Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Liberal Media Attacks Stephen Colbert

Some people say that the liberal media is not so liberal anymore because they have been so supportive of the President until recently and because of the existence of Fox News. But the way the media has gone after conservative commentator Stephen Colbert for the speech he gave at the White House Correspondents dinner is all the evidence you need that the media has reverted to its liberal ways. Colbert attacked the liberal media and praised the President and for that he is being excoriated.

The White House Correspondents dinner is an annual event that Washington journalists give to say thank you to the President for giving them access and providing quotes "on background" from members of his administration. It is a testament to the warm relationship they have forged since the misunderstandings they had during the Nixon Administration. Usually the event features an inoffensive comedian who gently digs at the press and the President but never lands any hard blows, which would ruin the atmosphere of comity the dinner tries to foster. The only exception was the year Don Imus crudely attacked President Clinton in what many felt was a breach of decorum.

The dinner began, as it does every year, with a speech by the president of the group, who always says that since the press is attacked by both the left and the right, they must be doing a good job. Of course, they never tell you if there were an equal number of attacks from the left and right nor do they mention how many attacks they received from the middle. Bad weather is attacked by both the left and the right, too, but that doesn't mean it's a good thing.

Then President Bush was introduced but instead of the President a Bush impersonator named Steve Bridges and another Bush impersonator who was not identified, played dueling Bushes, neither of whom were very presidential. The point of this demonstration was, I think, to show that in a democracy you can make fun of the President without going to jail, though not too much fun.

Finally, Stephen Colbert spoke and he immediately laced into the liberal media and commended the President, which probably annoyed the media even more. The media is apparently not used to having the tables turned on them and the nervous laughter soon died away.

The next day the media was in universal agreement about Colbert's performance, saying that he "bombed," an unfortunate metaphor to use during wartime. Many in the media seemed to feel that because Colbert was their "guest" he was supposed to pull his punches and give them a big wet kiss. Some in the media simply ignored his performance as if they were embarrassed by what he said. Surprisingly, even Fox News panned his performance (despite the fact that he singled them out for praise), which just goes to show you that when it gets right down to it the media circles the wagons and protects its own. Perhaps because he is not from Washington he didn't realize that no one in this city can really afford to risk offending someone because dinner party invitations would dry up.

While I certainly believe that it is important to be polite, I am surprised that some in the media seem to feel that good manners is more important than the truth. Journalists nowadays seem to feel it is more important to make friends and advance their careers than it is to do a good job. Even many in the blogosphere are attacking Colbert perhaps trying to curry favor with the mainstream media which they seem to secretly want to be a part of.

I had never heard of Stephen Colbert before this event but he seems to be a very articulate and sincere conservative. Some are even saying he is courageous for facing down the liberal media the way he did. I'm not sure I would go that far. Is it really all that courageous to do your job? Have we sunk so low that merely having convictions makes one a hero?

, , , , , , , , , , , Comedian Jenée: People are Idiots OTA #7

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you by any chance a fan of Lemuel Gulliver or Isaac Bickerstaff? Your writing seems to follow a similar, if not more modern, style.

Josh said...

You do realize that Colbert, as he always does, was actually making fun of all of those people.
That he was actually lashing out against the administration, as well as the media, and everyone else he cracked jokes about.
You do realize that his whole conservative republican persona is fake, and that the only thing he said in which he may have not been kidding was when he said he would be great at the press secretary job because he had "nothing but contempt for these people."
It's an act.
He despises Fox news, for good reason, and is as far from a conservative republican as Al Franken.
Just didn't seem like you realized that from the post.

benmerc said...

Never a dull moment...

Anonymous said...

'... his whole conservative republican persona is fake'

Who could sink so low?

Jon Swift said...

Josh, I have to agree with Don. Although I think it's an interesting theory, I can't imagine someone going to all that trouble to fake a conservative persona. What would be the point?

Joh(a)n, I am not familiar with those authors but I really don't have a lot of time to actually read any books, though I enjoy writing book reviews. When I do get a little extra time to read, I particularly like reading about astrology.

Anonymous said...

Josh:
You do realize that you just made my day!

Elizabeth said...

ROFL! Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

It would be cool if you were actually funny.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for pointing out the true hypocrisy of the liberal media. When a good decent godfearing man like Mr. Colbert half the liberals decry what he says while half tries to take credit for his alleged jokes, then the other half says he's just a satirist.
All I know is he feels the same way I do about the Grand Old Party and I'm pleased as punch to hear him speak!

Anonymous said...

wow, you really are that stupid.

save this page, y'all know one will believe this

Anonymous said...

Jon, Colbert's conservative act is satire. See his 60 Minutes interview for confirmation from the horse's mouth... I believe he refers to his conservative persona as a "well meaning, backwards thinking idiot".

You wrote: "even Fox News panned his performance (despite the fact that he singled them out for praise)"... I can't believe you thought he was praising Fox. He warned Fox News that he has a trademark on "No Fact Zone"... clearly MOCKING them and their lack of factualness.

Anonymous said...

I love the "smarter than you" act blowing up in the face of the people on this comment list.

Anonymous said...

Remember when Stephen Colbert was a reporter for that "neoconservative" talk show called the daily show with John Stewart.

Even Tom Delay has fallen for this one folks. He uses a Colbert video on his website. Priceless

I Can't wait for Colbert to get back from his vacation.



Say this line for me Jon "Whew,I didn't get that one....flew right over..my head"

Anonymous said...

Oh, and he attacked the media in a Ed Murrow kinda way. He mocked them for the way they don't ask hard questions and take whatever Bushco tells them.

"Liberal Media" Ha. I'm sorry but you guys aren't just drinking the kool aid anymore, I think you're shooting up with it.

"Write that novel you've got kicking around in your head. You know the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the guts to stand up to the adminstration. You know, fiction"!!- Stephen Colbert from the WHCD.

Stephen Colbert hero of the FAR left.

Anonymous said...

WOW!You just made my day!The very fact that you dont get that the joke was on you just makes it all the more delectable a treat.Steven Colbert is a far left satirest mking fun of people like YOU!Thank you thank you ,the joke just got funnier.

Anonymous said...

Wow this is funny. :-) Poor, poor elephants. Almost makes you feel sorry for them.

Anonymous said...

sat·ire n.

A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit.
The branch of literature constituting such works. See Synonyms at caricature.
Irony, sarcasm, or caustic wit used to attack or expose folly, vice, or stupidity.

*from Dictionary.com

Anonymous said...

hi i found your blog on a random search. anyway, i hope you've figured out by now that Stephen Colbert is NOT a conservative and he's actually using what's called "satire" to mock Bush's poor decisions, the conservatives, and the media that's doing a poor job.

You should go to YouTube.com and search "Stephen Colbert" or "The Colbert Report". You'll see that all that he said in Washington are actually meant to criticize, not praise. It's a high form of art, or language.

I like your writing, nonetheless. You are very insightful and sincere. Just make sure you understand the speaker's tone next time. Saying "I'm fine" can mean different things in different situations. Waiting to read more from you!!!!

Anonymous said...

Jon Swift, you're the greatest conservative voice I have ever heard. Colbert could learn from your wisdom. You say such constructive and wise things. When I finish reading your posts, I always go away feeling like you spinned things in the friendliest, most nicest, most amicable and, need I add, truthful way. Who needs to spend time thinking deeply or to consider what opponents say, when it really is more sensible and saves more time just to say all these nice things. Let those wise, superior, alpha, uberliberals feel smug and smarter than we common people. We don't need fancy words to tell the plain truth, isn't that right Jon?

Anonymous said...

Haha, you know what the best part of his "satire" is... Everything he says about the liberals is true. Oh and by the way Fox might seem like a conservative news broadcaster, but the rest are quite liberal...any info we get from any media is going to be biased its just the way it is... Get over it Fox isn't the only ones misinformed

Anonymous said...

Just lurking, and I know this post is months old, but felt compelled to respond and ask a question. Jon, do you now understand the satirical nature of Colbert's performance? What do you think of it in the light of this new perspective?

Anonymous said...

Steven Colbert is a LIBERTARIAN. He hates democrats and republicans.

Anonymous said...

Gosh there are lots of conservative blogs! There must be lots of guys who don't have to take time away from the tv and computer. God Bless America!

Anonymous said...

I'm confused. I can't tell if Jon is honestly this misinformed, or if he's trying to pull a fast one on us. It was so clear that Colbert was mocking the Administration it isn't funny. If you were kidding about that post, Jon, I'd like to congratulate you. You got me, and about half of the other people on here. If not, then you should really watch the video yourself.

Anonymous said...

Ah. so many jokers in the comments section.

Hey wise asses!!! Jon Swift may be a conservative, but he's not a fool like the rest of you.

Anonymous said...

you, my friend, are a douche.

Anonymous said...

All the irony, satire, and foolishness in this blog and comments have made my head spin.

Anonymous said...

Do some googling on Jon Swift. His conservatism...hell just read his other material. He's conservative the same way Colbert is, but it doesn't come off as well in print until you figure out the act. Then it's downright awesome. Well played Swift, well played.

rescuetruth said...

LOL! I wish I had found this article four years ago; however, it's still just as funny thinking about someone taking Colbert at his word, and not considering this in the context of his show.

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friday's child said...

understanding satire has nothing to do with intelligence.. some very smart people I know are irony impaired and don't even know I'm already poking fun at them.. at heart, conservatives are sincere, trusting people and will take you for your word.. satire and all its irony, derision, inexactitudes will just fly right through a conservative's ears..intelligence has nothing to do with satire, you just need to be a good bullshit detector to appreciate it.. colbert is a liberal.. and i'm ashamed that he calls himself catholic because his words are far from charitable..

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