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Many politicians are in an uproar that a comedian, an effing comedian, graced their holy House Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, because clearly, sarcasm has no place in politics. (And that’s me, being sarcastic. I would obviously be a poor fit in politics.)
Stephen Colbert was asked to testify about his ten-hour stint as a migrant worker last fall as part of the “Take Our Jobs” campaign. The “Take Our Jobs” campaign opened up farming jobs to all Americans in order for them to get a taste of what being a migrant worker is really like. Oddly, even after the thousands and thousands of hits to their website, and the ongoing anger and debates about migrants stealing jobs from American citizens, only 7 people took them up on the offer. Fact of the matter is, our nation depends on illegal immigrants to work in …
… agriculture.
People tend to get so passionate about the argument that they forget the very real human aspect of immigration. I think Colbert, in his hilariousness, brought that to the forefront. Sometimes mockery can be a powerful tool — especially in forums such as this. And honestly, I rather like the idea of a comedian bringing attention to a much needed subject. He got people talking, and that’s what always brings about change in any case.
Here are some of the ever-so-witty comments Colbert made during his appearance:
“My great-grandfather did not travel across four thousand miles of the Atlantic Ocean to see this nation overrun by immigrants,” he declared. “He did it because he killed a man back in Ireland. That’s the rumor.”
“This is America. I don’t want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan, and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian.”
“After working with these men and women, picking beans, packing corn, for hours on end, side by side, in the unforgiving sun, I have to say and I do mean this sincerely: Please don’t make me do this again, it is really, really hard,” he said. “The point is, we have to do something because I am not going back out there. At this point, I break into a cold sweat at the sight of a salad bar,”
House majority leader Steny Holbert, however, was none too pleased, calling Colbert’s presence an embarrassment:
“I think his testimony was not appropriate.”
This was said during an appearance on, surprise, surprise—Fox News.
I find it odd that people are in a rage over Colbert “lowering the dignity of Congress.” I think our fine congressmen and women are doing a perfect job themselves sullying the name of congress. Clearly, our upstanding politicians need no help in that department. I am certain they’ve got it covered.
Remind me again when the last time you heard every major news outlet speaking about migrant workers?
Before Friday’s testimony Colbert said:
“Republicans are concerned that I will make light of the responsibility of governance? That I will someway impede the smooth flow of the governing of this country? I take exception with that.”
“I like talking about people who don’t have any power. And this seems to be [about] people without any power,” he said, arguing that migrant workers “don’t have any rights.”
So what are your thoughts on Colbert’s appearance?
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I find his appearance even more amusing due to how pissy the reps got about it. It’s not as though they are making much more progress without Stephen Colbert there.
Congress is quite amusing with or without Stephen,but he is an hilarious dude!
Grr this topic makes me angry. It’s the same in the UK – plenty of people who think that ‘foreigners are stealing our jobs’. Yes but please, do go out and work a shitty job with ridiculous hours with crap pay. The reason people do it is because doing such a job is probably better than whatever is available in their own country, or sometimes the only way to earn money to feed their children.
And the higher paid jobs – if a foreigner gets it, then very likely he/she is better at it than you.
I loved it. Got their attention, didn’t it? They had to have known what they were getting when he was called to testify.
I like your post very much.
Nice post, I like it.
You have written that’s exactly what I think. Great post.
I’m amazed that the politicians are in an uproar. During the past few years they’ve slept through almost everything and anyone that passed through their House. It finally took comedian Colbert to wake them up.