Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Stephen Colbert testified before congress today. Invited by Zoe Lofgren (D) of CA, he was there to share what he learned while working as a farm worker for a day. >>And the farm work? It is hard. Really, really hard. You have to bend over to pick things a lot. “It turns out – and I did not know this – most soil is at ground level,” said Colbert. Perhaps improving the legal protections for farm workers, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, will help all farm workers, Colbert added. But the ultimate answer to making the job better might be scientific progress. “Maybe the easier answer is to find fruits and vegetables that pick themselves,” said Colbert. “The scientists over at ‘Fruit of the Loom’ have made great strides in fruit-human hybrids.”<< LOL! And... >>“The obvious answer is for all of us to stop eating fruits and vegetables,” said Colbert. “If you look at US obesity statistics, you’ll see many Americans have already started down this road.”<< <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/Vox-News/2010/0924/Stephen-Colbert-on-Capitol-Hill-Did-he-endorse-Pledge-for-America" target="_blank">http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/E...-America</a>
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder I like Colbert as much as the next guy, but a Congressional committee actually wasted time listening to him "testify" IN CHARACTER? And someone seriously invited him because he spent one day as a farm laborer? That's just stupid.
Originally Posted By utahjosh I must admit it's funny, but shouldn't Congress be busy doing ANYTHING ELSE??
Originally Posted By mawnck >>a Congressional committee actually wasted time listening to him "testify" IN CHARACTER?<< And presto ... we have a topic about it in WE (and on every other discussion board under the sun). This on a subject that would ordinarily take a back seat to David Hasselhoff being kicked off Dancing With the Has-beens. He did break character when asked why he was testifying about this particular issue. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptZO9Kk1cWI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...O9Kk1cWI</a>
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Listen, Congress has been host to all kinds of testimony they should be spending time on (witness: steroids in baseball). But, I think this did just what it was intended to do. Shine a real bright light on the plight of the farm worker. Nobody wants to do that work. People get worked up about illegal aliens but the same people will complain if their strawberries go up $.50 cents. And, Colbert's final words were the most telling. He DID break character long enough to tell the committee he took interest in this topic because he felt the responsibility to speak up for those who did not have a voice. While I thought most of his "schtick" was just plain goofy...I'll look past that because I think he was truly honest in that regard. Who was talking or thinking about farm pickers before today? Answer: Not too many people.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper *First sentence should have said "shouldn't be spending time on". Ugh.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Nobody wants to do that work. People get worked up about illegal aliens but the same people will complain if their strawberries go up $.50 cents.<< Exactly right. It was humorous, but it made a point.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Yeah, my first response to reading a little blurb that Colbert appeared before Congress in character was "wha...?" Apparently, Democrat John Conyers got annoyed, too. But the clip from #5 makes me say "bravo." And indeed, this both shines a light on the condition of farm workers and provides something of a reality check for anti-immigrant folks.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Has anyone ever watched congressmen and senators when they speak on the floor of the house? Talk about "in character" -- you have people screaming and yelling and getting all worked up. To a largely empty room. Most method actors can be that in character. Ever watched a congressional committee questioning someone appearing before them? They amble along at the speed of a snail, dragging things out forever. So if political satire and political theater collide a little like this once in awhile, who cares.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Ever watched a congressional committee questioning someone appearing before them? They amble along at the speed of a snail, dragging things out forever.<< Exactly right. I do understand the concern that our Congress ought to have better things to do. I was torn about this too. But really, these guys are so beyond out of touch with reality, if someone like Colbert can come along and shine a light on it for the rest of us, that's a good thing. The system was broken long before Colbert showed up.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan From Associate Press: >>During the hearing, members and speakers addressed the United Farm Workers' "Take Our Jobs" effort, which seeks to place unemployed Americans in farming jobs. Lofgren and others said the effort has been widely unsuccessful, in part because illegal immigrants are the only ones willing to do the jobs. But Rep. Steve King of Iowa -- the committee's ranking Republican -- and other GOP committee members argued that the real problem lies with agricultural employers who fail to provide attractive jobs that appeal to legal Americans. Americans will do the work, King contended -- "they just want to be paid a respectable wage" for it. Conyers invited King to work together to get more Americans in farmworker jobs -- a challenge King said he would accept, even though Conyers clearly believed that such an initiative would not pan out.<< And with that, congress got back to normal. I would like it if the actual working press asked King how he intends to get agricultural employers to pay more and, by extension, is he willing to be in favor of seeing the cost of groceries rise as well? Of course, he won't be asked about it, ever.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Yes, how are they going to afford to pay more? It's got to come from somewhere... Just like not raising taxes, but cutting spending...while not eliminating any programs. Something's gotta give.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I like Colbert as much as the next guy, but a Congressional committee actually wasted time listening to him "testify" IN CHARACTER?*** Not the first time... <a href="http://www.theorymatters.com/images/elmo2.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.theorymatters.com/i...lmo2.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Absolutely correct. Elmo testified before Congress in 2002 when it was controlled by the Republicans. Where were the complaints on Fox News back then? That's right... there weren't any.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Where were the complaints on Fox News back then?<< I know what you mean. If there were EVER a time for them to be Grouchy, it would have been then.
