Colbert storms Capitol Hill for migrant workers
Alan Silverleib
CNN
Washington (CNN) - There's nothing funny about the issue of migrant farm labor - unless Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert is discussing it.
Colbert, accompanied by a media swarm, sarcastically testified on Capitol Hill Friday about the conditions facing America's undocumented farm workers. The popular host of "The Colbert Report" told members of a House Judiciary subcommittee that he hoped to bring attention to the workers' hardships.
Related: A day in the grapes
"I certainly hope that my star power can bump this hearing all the way up to C-SPAN 1," he joked.
"America's farms are presently far too dependent on immigrant labor to pick our fruits and vegetables," he told the subcommittee, keeping in character with the arch-conservative he plays on television.
"Now, the obvious answer is for all of us to stop eating fruits and vegetables. And if you look at the recent obesity statistics, many Americans have already started."
Colbert told the panel that "we all know there is a long tradition of great nations importing foreign workers to do their farm work."
Updated: 12:12 p.m.
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Filed under: 360° Radar • 360º Follow |
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I believe now despite the controversy generated today over Stephen Colbert's Congressional testimony, just by the sheer volume of attention he is getting from all sides, a good part of the proverbial boat was missed via most of the media by playing only the humorous segment of Colbert's remarks. The serious side of his statements in response to congressional questions came across as a genuine compassionate and deeply felt position for the migrant workers rights. Still Colbert brought national attention to this important issue.
Every station is talking about him,
Mission accomplished.
Way To Go, Mr "Truthiness."
USA # 1 ! Is he running for President next ?
Americans have become too dependent on the mass production of food.
There is hardly any self sustaining households in America.
Why is that?
People need to be more in tune to what it was like here 100 years ago.
Hey, Charlie Moore.
Do you want to join us for some sick turns this Winter? I didn't think so. Figures. If you reconsider and time permits, give us a shout. You know where and how.
In regards to Colberts testimony (on Sept 24) on immigrant farmers, I would like to suggest that ALL congressmen/women, and their staffers, should spend a whole day from sun up to sun down in the fields picking produce we consume. That sort of backbreaking experience may facilitate a better understanding of the many dimensions related to immigration and migrant farming.
thank you
Democrats are making a joke (literally) out of illegal immigration when 8 million of them are taking our jobs in manufacturing, construction and service industries and stealing our SSNs to do so, which is a felony.
Less than 1% of illegal alien criminals work in agriculture.
That Was Awesome Stephen! Funny as always, but you certainly made a point...
Its NOT undocumented workers, its ILLEGAL immigrants/workers who have committed a crime. Its about time that the media stops making the Illegal immigrants out to be some kind of victim.
I'm sure there are plenty of real Americans out of work, and can't find any work, who are homeless who you can interview for once. There are plenty begging for food with signs.
I say if we don't want to work on the farm's then maybe we just shouldn't eat!!!