September 2010
Stephen Colbert Testifies Before Congress on "Vast Experience" as a Migrant Laborer - Political Hotsheet - CBS News
Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert testified before a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing this morning in character this morning, speaking on the topic of working in America's fields.
Colbert, testifying next to the president of the United Farm Workers, discussed his "vast experience spending one day as a migrant farm worker," adding that he was "happy to use [his] 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," Colbert joked.
The comedian was one of 16 people to participate in the UFW "Take Our Jobs" campaign, which was launched this summer as a challenge to U.S. citizens to replace immigrants in farm work. (He turned hte experience into a segment for his show.)
Colbert said of the experience, "I have to say, and I do mean this sincerely, please don't make me do this again. It is really, really hard."
Colbert appeared amid a swarm of photographers, listened to behavioral directives from the committee's Chairwoman Zoe Longfren (who warned the audience that "if necessary, the Capitol police are here"), and brought the committee levels of media coverage that the committee hadn't seen "maybe since impeachment," as Longfren commented. He delivered remarks that maintained his mocking public persona while shading into serious arguments for the rights of migrant workers.
"I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. 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 at one point.
He added: "As you heard this morning, America's farms are presently far too dependent on immigrant labor to pick our fruits and vegetables. While 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 went on to ask that a video of his colonoscopy be submitted to the Congressional record.
Not everyone was happy with Colbert's media-grabbing appearance before the committee. "I think [inviting Colbert to testify] was a mistake," Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen told The Hill. "Picking vegetables for 10 hours doesn't make you an expert in anything, except how unpleasant it is to pick vegetables for 10 hours. I think using an actor in character to give testimony makes a mockery of the committee process."
Rep. John Conyers asked Colbert during the hearing to recuse himself from the committee and submit his statement instead, though he later retracted the request.
Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.
September 2010
September 2010
September 2010
M8M Presents - The Ring Falcon II - an iPhone 4 short film
a M8M 12 hour film challenge
filmed with the iPhone 4
Stay tuned for the final installment of The Ring Falcon Trilogy
September 2010
Heads Explode Upon Viewing Beautiful HDR Footage from Two 5D Mark IIs - NoFilmSchool
September 2010
Middle8Media & The Electric-Daily Present: "M8M DVD Giveaway Extravaganza: Part 2"
The winner will be chosen on Monday, September 27th. We will contact the winner then snail mail the DVD.
So what are you waiting for? Enter now for a chance to win this fantastic film.
September 2010
LAST DAY to back our film "HORSE"
Filmmaking is a collaboration of community. We need your help to tell this story. http://kck.st/aSpPUz www.middle8media.com
September 2010
September 2010
September 2010
Search
Tags
- Film (3)
- On the Set (2)
- WM8M (2)
- hipstamatic (2)
- 1st anniversary (1)
- 48Hour Film (1)
- Awesomeness!!! (1)
- Community (1)
- Elephant Sighs (1)
- Lake of Fire (1)
- View all 16 tags »
Contributors
Seth Hall
