Stephen Colbert fans at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, on Sunday, October 28, 2007. (C. Aluka Berry/The State/MCT)
by Andrew Malcolm
Bad news for the humor quotient of the 2008 presidential campaign this afternoon.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties of South Carolina declined to include comedian Stephen Colbert on their primary ballots for Jan. 19 and 26, respectively.
Colbert plays a faux-rightwing commentator on his own Comedy Central show.
Colbert had brightened the autumn political scene in recent days by announcing he would run in both parties' primaries in his home state and in that state only, making him something of a certain longshot to win a presidential nomination but a definite sureshot to boost sales of his new book, which we won't help him do by not mentioning its funny title.
The South Carolina Democrats' executive council did vote to put on the ballot real politicians named Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson.
The Republicans set their ballot as: Hugh Cort, John Cox, Cap Fendig, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson.
What a laugh riot these 19 campaigns will be!
Andrew Malcolm writes for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times' political blog.
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Comments
The Democrats already have eight clowns running. Why should they need a comedian?
Posted by: Horatio A. | November 1, 2007 6:41 PM
The book is entitled "I am America (And so can you!)" FYI =)
Posted by: Dillon | November 1, 2007 7:06 PM
The Democrats already have eight clowns running. Why should they need a comedian?
Posted by: Horatio A. | November 1, 2007 6:41 PM
Genius,
Colbert plays a hardcore Wingnut who want's to blow up Iran, sounds to me like he would make a good running mate for Republic Party fearmongers Rudy Gigoloiani or Mitten's Romney.
Posted by: John E | November 1, 2007 7:40 PM
John E,
Mitten's Romney?
OR Mitler Wizard Rommel!!??
Posted by: C.Morris | November 1, 2007 9:17 PM
It's appropriate that Colbert be off the ballot -- he's not running seriously and he knows it. We know it.
If he wants to commit seriously to a campaign, FINE. Let him do so and see where he gets. If he's interested in the comic value of this (there's plenty, believe me), ALSO FINE. He's a hoot and I enjoy listening to him.
Stuck in the middle, though? Don't want to see him on a ballot.
Posted by: Op109 | November 2, 2007 7:38 AM
I love how lefts/rights feel the need to take a pot shot every chance they get (see Horatio's comments).
It seems poetic considering that Horatio's pot shot was done on an article about a comedian who makes a living at poking fun at both liberals and neocons.
Colbert could simply comment here by say, "I rest my case."
Seriously, though. Was anything more funny then his diatribe about his corporate sponsorship with Doritos? Poking fun at the rules and loopholes in regards to how much money is required, where that money comes from, how he can spend the money. It was almost as funny as his description of the last 25 years of AT&T break ups and mergers.
Posted by: Nelson | November 2, 2007 12:12 PM
jack stiles vice chair christain coalition of va., dr.hugh cort is the right man to be president, a man of grest value and insight to winning the war on terror
Posted by: JACK STILES | November 2, 2007 12:56 PM