Satire Treads Where Reporters Fear To Go

The spin-off from Comedy Central's The Daily Show took potshots at two conservative institutions this week. On Thursday, Steven Colbert, of The Colbert Report, grilled The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol. Saturday night, he lampooned President Bush at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. According to Editor & Publisher, the President and First Lady did not appear amused:

As Colbert walked from the podium, when it was over, the president and First Lady gave him quick nods, unsmiling, and left immediately.

Kristol was occasionally speechless as Colbert caught him off-guard from the get-go, asking him about his involvement in the New American Century project, which had called for invading Iraq in the 90s. (video)

Kristol predicted that the Democrats will take the House in mid-term elections. Moreover, he believes that will help Republicans to retain the White House in 2008, because the Democrats will raise taxes. But the aces went to Colbert, who, in retrospect, seemed to be using this as a warm up event.

White House Dinner
At the 2700-guest gala Saturday, Colbert had no mercy. From critical generals (don't let them retire) to low approval ratings ("reality has a well-known liberal bias"), Colbert had tongue-in-check advice for the President. (video) These barbs come from E&P:

• On Iraq: "I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq."
• On FOX News: "Fox believes in presenting both sides—the president’s side and the vice president’s side."
• On The White House Press Corps: "You should spend more time with your families, write that novel you've always wanted to write. You know, the one about the fearless reporter who stands up to the administration. You know -- fiction."

Mainstream media are featuring Bush's appearance with an impersonator, Steve Bridges, who lampoons the President on TV. He also impersonates former President Clinton and California Governor Schwarzenegger.

The dinner is attended by media moguls and star journalists (real journalists are to actors what star journalists are to movie stars) as well as celebrities and politicians. The President has attended since President Coolidge began the tradition in 1924.

Editorial Reaction
About's Guide to Political Humor, Daniel Kurtsman, writes:

In one of the ballsiest comic stunts ever pulled in Washington, comedian Stephen Colbert delivered a blistering "tribute" to President Bush ... It was so edgy and uncomfortable that it was almost too hard to watch, as a cold-faced and stunned Bush sat on the dais with the look of someone who had just been ambushed.

Acting the part of the faux conservative talk show host that he plays on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, Colbert leveled an all-out assault on Bush under the guise of mock praise.

The Moderate Voice describes the performance as "biting," noting that it "had a message ... akin to what you'd hear in a point-of-view 'set' in a comedy club. And irony is always a tougher task." Joe concludes:

Did Colbert bomb? Absolutely not. But he'll likely have some verbal bombs aimed at him, particularly from some radio and cable talk show hosts.

Bush's performance will be re-run on some shows for the next few days due to its entertainment value; Colbert's will be re-run and discussed because of how it was received by some in the audience, because it's dagger-sharp message has some news value and because he was willing to take a risk at doing the kind of satire he did...where he did it.

USA Today's Ann Oldenberg called Colbert's act "so satirical and silly that [it] left some people bewildered and others tearing up with laughter."

She writes that Isaiah Washington, who plays Dr. Burke on Grey's Anatomy, said of Colbert: "The politics got really intense. The truth was very apparent but very humorous, very pointed. I had a great time watching him. I had no idea who the hell Stephen Colbert was. I work 18, 19 hours a day, so I don't get a chance to watch a lot of leisurely television, but I'm a fan now."

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