Stephen Colbert Packs House, Is Asked to Leave

Taking his blowhard act to Congress, comedian Stephen Colbert told lawmakers he doesn't want Mexicans picking his tomatoes. And he expressed befuddlement that more Americans aren't clamoring to "begin an exciting career" in farm work.

A straight-faced Colbert testified in character Friday at a House hearing on illegal farm workers. He offered what he called his "vast" knowledge of the subject after spending a day on a vegetable farm in New York.

Colbert described his ordeal of stooping to pick beans as "really, really hard." As he put it: "It turns out, and I did not know this, most soil is at ground level."

He pleaded with Congress to do something about illegal workers because "I am not going back out there."

After his day on a farm, Colbert says, "I don't even want to watch Green Acres again."

Before his testimony, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers told Colbert how happy he was that the comedian's appearance filled the hearing room. Then he tried to kick him out.

Conyers said he couldn't remember when a hearing drew such a crowd. California Democrat Zoe Lofgren guessed it might have been for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

But then Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, asked Colbert to leave the room, saying: "You run your show, we run the committee."

Colbert said he was there at the invitation of subcommittee chairman Lofgren. Lofgren signaled that he should stay.

Conyers later withdrew his request.

In his opening statement, which Conyers noted afterward differed from the written remarks submitted to the committee, Colbert maintained the tongue-in-cheek conservative persona that marks his late-night comedy show "The Colbert Report."

"I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican," he said. "I want it picked by an American. And sliced by a Guatemalan and served by a Venezuelan, in a spa, where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian."

Colbert said he was happy to "use my celebrity to draw attention to this important, complicated issue. I certainly hope that my star power can bump this hearing all the way up to C-SPAN 1"

He also offered mock solutions to the problem of overdependence on immigrant farm labor, suggesting the "obvious answer is for all of us to stop eating fruits and vegetables."

"And if you look at the recent obesity statistics, you'll see that many Americans have already started," he added.

[MalloryDavis]

After with laughing myself silly watching the video of Colbert speaking to Congress-my first thought was, 'Oh my, how disrespectful.' My second thought was, 'It's just Congress.'

[sdtec]

If anyone thinks that Congress is all about serious hard work then ask this question. How many are on the take from special interest money?
"Boehner was forced to stop handing out the (tobacco industry) checks when two freshmen Republicans, 'appalled by it,' confronted him and voiced their displeasure. Boehner's reaction was one of tempered apology, "I thought, 'Yeah, I can imagine why somebody would be upset. It sure doesn't look good.' It's not an excuse, but the floor is the only place you get to see your colleagues. It was a matter of convenience. You make a mistake, admit it and go on. I just feel bad about it." (Associated Press, 5/10/96)

[texasborndemo]

Still waiting on the answer to my question about Boy George and immigration,any takers?

[velma179]

Stephen Colbert spent his own money to go to Washington DC and testify before Congress.
The taxpayers pay Congress, no matter who appears before them or, as a matter of fact -- if they never listen to any American citizens/voters (which includes Mr. Colbert) -- or if they never get any work done.

Frankly, I would much rather my tax dollars go to hear a citizen speak(even a comedic "character" -- or ELMO, an actual character...) --- than having one dime go for endless filibusters and obstruction based on getting elected, not doing the job that people already elected Congress to do.

[velma179]

What happened to CBS? BUMMER -- this used to be the best Comment Board because you could read the comments easily with spacing and all... I hope it changes. Dang. ____________ Making it harder to read what people say, is NOT good business CBS.

[texasborndemo]

oh yea Singer,what did your "Boy George" do about immigration in the 8 pitiful yrs he was in?Can you or any other repig answer that?Nope.didn't think so

[texasborndemo]

singer.what in the hell does someone that appears before Congress have to do with waisting taxpayers money?You're a retard I believe they're on salary.If you can't come up with logical post you need a few more fries for your happy meal.lmao

[john_singer]

Hasn't Congress got anything better to waste taxpayer's money on? Oh wait, I forgot, the Democrats are in charge. For them, spending other people's money doesn't cost anything.

[Qbanqt]

A little confused by your comment since I would think that illegal immigration is a problem that Congress should be focused on, so that individual states don't have to craft their own hodgepodge of laws. I would think that testifying before Congress is one of the most American things that an American can do, who cares about his/her country. And finally, this idea that now we are wasting taxpayer's money, but before Congress wasn't, doesn't add up.

[rossed]

those liberal Democrats show are smart!!! they bring in someone to mock the desire of most Americans to secure our borders....

[Jeanne256]

So you don't like hearing what the bigots say about their true feelings? I get numerous email's from republicans all with racist comments about blacks, mexicans, asian etc. I think YOU don't like being mocked

[texasborndemo]

Fact is no white or black is gonna pick the tomatoes and beans and everything else,truth is there to see.Do you see white or blacks at daylight waiting on the corner for any kind of work from anyone that needs some help?No,you won't see that cause it doesn't pay above $15 an hr,get real people,if you start hiring others than Mexicans to pick crops watch how fast your vegetables and fruit go up at the stores,betcha on that.

[diegoM123]

Because he is a comedian he all of a sudden couldn't possibly be a human being with a valid point. Listen to what he says. He is sarcastic but to make a point of what a joke congress is. You want the immigrants kicked out because they are stealing our jobs but no American would even work those jobs. So what now, kick out the immigrants and let the good ol hard working white Americans do the work for exponential higher costs that farmers can't afford? Try thinking two steps ahead. Sounds like Colbert is the smartest one in the room.

[tfillmor]

Well said - and, don't forget the farmer's payment parity program. I politely suggest this board become familiar with what that is before one talks about what is the true cost of food in this country.

[MalloryDavis]

Yes, he made very valid points...but heard no solution.

[h5mind]

It isn't such a stretch to have a TV celebrity laff it up in Congress. Our leaders probably wish they were as witty and funny as Mr. Colbert. Remember what they, "Politics is Hollywood for ugly people."

[rossed]

To quote Rush Limbaugh - Politics is Hollywood for the ugly, and Hollywood is politics for the stupid.

[Jeanne256]

Rush Limbaugh? LMAO he is a scholar, for the mental ill in America