Two Years Ago: When Stephen Colbert Mocked Bush -- To His Face

On Saturday night, George W. Bush enjoyed or endured his final White House Correspondents Association dinner. Craig Ferguson was this year's comic relief. At E&P yesterday we revealed that The New York Times was skipping the event, on principle, having belatedly come to the conclusion that this social mingling of reporters and the people they cover is a little unseemly.

This seems like an apt moment to recall Stephen Colbert's now-famous routine at this dinner two years ago. It was so critical, and effective, that the association reacted by trotting out Rich Little, who most people thought had passed away, for last year's dinner, which was a total flop.

What most forget is that Colbert pointed daggers at the press as well as the president -- and many in the media responded by panning his performance in the days that followed.

Colbert is one of the "heroes" (his favorite word) in my new book on Iraq and media. There I proudly reprint the article that proved so influential in spreading the (true) word about the routine. It went up on our Editor & Publisher site just minutes after Colbert concluded, based on my observations via TV and comments from our Joe Strupp, who was on the scene.

The article was picked up by many of the top political Web sites (including this one) and generated millions of page views for E&P and some of those sites. With that in place, it was harder for the MSM to really convince most people that Colbert was "not funny" and "a failure."

Here is my original article:
*
A blistering comedy "tribute" to President Bush by Comedy Central's faux talk-show host Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent Dinner tonight left George and Laura Bush unsmiling at its close. Earlier, the president had delivered his talk to the 2,700 attendees, including many celebrities and top officials, with the help of a Bush impersonator.

Colbert, who spoke in the guise of his talk-show character, who ostensibly supports the president strongly, urged Bush to ignore his low approval ratings, saying they were based on reality, "and reality has a well-known liberal bias." He attacked those in the press who claim that the shake-up at the White House was merely re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. "This administration is soaring, not sinking," he said. "If anything, they are re-arranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg."

Colbert told Bush he could end the problem of protests by retired generals by refusing to let them retire. He compared Bush to Rocky Balboa in the "Rocky" movies, always getting punched in the face--"and Apollo Creed is everything else in the world." Turning to the war, he declared, "I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq."

He noted former Ambassador Joseph Wilson in the crowd, just three tables away from Karl Rove, and that he had brought Valerie Plame. Then, worried that he had named her, he corrected himself, as Bush aides might do, "Uh, I mean . . . he brought Joseph Wilson's wife."

Colbert also made biting cracks about missing WMDs, "photo ops" on aircraft carriers and at hurricane disasters, melting glaciers, and Vice President Cheney shooting people in the face. He advised the crowd, "if anybody needs anything at their tables, speak slowly and clearly into your table numbers and somebody from the N.S.A. will be right over with a cocktail."

Observing that Bush sticks to his principles, he said, "When the president decides something on Monday, he still believes it on Wednesday--no matter what happened Tuesday."

Also lampooning the press, Colbert complained that he was "surrounded by the liberal media who are destroying this country, except for Fox News. Fox believes in presenting both sides of the story--the president's side and the vice president's side." In another slap at the news channel, he said: "I give people the truth, unfiltered by rational argument. I call it the No Fact Zone." Then he warned: "Fox News, I own the copyright on that term."

He also reflected on the alleged good old days for the president, when the media was still swallowing the WMD story. Addressing the reporters, he said, "Let's review the rules. Here's how it works. The president makes decisions, he's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell-check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife.

"Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know--fiction."

He claimed that the Secret Service name for Bush's new press secretary is "Snow Job."

Colbert closed his routine with a video fantasy where he gets to be White House press secretary, complete with a special "Gannon" button on his podium. By the end, he had to run from Helen Thomas and her questions about why the U.S. really invaded Iraq and killed all those people.

As Colbert walked from the podium, when it was over, the president and First Lady gave him quick nods, unsmiling. The president shook his hand and tapped his elbow, and left immediately. Those seated near Bush told E&P's Joe Strupp, who was elsewhere in the room, that Bush had quickly turned from an amused guest to an obviously offended target as Colbert's comments brought up his low approval ratings and problems in Iraq.

Several veterans of past dinners, who requested anonymity, said the presentation was more directed at attacking the president than in the past. One noted that Bush quickly turned unhappy: "You could see he stopped smiling about halfway through Colbert."

Strupp, in the crowd during the Colbert routine, had observed that quite a few sitting near him looked a little uncomfortable at times, perhaps feeling the material was a little too biting--or too much speaking "truthiness" (a word Colbert popularized) to power.

Asked by E&P after it was over if he thought he'd been too harsh, Colbert said, "Not at all." Was he trying to make a point politically, or just get laughs? "Just for laughs," he said. Helen Thomas told Strupp her segment with Colbert was "just for fun."

After the gathering, Snow, while nursing a Heineken outside the Chicago Tribune reception, declined to comment on Colbert. "I'm not doing entertainment reviews," he said. "I thought the president was great, though."

Earlier, the president had addressed the crowd with a Bush impersonator alongside, with the near-Bush speaking precisely and the real Bush deliberately mispronouncing words, such as the inevitable "nuclear." At the close, Bush called the imposter "a fine talent. In fact, he did all my debates with Senator Kerry." The low-brow routine went over well with the crowd.

Among attendees at the black tie event: Morgan Fairchild, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Justice Antonin Scalia, George Clooney, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of the Doobie Brothers--in a kilt.
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Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. It has been hailed by Bill Moyers, Glenn Greenwald, Arianna H, and others, and features a preface by Bruce Springsteen.

Comments

[Marlyn]

"he stopped smiling about halfway through Colbert."

GREAT! Bush gets it. I'm impressed.

[Marlyn]

"when the media was still swallowing the WMD story" ???

I wouldn't describe it that way. I would say "when the media was still PROMOTING the WMD story"

[Wintergreen4President]

He skewered Bush, his Administration and the press with the sharpest satire you'll probably ever hear. It was a pleasure to see them all squirm. I only hope he continues sticking it to the press until they stop being mere "typists" and start becoming real journalists again. I'm so tired to screaming at my television set, the neighbors are getting worried.

[Marlyn]

"he will be in self-mocking mode, even using some jokes he discarded"

Oh, I hope he does the "Where are the WMDs?" joke again. That was great.

[jsmedia]

MSM news no longer serves the public interest. It is too imbricated within the corporate system. For example, Joe Scarborough on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" was discussing the funeral of an fallen soldier(link below) . The family wanted the press to cover his service but the Pentagon would not permit the press to be close to the event.

Scarborough lamented that it was a shame that the military would not concede to the family's wishes and that the Pentagon does not want the stories of these soldiers told - then they cut to a commercial. But this is the problem. Instead of lamenting that the government is obstructing the press and making it seem as if the press is powerless, the news media has the responsibility to show the American people these stories and challenge the Pentagon's stance.

But as we have seen from the recent NY Times story - the press is in bed with the Pentagon and its generals.

Story of soldier's funeral:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042303244.html

NY Times story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html?_r=2&ei=5090&en=196b27df83cc255c&ex=1366344000&page=&oref=slogin&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[lisakaz2]

Yeah, what happened to challenging authority and having a responsibility to the story and to one's readers? Guess that is too "quaint" too.

[SCG2]

For just one evening, we that suffered our little emperor and his cortege for years, had the tables turned.

[recruitgal]

As Stewart said the next night on The Daily Show - it was "Ballsalicious".

A truly breathtaking performance that was as much a smackdown to the press as it was to the administration.

Mainstream Media - You're On Notice!

[Conservativeslayer]

The corporate media is still a bunch of cowards. Recently Helen Thomas asked Dana Perino about Bush ordering torture. No one else in the White House Press corp had the guts to ask any follow up questions. One 83 year old woman reporter is all we have in this country to ask the tough questions. The rest are too scared, or I don't even know what, to do their jobs. What a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in.

[jadez]

Colbert was pure genius that night and i occasionally re-watch the performanceover at youtube.
bush and stepford bush were not happythat night.
the crowd was a bunch of hacks and azz kissers but just watch the reaction from scalia to see how on the money he was that night.
these people like snowjob live in their own world and are only accountable to themselves.
Colbert showed them to be 2 bit frauds

[wndrwrthg]

It is my opinion of course, but I feel that Mr. Colbert could assume the mantle of this centuries Will Rogers.

[faithfully]

Too bad they didn't let him keep his name on the South Carolina ballot!

[Nezua]

Colbert's performance was what the little boy calling out the Emperor would have been if in the original, the crowd just closed in on the little boy and pushed him out of the way once he was done yelling. But oh, it was beauty and bravery like we haven't seen in years.

[burnt]

Colbert's performance will be a hard act to beat. One can only hope that instead of his usual "hitting the TV camera upside the head", Ferguson will be able to find something a little more within his reach and appropriate... even if it is a monkeypuppet.

No, wait... it's a metaphor! ...or is it?

alienated in Seattle

[Marlyn]

is it raining?

[BillOfRights]

What a fabulous moment that was. You can be sure it won't happen again. I suspect that all material presented will need to be "vetted" now. I wonder if President Bush has heard the truth from anyone else since.

[Durango]

Colbert was going for funny. But he struck the truth.

Which goes to show. Colbert and Stewart know more innate truth than the entire Washington Press Corps put together.

[zaneblue]

yep

[Mojane]

It was a great moment in history. Unfortunately, for more reasons that a hundred, we have a President with the character and personality of a spoiled frat boy with a.cruel and vindictive streak. Who knows how much more resolute Little Bush was in "his path to glory" after the knock-out punch from Colbert.

Those WH Correspondent soirees have exposed how much the press has been seduced by their proximity to power. (Remember Gregory yucking it up on stage with MC Rove?)