Obama Owes It All To -- Stephen Colbert!

For this holiday, Barack Obama should offer a special toast of Thanksgiving to Stephen Colbert for making his election possible. After all, Obama did not start surging, exactly one year ago, until Colbert suddenly pulled out of the race for the White House -- or was booted out.

Let's take a moment to review Colbert's brief but meaningful venture into electoral politics. Colbert ended up pulling out of the primaries despite topping Bill Richardson and closing in on Joe Biden in one national poll.

He had kicked it off during an appearance on Larry King's show in October 2007 to promote his new book, I Am America (And So Can You). The Comedy Central star was accused by the host of using the book as a platform to run for president. Colbert happily confirmed this, saying that he would likely seek the nomination from both parties. When King said this was a "cop out," Colbert said that it actually demonstrated true "courage" because "I could lose twice."

Likely he would launch his grassroots crusade in his native state, South Carolina, as a "favorite son." Colbert refused to knock any of his competitors, but did allow that Fred Thompson's campaign slogan should be, "Do Not Disturb." He pointed out that Mike Huckabee had already offered him the veep spot if the former Arkansas governor got the GOP nomination.

Soon, a major South Carolina public TV station offered Colbert airtime to officially announce his candidacy. The Colbert bump kept growing when, on October 14, Maureen Dowd turned over her New York Times column to him for the day. Colbert revealed, "While my hat is not presently in the ring, I should also point out that it is not on my head. So where's that hat?"

Keeping nothing under his missing hat, he went on to describe his platform. On gender: "The sooner we accept the basic differences between men and women, the sooner we can stop arguing about it and start having sex." On race: "While skin and race are often synonymous, skin cleansing is good, race cleansing is bad." On the elderly: "They look like lizards."

And finally: "I don't intend to tease you for weeks the way Newt Gingrich did, saying that if his supporters raised $30 million, he would run for president. I would run for $15 million. Cash. Nevertheless, I am not ready to announce yet -- even though it's clear that the voters are desperate for a white, male, middle-aged, Jesus-trumpeting alternative."

Two nights later, after nearly a solid week of dropping hints, Colbert did find, and throw, his hat in the ring. On his own show, The Colbert Report, with balloons falling, he screamed, 'Yes, I'm doing it!" Then he welcomed CBS political analyst Jeff Greenfield to analyze his impact on the race "in the past three minutes."

Greenfield said it was "astounding."

Colbert took out one of the "Colbert/Stewart 2008" bumper stickers that have circulated for awhile and cut out the Stewart part, saying that he might replace Jon Stewart as a possible vice president with someone named "Huckabee" or even "Putin." To finance his campaign, he threatened to sell advertising patches on his suit, like a NASCAR driver.

Questions quickly rose about his ballot status in South Carolina but the situation there appeared murky. Stewart signed a contract extension for his Daily Show, explaining, "I love doing this show... I look forward to using this extension to having great fun at President Colbert's expense."

Stephen, in fact, was already threatening to overtake the lesser-rans on the Democratic side. The Public Opinion Strategies national poll in mid-October found him drawing 2.3 percent in the Democratic race. This put his ahead of Richardson (2.1 percent) and Dennis Kucininch (2.1). He trailed Biden by just a tad (the future Veep-elect polled 2.7 percent).

A week later a Rasmussen poll showed that his surge was continuing. In a projected three-way context against frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani he was pulling 13% of the vote (28% of the 18-to-29 demo). At E&P we predicted: "If he keeps gaining over 10% a week, Colbert should be leading the field before November is out."

Meanwhile, a Facebook group titled "1,000,000 Strong For Stephen T. Colbert" had attracted more than 880,000 members in just over a week -- making it the most popular political group on Facebook by far. And that was before he, improbably, appeared on Meet the Press with Tim Russert on October 21. From the transcript:

RUSSERT: You've thought this through.

COLBERT: That's a generous estimation. Thank you.

RUSSERT: The press reaction to your announcement has been mixed. Here's one headline.

COLBERT: OK.

RUSSERT: This was on Thursday. "Electile Dysfunction: Colbert Running For President."

COLBERT: That's good work. That's good work.

RUSSERT: Are they, are they questioning, shall we say, your stamina?

COLBERT: I don't know. I think a lot of people are asking whether -- they say is this, is this real, you know? And to which I would say to everybody, this is not a dream, OK? You're not going to wake up from this, OK? I'm, I'm, I'm far realer than Sam Brownback, let me put it that way.

RUSSERT: Would you consider Senator Larry Craig as your running mate?

COLBERT: I would.

RUSSERT: Have you had conversations with him?

COLBERT: Define conversation.

RUSSERT: Have you spoken to him?

COLBERT: No, no.

RUSSERT: Have you met with him? Have you been in the same room together?

COLBERT: Sorry, my lawyer's telling me to say no more.

Colbert visited Columbia, S.C. and received the key to the city from the mayor on "Stephen Colbert Day." The local newspaper, The State, published a side-by-side comparison of its two native son candidates, Colbert and John Edwards. The latter's hair was described as "naturally fluffy" while Colbert's was "very stiff." Colbert, perhaps angered by that, was quoted saying of his opponent: "John Edwards left South Carolina when he was 1 year old. He had his chance. Saying his parents moved him -- that's the easy answer."

But just as momentum was building uncontrollably in early November, the state's Democratic party ruled that he was not "viable" enough to be awarded a spot on the ballot. Colbert was reduced to citing -- and showing on the screen -- an article in E&P to prove that he was, indeed, not merely a joke candidate for president. The audience roared its approval of E&P as potential kingmaker.

Too bad, he said, he wouldn't get a chance to run, waving a thick file of papers -- he had an exit strategy for Iraq all mapped out.

Greg Mitchell is editor of Editor & Publisher. His latest book, on Iraq and the media, is "So Wrong for So Long." His book on campaign 2008 will be published in January.

Comments

[elr50]

For the past eight years, a lot of us have been getting our news from two comedy shows and our comedy from an entire network of news. This country has been in pathetic shape for a long time, and red staters don't even know it.

[mamacat]

I would have liked to see Colbert on the ballot, but it might have made the difference in a few close races.
The interview with Tim Russert was classic. I would love to see Colbert invited to host that show once in awhile, he really is that smart.
I still keep the roast Colbert did at the Press Corps Dinner on my computer. That was a work of perfection, at a time when a higher percentage of voters still thought Bush was doing a good job.

My problem with Colbert is when he starts on his egomaniac stuff (and I don't mean running for President). That just turns me off. I have to change the channel.

[RockySoldier]

egomaniac stuff? man, it stinks that you just don't get it.

the guy's a genius.

[LiberalProfessor]

I think people get it. It is indeed funny - just overbearing at times - like anything that is as rich and delicious as Stephen's comedy.

[SColbert]

People actually put down Colbert as a write in candidate...along with Jesus. lol

http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/4466144

[Archivist1000]

egomaniac? Oh come ON! That is SATIRE, and he is a genius at it!

Colbert --- in character --- is the best mirror on Politics that there is today. Nobody gets to the 'heart' of the matter like Colbert does!

[NotMcCain]

Colbert roasting Bush at the White House Correspondents Dinner remains one of the great moments in television.

I hope they'll invite him back this year--for a president who actually has a sense of humor.....

[RockySoldier]

that roast of bush was the best moment america has had in getting at King George in 8 years. it was brilliance. and it just didn't stop. it kept going and going and going and going...

that had to have been the most uncomfortable 20 minutes of Georgie's presidency.

[tsand19151]

I didn't "get" the Colbert Report when it first came on..... Now I'm totally hooked. Some of the funniest writing on TV. The bit he did with Wynton Marsalis was classic. I actually like his show better than The Daily Show. John Stewart has become too over the top for me. I still watch, but i like the Colbert Report better.

[notb observer]

I like both Stewart and Colbert a lot, but if I had to pick just one to watch, it would be Stewart. One thing that bothers me about Colbert some times is the way he gets too carried away with some of his guests, and they don't get a chance to say anything, particularly when they have an important point to make...

Having said that, sometimes the best material comes from pushing the guest a little, as was the case when Rep Eleanor Holmes (D) District of Columbia was on the Report. That was one of the best Colbert moments, and the interview was replayed in its entirety for the crowd at a recent Colbert roast fundraiser.

Anyhoo, I sort of see a similarity between Stewart and Leno vs. Colbert and Letterman. Stewart is just a little more serious, while Colbert is more of the bad boy.

[tsand19151]

agreed.... Funny how these shows on a comedy channel were the only places I ever heard mention of Todd Palin's palling around with the AIP during the campaign........

[Twinkie]

"One thing that bothers me about Colbert some times is the way he gets too carried away with some of his guests, and they don't get a chance to say anything, particularly when they have an important point to make.." ....... That would be Colbert being Bill O'Reilly :)

[ID-TenTango]

I'm not quite sure about what is funnier...

The Colbert Report

or

Republicans watching it thinking he's actually a Republican.

[notb observer]

There was a Democratic lady here on HuffPo a few weeks ago commenting on the "W" movie by Oliver Stone. She said she would no longer go see it after watching Stone on Colbert. During the interview, Stone pretended very realistically that he admired Bush so much, etc. Even though the movie is in fact quite critical of Bush, and everyone knows he is a liberal, she actually believed what she was saying. The kicker was that she said she saw him on another program being very critical of Bush, and therefore concluded that he was a hypocrite and would say anything to promote his movie.
So, it seems this lady actually believes pretty much everything she sees on TV, and somehow has managed to remain a Democrat... I guess she just never ran across the Fox News channel on her TV ;)

[Twinkie]

Oh dear

[notb observer]

Not long ago they had an article of Colbert's roast with a crappy quality video of the event. It was hilarious, and as usual Stephen was not at a loss for words.
I'd like to find a good quality version of that video, since apparently there was a video system set up in the room...

[bayside]

Stephens toast of bush at press dinner was outstanding..His satire was perfect..

[Hiphopcrates]

Colbert really has huge balls!

[bibimimi]

i.e. The Colbert Bumps

[neumann]

Estaban Colberto has grande cohones also.

And Chickas!

[llisa]

The Colbert Bump working overtime.

[SColbert]

I love the Colbert bump.

[Northlite]

Very funny piece. Thank you.

[plummaddie]

Colbert - thank God for people like him!

[lovethesinner]

Good stuff, Greg, I'd forgotten how entertaining all of that was. It definitely deserves space in the scampaign (sorry) campaign '08 scrapbook.

[lisakaz2]

I love Stephen. I bought a "Stewart/Colbert '08" shirt and wore it to a Stewart appearance near Philly. That's the only ticket I would have entertained over the one I voted for.

[Russycle]

"Mike Huckabee had already offered him the veep spot if the former Arizona governor gets the GOP nomination."

Arizona governor? I think your spellchecker has gone haywire, Mitchell. Nice summary of a, er, proud moment in our nation's history.

[mredder4]

Spellcheck shmellcheck. It should have been Arkansas.

[wawa76]

I would have loved to see Stephen T Colbert as our president -- Colbert 2012!!! or may be 2016.

[SColbert]

Colbert/Stewart 2012!