Stephen Colbert’s Testimony Proves Congress and Media, Not Himself, Are the True Embarrassment

Last week, comedian Stephen Colbert testified before the House Judiciary committee’s subcommittee on immigration, stirring up controversy in the media and from both sides of the aisle. “Embarrassment” is a word that has been thrown around a lot, but when the media and Congress call Stephen Colbert an embarrassment, I feel the need to point my finger right back at them because Colbert’s testimony is about the least embarrassing thing to happen in Washington D.C. this year.

For those who missed it, Colbert participated in UFW’s Take Our Jobs program and spent a day working alongside migrant farm workers. His testimony covered his participation in the program and included his trademark sharp political humor. At one point, he pointed out that “even the invisible hand [of the market] doesn’t want to pick beans” but made sure to remind democrats that farm work might be a viable option if they were “looking for work come November.”

Backlash was harsh. Republican Steve King called the proceedings an “embarrassment for Colbert,” and Democrat Steny Hoyer said it was “not appropriate.” Fox News’ Megyn Kelly slammed it as “a huge waste of taxpayer time and money,” and other Fox News commentators have since then also spoken out against Colbert’s testimony.

Some days, I honestly want to give up on the media and Congress. I listen to Colbert’s heartfelt testimony, and I wanted to give up when I heard the response from the media and Congress. Where do they get the nerve to call Stephen Colbert an embarrassment? Daily, I am embarrassed by my own country’s government. Twenty-four hours a day, I am reminded just how low our news media has sunk. With the November election coming up, politicians insult my intelligence with smear campaigns, name calling, and other tactics that I would expect from a schoolyard brawl.

In the past year, Congress failed to pass health care for 9/11 first responders, the Dream Act, or the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” All of these measures have strong support. Seriously, who doesn’t want to provide health care for 9/11 first responders? In the past year, Congress has proved it is impotent and unable to pass the most basic common sense legislation. How embarrassing is that?

As far as the media goes, there are certainly reporters out there who are trying to do their jobs. Unfortunately, they are being drowned out by a barrage of celebrity gossip, conspiracy theories, and insanity from the left and the right. When did a person’s weight make someone a better or worse governor? When did health care become “secular” and un-Christian? Do these talking heads really expect us to believe that politicians and media are treating us like intelligent human beings? Their pandering to the lower common denominator and sheltering the American people from the realities of the world is shameful.

Amidst this immaturity and grandstanding from our leaders and the serious news media, a clown sat in front of a Congressional committee last week and quoted Matthew 25:40: “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Republican Steve King called this an “insult to the time and an insult to the intelligence of the American people,” but I submit that in this past year our elected officials and the people we trust to deliver the news have done far more to insult the intelligence of the American people than Stephen Colbert could have ever done with his one testimony.