Colbert Defends Barney Frank Over Pot Bust Kerfuffle (VIDEO)

News broke this week that Congressman Barney Frank was present when his partner was busted for possession of marijuana in 2007. Police found pot plants in his backyard and drug paraphernalia in his home. Frank denied that he knew the marijuana plant was there saying he wouldn't have recognized it because he's not "an outdoorsy type."

Colbert, never one to let his friends flail in the wind, jumped to Frank's defense. After he mocked the Congressman for looking like a "shaved Ewok" he offered this insight:

"Now just because he authored a bill to legalize medical marijuana, why do people assume Frank would recognize a marijuana plant or drug paraphernalia? I'm sure he just thought his partner was playing the smoky water flute."

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Comments

[Turtleposer]

FYI, an elderly relative's front window was broken into and her plant was stolen. They found the thieves. They stole to plant because they thought it was pot. It wasn't.

[stav506]

Make it legal and the theives would not have broke in because they could have gone to the local hash bar.

[karen1p]

With so many employers asking for drug tests for the mass of population, shouldn't we (as his employers) ask for a test to be done???

[CTSnowman]

No they are above all that. I remember a long time ago when some hack was testifying before a committee about the merits of testing the rest of us. A chair person requested the person recommending the testing to go take one on the spot. Of course he refused and was incredulous that HE be subjected to what he thought best for the unwashed masses. Back when I was in the
Navy there was a scandal with literally tens of thousands of false positives. It was discovered but not in time for so many who's careers where destroyed.

[sydsBikeifyoulike]

the test doesn't determine whether or not drugs were done while working or during leisure time...and the difference between those is immense

[karen1p]

But you are missing the point, Syds. They make us accountable with a drug test....and they are working for US. Make them accountable in the same way.

[juerofritzy]

Trying to blame Barney Frank for a bunch shady loan writing is ridiculous.The ONLY reason those loans were written is because there was a place to dump them:Wall street.As long as the housing bubble kept expanding they could sell the shaky loans as commodities.Like none of Bushs economic advisors knew the score

[ConcernfromCanada]

Maybe Cheney should have had a toke or two and maybe, just maybe the world would not be such a dangerous place today!

[peaceonearth]

Second that!

[karen1p]

Yes, I am pretty sure by his paranoia, he's doing crack.

[lode runner]

Honestly it's very possible Frank never knew his roommate was growing a plant.

For the geniuses out there who think you grow pot next to the basil and rosemary, I hate to break it to you but you're a little clueless.

The most common place to grow it is in your bedroom closet, and since they had different bedrooms, it's entirely possible Frank never saw it or smelled it.

I for one had a roommate in college who did exactly the same thing, and I didn't know it was there until it was full grown and he showed me.

You can't smell it in the closet. And I doubt Frank was borrowing clothes... given his... proportions.

[karen1p]

If you read the report, the report says the police found the two plants in the garden....outside.

And, frankly, I can't imagine many people who don't know what a pot plant looks like. Especially when the report also states that they confiscated paraphernalia in the house. Come on, laugh at a politicians spin.

[Pem3]

I have roofed a house and the owners had three very nice plants in their garden growing in the middle of the rosemary plants. They became very good friends and have been for years.

[ChicagoLibertarian]

Hey Barney.... you might be a busybody most of the times, but sometimes you really stand for individual rights. So... work on legislation to DECRIMINALIZE all drugs!

[Pem3]

No not all some need to be banned for our own good.

[peaceonearth]

LOVED his smoking bong impression, he nailed it! There's no way a non-pot smoker could've done that so well.

[aceholiday]

he is an actor

[ebroadcast]

Oh please!! He really think he hasn't used a bong before? Come on

[CTSnowman]

You know it. LOL stuff.

[michelesda]

Not only is Colbert obviously "cool," but obviously somebody who would be a treat to toke with. Considering what he's like when he's straight, just imagine...

[jdrourke]

Barney Frank could hide a bong in his jowls...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/thats-quite-enough-liberal-media/

[AmbivalentGuy]

Hilarious, but irrelevant.

[codycap]

Everywhere I look I see people repeating Fox's lies about Barney.

There are always two sides to a story, FAUX lies and the truth

http://mediamatters.org/research/200810010014?f=s_search SUMMARY:

Fox News host Brit Hume and correspondent Bret Baier suggested that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were heavily involved in the subprime mortgage market "years ago," and falsely suggested that Rep. Barney Frank has opposed stricter regulation of Fannie and Freddie. Neither Hume nor Baier noted that Fannie and Freddie were not active in the subprime market in 2003, or that Frank has supported and authored bills to strengthen oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Read this commentary by former Republican Ohio Representative Oxley – The Republican chairman before Frank

“What did we get from the White House? We got a one-finger salute.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8780c35e-7e91-11dd-b1af-000077b07658.html

Oxley worked to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the House and he was assisted on this effort by Rep. Barney Frank.

This bill passed the Republican­-controlle­d House, but received no support from either the Republican­-controlle­d Senate or the Republican­-controlle­d Executive branch.

Republicans believe that government is the problem and work everyday to make that belief a reality. They do not enforce the laws as written by Congress - Bush even added his own interpretation of his responsibilities in those signing statements - and they weaken existing regulations daily, across every agency of government.

[FerrellGummitt]

Of course we all know that Media Matters is the last bastion of Truth, Justice and the American Way.

[b-dob]

You probably won't watch this, because the truth hurts too much. Sucks to be you, Media Matters, and Barney Frank, among others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMInSfanqg&feature=related

[Buddy McCue]

You're right about one thing, anyway.

I probably won't watch your video.

[Eykis]

After all these years, WHY is pot still a newsworthy subject and why is it still illegal?


Colbert is hilarious.


Why is this 2-year old story coming to light? Again, who cares?

There are millions of pot smokers who have never seen a pot plant.

[changeself]

well done, stephen.

now go bust barney's ba.ll for selling the working poor down the river.

[WallisDonaghey]

At least Barney Frank isn't a hypocrite like so many of these family values republicans

[b-dob]

You can never be wrong if you have NO values at all, except hunger for power.

[Wendy Johnson]

Sarcasm. Now that's original!

[tisfilm]

Colbert's dance was so funny when Frank didn't see him..
Awesome!!!

[my mind aint so open]

Spot on. Colbert is brilliant!

[jdrourke]

Colbert is The Man!!! Funny, funny stuff...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/

[Teadye]

Smokey water flute! LOL

[psychodog]

I agree... I just might have to start calling it that. :P

[Pem3]

I asked my friend on the phone a minute ago if I could borrow his smokey water flute and he was "My what, what the hell is that". I said from the Colbert report and he just started laughing.