Stephen Colbert and political satire – not serious enough?

By Monica Kreber
kreberm@mytjnow.com

Last September comedian and political satirist Stephen Colbert testified in front of Congress, and while Colbert fans found the testimony humorous, it has raised questions in whether politics and satire should be allowed to merge into “the real world.”

Today three media panelists visited Winthrop for an event pertaining to media coverage of the presidential campaign.

Among the three panelists was Chuck Todd, chief White House correspondent for NBC News, and host of “The Daily Rundown” on MSNBC and NBC News political director.

While giving his insights, Todd said his personal criticism is not of Colbert, but how the media and the political office are viewing him.

“He’s got a shtick,” Todd said.

In reference to Colbert’s testimony on Capitol Hill, Todd said he was “very offended” that Colbert stayed in character.

“I was more offended that members of Congress would allow him to do that,” he said.

Todd added that Colbert is “making a mockery” with his campaign, and his influence may be viewed as anti-Republican, while at the same time it appears Colbert is doing his best to marginalize the Republican candidates.

“We need to be careful – what is his real agenda here?” Todd said. “Is it to educate the public on the dangers of money and politics and what’s going on, or is it to simply marginalize the Republican Party? I figure if I were a Republican candidate I would be concerned about that.”

Although Todd admitted he does watch – and enjoy – Colbert’s show The Colbert Report, similar political satirists appear to come off as hypocrites.

“John Stewart and [Colbert] have this ability to want to mock us and the media all the time, proclaiming we don’t do our job,” Todd said, “then when you call them out on it they say, ‘We’re just comedians.’ You were mocking what we’re doing, and you want a place in this, then you’re also going to be held accountable for how you cover and how you do your job.”

Todd added that Stephen’s popular political parodies might influence candidates in terms of making people unwilling to run because they do not want to be the “butt of jokes.”

“I enjoy the parody, I enjoy the satire,” Todd said. “But I have to admit, I am uncomfortable with actually merging into the real world.”

Todd was joined by fellow panelist Steve Brusk, CNN political coverage manager, who also gave insight to Colbert’s use of character in his testimony.

“I’m a huge fan of Colbert,” Brusk said. “I love the show, I like a little satire, but it curves that line.”

Brusk alluded to when John Stewart and Colbert in Washington and it was covered like it was a real campaign event.

“You cover it like it’s a real political movement, you cover it like two comedians…who are really different in terms of how they put their message out,” he said. “Where’s the line between reality, where real politics began, and the entertainment side of things?”

Brusk said he was bothered that people treated Colbert as a real presidential candidate when he was in character.

“If it was a spoof, great,” he said. “But when you watch coverage of it…people treated it like he was a real presidential candidate.”

Brusk said he wished there was a more defining line between “the real world” and entertainment.

“I wish there was an easier way to laugh at Colbert,” he said.