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Bill Moyers And Stephen Colbert Talk Corporations, Racism (VIDEO)

First Posted: 01/11/12 12:40 PM ET Updated: 01/11/12 08:35 PM ET

Public television icon Bill Moyers sat down with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, and was called a racist more times than he probably has been in a while.

Moyers was on to promote his new television show, "Moyers and Company." He said that the aim of the show was to "look at America through the experiences of a lot of people who don't make it onto most television shows."

Colbert asked him about capitalism. Moyers said the system is "out of control," and criticized the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. As he put it, the decision said that a corporation was a person "even though it doesn't eat, drink, make love, sing, raise children or take care of aging parents. You cannot have a peoples' democracy as long as corporations are considered people."

After the audience's applause died down, Colbert said, "You understand that you sound like a racist, okay? And that Southern accent is not helping you." Moyers took that one in stride.

Later, Colbert received word that Mitt Romney had won the New Hampshire primary. He recalled Romney's famous "corporations are people" comment.

"As a friend of mine from texas says, he will believe corporations are people when Texas executes one," Moyers said.

"So you're racist and bloodthirsty," Colbert responded.

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Public television icon Bill Moyers sat down with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, and was called a racist more times than he probably has been in a while. Moyers was on to promote his new television sho...
Public television icon Bill Moyers sat down with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, and was called a racist more times than he probably has been in a while. Moyers was on to promote his new television sho...
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Veneita
05:02 PM on 01/12/2012
just had a thought, corporations can marry but gay people can't.
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11:48 AM on 01/12/2012
Moyers said the system is "out of control," and criticized the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. As he put it, the decision said that a corporation was a person "even though it doesn't eat, drink, make love, sing, raise children or take care of aging parents. You cannot have a peoples' democracy as long as corporations are considered people."

I love this guy! We need him as an important source of information and debate. Especially now; before we crumble into complete ruin. Having Bill Moyers around to help talk us through a lot of our political/social problems gives me a good dose of hope.
11:19 AM on 01/12/2012
How can people not understand that Colbert is satirical? I can't believe how utterly stupid some people are. How do they even make it through the day?
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09:12 AM on 01/12/2012
So glad to see this! I discovered Moyers' series with Cambell about 10 yrs ago and fell in love with Moyers! I am looking forward to seeing his new show. He is a true gem and I hope that he is around and so vital for MANY many many many years.
jinsin
Always Question Authority!
03:27 AM on 01/12/2012
Does this put a dent in the "Marriage is one man and one woman" argument put forth by Glen Beck and the right?
The other day I had a poster ask me if I thought it was ok to marry my dog, my cat and my bedroom door in response to a post I made about Glen Becks comments in regard to marriage being between a man and a woman with no variables.
But as Moyers puts it; the Supreme Court’s decision amounted to saying that a corporation was a person "even though it doesn't eat, drink, make love, sing, raise children or take care of aging parents”.
Under that pretext would it be perfectly legal to marry say, the front door of Playboy?
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09:32 AM on 01/12/2012
I hang posters on the wall and refuse to communicate with them.
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11:49 AM on 01/12/2012
Funny!
scottsdalebubbe
Progressive Micro-Capitalist Grandmother
09:49 PM on 01/12/2012
Marry the collective assets of the Hunt brothers in a community property state. When the businesses tank (die), you inherit the wealth of the assets, not the brothers.
jinsin
Always Question Authority!
03:48 AM on 01/13/2012
Perfect!
Fretmaster 2
Hug Rich People and Thank Them For Tax Dollars
01:01 AM on 01/12/2012
Television for idiots!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Winthorpe
Need a fourth for squash
07:18 AM on 01/12/2012
Fox News, hooray!

You understand that this show spoofs Fox News, right? Oh, I guess you don't.
Fretmaster 2
Hug Rich People and Thank Them For Tax Dollars
03:03 PM on 01/12/2012
Yes! It's very shallow and shows low intelligence in a way that he has no creativity or instinct towards what creates success!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
PunKinPai
Tact is just not saying true stuff. I’ll pass.
02:36 PM on 01/12/2012
If you watch anything Bill Moyers says, including "Good morning," you will be smarter than you were before. Therefore I assume you didn't watch the clip.
Fretmaster 2
Hug Rich People and Thank Them For Tax Dollars
03:05 PM on 01/12/2012
Yes.....I watched it and found it to be terribly simplistic and drab!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Father Tom
CPA, VietNam Vet, Not a Priest
10:51 PM on 01/11/2012
What WOULD the libs do without the Rcard?? It would be like MSNBC without Fox.
11:16 AM on 01/12/2012
You know that was a joke right? Right? You are aware this is a comedy show?
scottsdalebubbe
Progressive Micro-Capitalist Grandmother
09:46 PM on 01/12/2012
Satire alert!
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10:41 PM on 01/11/2012
Too bad we don't have hundreds of Bill Moyers in Congress and the Senate!
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11:50 AM on 01/12/2012
Just a super majority would do it ...
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12:56 PM on 01/12/2012
Happy New Year!
nothingchanges
too soon old, too late smart
10:13 PM on 01/11/2012
If Corporations are people, they should pay the same tax rates that working people do.

They should go to jail for breaking laws.

They should be limited to a $2,500 "donation" to a single candidate, like people are.
10:43 PM on 01/11/2012
Very good idea. The $2,500 limit might actually be a plausible argument in court.
03:48 PM on 01/13/2012
YES!!! Like the game of Monopoly...when Rich people have LUXURY taxes and Rich people went to JAIL for their crimes!!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Johnd139
10:10 PM on 01/11/2012
I love Bill Moyers and hate to see him aging.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
edgraham
There is no magic
09:11 AM on 01/12/2012
...and becoming a racist.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
PunKinPai
Tact is just not saying true stuff. I’ll pass.
02:36 PM on 01/12/2012
You're jesting, I hope.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Johnd139
04:58 PM on 01/12/2012
At his age ,one is or is not. I choose to believe he is not.
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09:13 AM on 01/12/2012
FANNED.
10:04 PM on 01/11/2012
Does anyone know who Moyers is referring to when he says, "As a friend of mine from Texas says,"? I'm wondering if he's referring to whoever originally said, "I'll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one." I want to know who that is.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Winthorpe
Need a fourth for squash
07:17 AM on 01/12/2012
It's a joke, and a darn good one. The timing would have been a little off if he said, "As my friend Mike Hunt in Texas says..."
09:25 PM on 01/11/2012
Colbert is hilarious as that character and Moyers is right!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
GHY1
08:16 PM on 01/11/2012
time to bust up big companies with anti trust laws. Especially the too big to fail ones. I wonder if they are converting to Mafia operations.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Dosadi
Political agnostic
07:48 PM on 01/11/2012
"As a friend of mine from texas says, he will believe corporations are people when Texas executes one," Moyers said.

I gonna make up some tee shirts and make a killing.
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NRMLUNIT
BOLD AS LOVE
09:41 PM on 01/11/2012
I WANT ONE !
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Dosadi
Political agnostic
09:42 PM on 01/11/2012
Got ya on the list.
10:33 PM on 01/11/2012
Me too!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Winthorpe
Need a fourth for squash
07:16 AM on 01/12/2012
I hear that. Brilliant! I'll support his lawsuit against you, though. ;-)
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Dosadi
Political agnostic
07:38 PM on 01/12/2012
Go ahead. The fine for any capitalist move is pennies on the dollar on the profit I will make.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mcartri
06:32 PM on 01/11/2012
My favorite Bill Moyers quote: 'Money ruined democracy." My personal question about Moyers: Would any Fox viewer understand a word Moyers is saying, if they ever even heard it?
07:09 PM on 01/11/2012
I guarantee you Bill Moyers is way too intelligent, way to sophisticated for the average Fox News viewer.
01:45 PM on 01/12/2012
Kinda like a twist on the old saying "If a tree falls in the woods...." could be "If a fact is stated on Fox, would anyone recognize it?"
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
imfedup
Fight the lies.
04:16 PM on 01/16/2012
If a fact is stated on Fox, the person who uttered it has to go through Roger Ailes' spanking machine.