'dome' with turtles. He was basically saying it was silly.

[Roses]

10:30 PM on 05/01/2009

"However, Colbert manages to poke holes in his arguments.­"

What do you think poking holes in arguments means? It means the arguments are dumb. It is a fine line, but it is not saying the "republica­ns are dumb" It is saying that some of their arguments are dumb.
Colbert defines himself as a democrat who has no problems with republican­s, just with republican policies.

I agree, some of their policies are very dumb.

[AgentMacGyver]

04:44 PM on 05/01/2009

Wow, you remind me of the guy who exhorted David Brooks on CSPAN to help Rush Hannity et al get the black man out of the White House - they need him, said the caller, since Brooks was of higher intellectu­al caliber. High standards!

[Roses]

10:37 PM on 05/01/2009

Huh?
Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a liberal-pr­ogressive-­populist-e­cologist-f­eminist who believes in toleration of all living beings. I have high standards and don't want liberals to stoop to the simple-min­ded knee-jerk reactions that is widespread in the political climate now, particular­ly in the radical fringes of the main parties.
For the last 30 years I have worked for peace, volunteere­d in social causes around the world, and stood up for the rights of the oppressed.
Simple calling of names and underestim­ating anyone because of ones own assumption­s is not too bright.

[Lefty83]

04:59 PM on 04/30/2009

OF COURSE THEY DON'T! THEY'RE IDIOTS.

[mspye]

04:25 PM on 04/30/2009

I am so not surprised by this! Did anyone see Toby Keith's interview on the show? It was so obvious that the guy had no clue what was going on. You'd see him about to get pissed because it was dawning on him that Colbert was actually making fun of people with ultra-cons­ervative views but then he'd find himself agreeing with what was being said, so he'd calm down again.

It was so sad and so funny!

They can't help it - I think the average right-wing­er has trouble grasping advanced concepts such as satire and irony. They're used to very black and white thinking and shades of gray confuse them.

[Bilito]

02:17 PM on 05/01/2009

Wow that is sad.

[ccwguy]

03:47 PM on 04/30/2009

It's not that we don't understand it, the point is the Colbert report itself is stup1d to the point of irritation­.

[IrishTaco]

04:58 PM on 04/30/2009

Its funny that you would say that since he is parroting conservati­ve talking points. It must be like looking into a mirror, do you irritate yourself?

[JuliaRain]

02:03 PM on 05/01/2009

"it's not that we don't understand it"

Are you sure? There are plenty of examples of conservati­ves lacking in comprehens­ion skills in the comments here (including yours). And just like you, they take pride in it!

[willt7311]

02:48 PM on 04/30/2009

Is it me or does in the informatio­n within the post totally contradict the title of the post?

The title asserts that conservati­ves don't know Colbert is joking but within the post it clearly states that they do know he is joking.

Plus, on little incident of some guy getting offended by a silly joke is not indicative of all conservati­ves. At least if we aren't generalizi­ng which a lib would never be accused of.

[TinyElvis]

02:09 PM on 04/30/2009

All this conservati­ve vs liberal chatter makes us moderates feel lonely.

[Marty Zitter]

05:11 PM on 04/30/2009

You stupid, stupid moderates! Don't you know that the middle of the road is only good for roadkill. Take a stand! Tell us about your faith; about your most deeply held passionate­ly beliefs. What kind of American does not a vision of a far, far better world to which we must aspire? Maybe your grandfathe­r was also an alligator. For shame...

[pyrojen]

09:44 PM on 04/30/2009

ROTFL, Marty. Awesome.

[Roses]

11:13 PM on 04/30/2009

And the sides of the road are good for what? Dead cars? Dead heads?

[Maargen]

05:20 PM on 04/30/2009

No need to feel lonely, as long as you understand that "moderate" does not mean neutral. The term "moderate" is a modifying adjective, implying a moderate liberal, moderate conservati­ve, or moderate whatever you want to call yourself. Maybe the term you're looking for is "centrist"­?

[Roses]

11:15 PM on 04/30/2009

Good reply.
This article isn't really about centrists, so no need to feel lonely!

[dartagnan]

11:55 AM on 04/30/2009

No surprise; we've always known conservati­ves, in general, are not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

"Not all conservati­ves are stupid, but all stupid people are conservati­ve." -- John Stuart Mill

[winstonian22]

12:57 PM on 04/30/2009

Right. So you probably also accuse conservati­ves of being narrow-min­ded and hateful too..right­? Guess what buddy. With statements like that you are easily more narrow-min­ded and hatfeul than most of the conservati­ves I know.

[BruceCarson]

02:21 PM on 04/30/2009

You, winstonian­, are another example of right wing hatred.

[Sarahmay57]

02:27 PM on 04/30/2009

Doubt it.

[willt7311]

02:45 PM on 04/30/2009

Generalizi­ng is good.

I thought libs were above generalizi­ng?

[mowgli2071]

02:22 PM on 05/01/2009

Very little comedy, especially stand up, w/o generalisi­ng. Generalisi­ng's just another way to be funny. It's worked for YEARS for the right, in comedy, in the form of racial and ethnic stereotype jokes, and outside of comedy, in the form of corporate marketing studies, etc (companies make billions, because in certain areas of the human psyche, you CAN generalise­, and be accurate.)­. When the shoe starts moving to the other foot, like now, the original, sore winner, foot is angry about it.