Stephen Colbert Slams Michigan Anti-Bullying Law (VIDEO)

Stephen Colbert poked fun at a bill passed in the Michigan State Senate, which allows bullying as long it is rooted in a "sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction" on his satirical talk show the Colbert Report this week.

"Thank goodness Michigan Senate Republicans stepped in, pantsed that law, and stuffed it in a locker," Stephen Colbert joked. "Bullying is just fine, as long as you get a permission slip from God."

The motion sparked a not-so-humours reaction from Democratic state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer.

"You may be able to pat yourselves on the back today and say that you did something," she said. "But in actuality you are explicitly outlining how to get away with bullying," Whitmer said in her emotionally-charged speech on the Senate floor.

Republican speaker of the House Jase Bolger vowed to compromise on the bill, in hopes that it would "bring everyone to the middle of the road and provide protection to all students."

After the show aired, the Republican-led state House passed their own version of the law, smoothing over the controversial language.

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Comments

[Mister E]

11:52 PM on 11/15/2011

Once again mixing church and state is not good government. Our founding fathers knew this. Nothing wrong with faith but it should not be playing any part in government. Better parenting would help more. Providing our teachers with more resources and support would help more.

[Johnny ElDrama]

06:08 PM on 11/15/2011

Any sort of abuse against another is intolerable. We live in 21st century, wouldn't we have figured out how to use common sense and live as a civilized society ?

[pod4270]

01:38 PM on 11/14/2011

Homosexuality is a sin, plain and simple. It's too bad Steve and his "kin" have no moral compass. If someone is gay and another student ostracizes him because of that, there is nothing wrong with it in the same way that some students don't like to hang out with other students that use drugs or steal things. Do not fall into this fallacy that we have to accept the sin because a group of people tell you it is popular and mainstream. Sooner or later it will be euthanasia, infanticide or perhaps bestiality. At what point are we going to stand up and call a spade a spade? America is predominantly a Christian nation founded on Christian morals/principals, it's time we regain our honor and quit caving to every group that calls their particular sin the new mainstream.

[LaoShur]

11:17 PM on 11/15/2011

Christian-Jews are an abomination to life!! To covet their ideology is a sin against life!! Do not fall into the fallacy that it is OK to worship Hebrews as descendants from a god!! Sooner or later you'll be worshipping Eskimos, Polynesians, Hottentots or even Republicans!! It is time to regain humanity from this abomination and send them to heaven where they belong!!

[pod4270]

12:00 AM on 11/16/2011

Lol!

[QuakerJewish]

11:50 PM on 11/20/2011

Oh save us from your reconstructionist blond German Jesus. The majority of Americans follow that Hebrew Jesus, who had no opinion on homosexuality that matches yours. Leviticus was Hewbrew law, it did not apply to Gentiles.
PS. The only ones talking about bestiality are those obsessed with other's sex lives, Pod4270.

[pod4270]

07:32 AM on 11/21/2011

Lol, Jesus had no opinion on homosexuality? How about all of these passages from the new testament? 1 Corithians 6 verses 9-10, Romans 1 verses 26-27, and 1 31-32, 1 Timothy 1 verse 10, 2 Timothy 3 verse 3, Jude 7-8. All of those passages applied to the Gentiles and didn't need the old "Hebrew law" to validate them. The only ones talking about bestiality are those obsessed with other's sex lives? Lol no, I am not obsessed with anyones sex life. I am however pointing out the truth about a very serious SIN taking place in this country. Wake up before it's too late!

[montSQ]

04:41 PM on 11/13/2011

Gotta love Republicans. Can't make fun of anyone else unless you're telling them that they're dirty Muslims who are going to hell, obvi. Sounds oh so logical.

[Shesme]

12:20 PM on 11/13/2011

Bravo, Stevo.

[Cougar90210]

01:05 AM on 11/13/2011

Good old Stephen. He nails it once again.

[tpeserik]

07:52 PM on 11/12/2011

As cynical as this may sound, there's no way to prevent bullying. This won't help any more than capital punishment deters murderers. I wish there was something to be done as my sister has been unfairly bullied, but I think that kids are always going to be doing this sort of thing.

[pakaal]

05:56 PM on 11/12/2011

Michigan's "Equal Rights for Religious Bullies" bill bites the dust. Amen.

[easydude51]

04:20 PM on 11/12/2011

Governor Snyder and his crew are bullying teachers. He added an additional 1.6 billion to the state budget, cut school funding by 700 million, forced teachers to take a 10% pay cut, and pay 20% of their health care.
Also, he has taken away tenure and seniority. Now, if your district made the concessions. Your district was rewarded with an additional $100. per student.

Snyder and his boys, "We are not attacking teachers, we are improving the quality of education for students in Michigan."

The best part, he hired a man from Missouri to take over the Detroit Public Schools. His new Chancellor has the power to close schools, and cut all union contracts. This man was given $225,000 signing bonus to leave his job plus his annual salary in the range of $200.000. Funny part, the same man destroyed the Missouri school system. The goal here a complete take over of the school system and big business takes over.....because teachers are being bullied by Snyder and his crew.

Yes, Detroit is a mess, but our state government is filled with bullies. The anti-bullying law should start looking at Snyder and his crew before implementing in schools.

[ashimal4]

04:17 PM on 11/12/2011

What ever happened to separation of church and state? Wasn't America founded by those fleeing from religious persecution? How can a country with a founding belief in freedom of religion have become such a 'christian' nation..and I use the term loosely. The stupidity of our 'leaders' never ceases to amaze me.

[A Dub]

02:20 PM on 11/12/2011

Michigan is in an unending downward swirl. I hope we can change things with our next vote. I hope the people of Michigan open their eyes. I can say with everyone I have talked with Snyder is in his only term.

[joey753]

07:43 AM on 11/12/2011

Why call this site Huff Post Canada, when most of your videos are not available in Canada?

[Hassan Hamza]

02:26 AM on 11/12/2011

The f*#king republicants are kowtowing to the christian taliban and sending us back into the dark ages.

[Edward Hassertt]

08:29 PM on 11/11/2011

what is needed is to protect all students from bullying not just those who happen to have a vocal special interest group behind them.

[Gregorybranchesq]

12:54 PM on 11/12/2011

If you read this law, you would realize it is directed at all bullying. Michigan is one of only three states that does not have such a law on the books. The main reason has been that Christian/rightwing lobbyists and legislators have been reluctant to extend protection to groups they believe should be targeted by their righteous wrath. So, here you have the opposite of the problem you suggest. There are large numbers of "typical" children left unprotected so that zealots can have the right to bully the non-typical.

[sargentpepper]

08:08 PM on 11/11/2011

maybe it is not too late for the republicans to realize how stupid they are.

[janetlaw]

01:55 PM on 11/12/2011

Doubt it...