Political satirist and pundit Stephen Colbert of “The Colbert Report” announced Thursday his interest in running for “President of the United States of South president.”
Analysts are rightfully worried about Colbert’s intrusion.
Bruce Hardy, mass communication and political science assistant professor, said the ads will hit viewers who do not expect satire and will take the information at face value.
“I think the parody — and actually purchasing airtime — is crossing the line a little bit,” Hardy said. “If you look at the media coverage he’s getting, that coverage is translating into a discussion of the superPAC and where that money is coming from, which is a good Report.”
Colbert’s success in raising awareness of corrupt campaign donations will be measured by the difference between his and Roemer’s approach: While Roemer chose purity and wiped his hands of exorbitant donations from special interest groups and favor-seekers, Colbert is wallowing in the stink of it and rubbing it in the face of the guilty.
And the reductio ad absurdum is perfect.
When he announced his exploratory committee on his show last week, he publicly handed over the control of his PAC to former co-star Jon Stewart of “The Daily