Colbert Debates Don't Ask, Don't Tell In Front Of Audience Of Active Troops (VIDEO)

Stephen Colbert took on a formidable opponent last night in the debate over allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces: Himself. After an intro from George H.W. Bush and brief plug for Amp energy drink, Colbert One told Colbert Two that his gay Arabic translator had been fired, bringing the total to 59 in the past 5 years.

Colbert Two took a pro-gay stance, whereas Colbert One defended the army's choice to fire these men. The segment was funny and intriguing, but Colbert (as a whole) seemed unwilling to take a hard stance on the issue while performing in front of an audience of active troops.

In the past Colbert has mocked "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in his typical pompous fashion, with much harsher rhetoric.


WATCH:

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Comments

[superstition]

Obama deputy campaign manager abandons DOMA & DADT as priorities
http://www.americablog.com/2009/07/obama-deputy-campaign-manager-abandons.html

"After two weeks of the Obama White House reeling over the gay backlash caused by the anti-gay DOMA brief, which compared gay marriage to incest and pedophilia, we now have...

First, that the burden for doing anything pro-gay in the remaining three and a half years of the Obama administration is now shifted to Congress. Obama has no role whatsoever, and no power to influence anything, even though he's still the leader of the free world.

Second, the three big gay rights priorities that Congress should be focusing on do not even include what have organically become the community's top two priorities: repealing DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell. They're not even mentioned in the Obama deputy's essay."

[CynicalTony]

It seems to me like he took a completely pro ban stance. The only thing he did was put it on the politicians instead of the military which is fair. People should try to understand satire and sarcasm better.

People don't know that it took a lot of courage for Harry Truman to integrate the military at a time when the country was pretty racist generally. So I find it pretty absurd that 60 years later in a generation that's supposed to be more open-minded and enlightened that we're doing the same thing all over again with gay guys and lesbians. I'm guessing the only reason why Obama or Congress hasn't seen it as a no-brainer to change this policy is that well over 50% of Americans polled aren't buying into gay marriage, so why would they buy into openly gay people in the military?

Regardless, Colbert is the best ever, that show should win an emmy every year.

[TruthmongerII]

Berrycooda, be serious -- how can something "work for years" if thousands have been discharged from their miltary careers? You didn't really think this one out, did you?

[berrycooda]

Did Colbert go to entertain the troops or to start a protest about gays and
the don't ask, don't tell...

It has worked for years so why the push to change it.
Sounds kind of like "something evil this way comes"

The troops have enough problems fighting a war. Why should somebody who
happens to don a uniform to try to start one among the military.

Next time...stay home Colbert unless you would like to cheer the troops so they
can forget their troubles for awhile.
Quit being a trouble maker and try to stick to "comedy"

[Solja]

Don't hide your bigotry behind the troops. Everyone does not think like you. Maybe it worked for YOU but it obviously has not worked for the people it actually affects. That's like saying it's okay that blacks remain at the back of the bus since whites aren't affected by this. Of course not! They get to sit up front!

I am not gay, nor do I like that people have found a need to announce their sexual preference to the world. I would personally prefer that everyone's (hetero or homo) sexual behaviors be private. But, my belief that everyone in this country should have the freedom to live their lives as they please, without interference from others, so long as they are not harming anyone else, trumps everything else. That's why the soldiers fight for us, for our freedom.

I wish blatant bigotry against all people would just cease one day. The world would be a much better place for everyone if we all just let people be who they are and mind our own personal affairs. If it doesn't affect you negatively, it shouldn't even be something you'd be willing to speak against. Shut up already.

[berrycooda]

Nothing to do with bigotry...I, like you , don't care what other people
do in their bedrooms....and I don't want anyone looking in my bedroom.
But why do some find it necessary to force their views on other people.

Nobody is taking away anybody's freedom. Civil rights have been around for awhile.
My opinion is that they want acceptance and people already accept them.
If they want a blessing....well that is not up to me.
We have enough laws on the books already that are not followed so why add more.

[JZ735]

Has worked for years?
HOW?

[berrycooda]

How many gays are already in the military....for years...
No one was complaining before.
This is happening because there is a movement under way to start
problems where there really aren't any.

[sus1]

Politics is his gig. What did you think he'd do there? And, it seems the troops love him.

Lucky for them, you don't make the decision as to whether he goes to entertain or not.

[berrycooda]

If the troops love him....(that is your opinion) maybe it is because
anything that reminds them of home makes them happy,
They didn't get a choice who they wanted to come and show their
support by getting a haircut....
Join the military and get a legitimate army outfit and then maybe
I would change my mind.

[litalex]

Colbert has always been a "troublemaker" and he's known for his political jokes. He wouldn't have been invited if his brand of humour wasn't wanted.

As to gays in the military, DADT hasn't worked for years. In fact, the policy was first implemented because gay people were being kicked out under the old rules. It was supposed to stop the military from kicking people out, but obviously the military was only obeying the letter of the law and not its spirit.

[jsijason]

I saw it and it looked like the troops were enjoying it to me.

And it was "comedy" he was delivering not some sober, heavy commentary.

[maddie0001]

Who you gonna believe - 'cooda or your lying eyeballs?

[FreelanceMinion]

But he brought it up in that context with the main idea being that a valuable specialist was not being used by our side because of something they do on their time off. It doesn't have to be his harshest advocacy of the subject, he brought it up in the belly of the beast.

[Solja]

I agree. His argument is an important one that needs discussion, and where better than directly with those who politicians claim to be affected by it.

They are a quasi protected group but I think a poll should be done amongst military personnel to see how they feel about DADT.

[JZ735]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06112009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/a_prejudice_america_cant_afford_173663.htm

[regellner]

Colbert's comments between the lines so often contain the unvarnished truth.
Both he and Jon Stewart have truly been a check and balance for the news media as well as for the issues of today.

Following are two articles in relation to Colbert’s trip to Iraq:

http://www.examiner.com/x-11326-Charlotte-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m6d9-Colbert-takes-show-to-Iraq-receives-an-executive-command-from-President-Obama

http://www.examiner.com/x-11326-Charlotte-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m6d10-Colbert-segment-illustrates-the-inanity-of-Dont-Ask-Dont-Tell

Raymond Gellner – Charlotte Liberal Examiner at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-11326-Charlotte-Liberal-Examiner
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­________

[jsijason]

Well said.

[skatscan]

It goes to show, a large group of soldiers make for a classier audience that gets it than a bunch of politicians and journalists at a fancy dinner.

[JZ735]

Gets what?

[jsijason]

Satire. Irony.

[phlashba]

Please don't use the word "classier" (or any form of "classy") anymore. Thank you.

[Scent]

May I suggest something? - How about we make them found a party of comedians?

I mean, really. Who else today not only tells us at least a BIT of truth. - AND makes us feel good about it?

Seriously: can You name any politician who does his work for us without constantly driving home the fear any politician today panders to to make us support what he or she is selling at the moment?

Of course even comedians are not perfect. With the balls Colbert showed at the congressional correspondence dinner, I was slightly disappointed to hear him tell about Saddam BECOMING a serious dictator and maniac but leaving out it was US who put him there and MADE him attack Iran.

I truely believe that going from bad to better we need truth. - I know, it may hurt at first, being the weakest muscle in out system. But apparently training helps. - US of course. And I don´t really give a hoot and a holler about those truth hurts.

And there You find another thing lying destroys. You find it in the quote from the show "I became a soldier to fight those who made us miserable since 911" as opposed to truth. What ruined everything is parasites making a profit out of what happened on 911.

But forget perfect. Lets try to start with better. And a comedian party WOULD be a huge step there, wouldn't it?

[phoenix58]

Haven't you seen "Man of the Year" with Robin Williams?

[jsijason]

I'd vote for them. At least they would deliberately be making me laugh.

[Zengeist]

Colbert is probably the smartest person on television, and he's got a big pair of brass ones to boot.

[Scent]

After seeing him at the correspondence dinner I was thinking more in the way of steel or titanium balls :o).

[ckone]

Now if uor pres. will get some brass ones and repeal DADT. NO he is to much of a political sissy.Afterall blacks stoped gay marriage in CA.

[OLEGAR]

c?kone We don't need an alien telling us "if UOR pres." blah blah . .How would u know whether he needs "brass" ones or not? If "uor" not a bona-fide resident of the USA and President Obama isn't "ure" pres., jest krawl bak unner ure whatever rok u was unnher an shut up the whinin.

[Tim303]

Wow. No kidding!

[Malarkey]

The writers for this show are amazing.

[NetWeasel]

By now, pretty much everybody knows what happens if you violate the "Don't Tell" part of DADT.

But what are the penalties for violating "Don't Ask?"

Has anyone ever been brought up on charges for it?

[klmebane]

Well, the policy is a little confusing that way. I was in the Marine Corps. It isn't just "don't tell" about yourself. If someone else goes to your command and says that you are gay they will start to process you out. The allegation alone is enough to violate don't ask don't tell. I don't know about the not asking part, the only people I've known who've asked others have been friends of those people and they wouldn't rat them out for anything.

[Equality4AllNow]

At least Colbert brought up the subject and got the troops to laugh at "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," though I agree that except for the muffler joke he did not really strike a death blow against the absurdity of this policy.

The "raspberry beret" slight against Special Ops was great. Pictures flashed through my head of Prince riding his motorcycle across the desert, chasing down Al-Qa'ida.

[20yearnavyvet]

Enjoy Colbert and his comedic commentary. He seems to hit the right cords with just a bit enough wit to help see through the crap sometimes. I thought he did an exceptional job a couple of years ago ripping into Bush at some big dinner in Washington. Priceless.
Anyway, as a recently retired veteran with 20-years of service behind me I can honestly say that DADT is a pretty useless piece of legislation. I have been gay my entire life and during my military career I was extremely cautious about keeping my private life separate from my military life ( it would have been great if a lot of the "normal" heteros I knew had done the same). The ironic part of that is that at every command I ever served EVERYONE knew I was gay. That I discovered after conversations with individuals from those commands. It was never an issue.
I doubt very seriously that it's an issue for a vast majority of the people Mr. Colbert was performing in front of either. There are far more important things to worry about in those situations and frankly, a vast majority of the people serving in the military are professional enough to realize that.

[VoxCanaille]

The 70% who agree with dropping the ban probably don't need to second guess themselves.

http://www.palmcenter.org/press/dadt/releases/study_finds_gays_do_not_undermine_canadian_military_performance

My assumption, due to the lack of news that I can find, probably means that all the other NATO countries that allow equal service are similar. Anyone know otherwise?

[Equality4AllNow]

Thank you for directing me to the Palm Center's May 2009 study "How to End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- A Roadmap of Political, Legal, Regulatory, and Organizational Steps to Equal Treatment." I look forward to reading it.