Stephen Colbert to testify before Congress
Washington (CNN) – Comedian Stephen Colbert will testify before Congress on Friday at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration called "Protecting America's Harvest."
Colbert will testify alongside United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez to discuss the UFW's summer "Take our Jobs" campaign, in which the group invited U.S. citizens and legal residents to replace immigrant field laborers, according to a UFW press release.
The campaign is an effort by the group to debunk the theory that immigrant laborers are taking jobs away from U.S. citizens and documented workers.
Rodriguez appeared on "The Colbert Report" in July to discuss the campaign. During the interview, Colbert agreed to participate in the challenge after Rodriguez reported that only four people had signed up to work in the fields.
The resulting episode of "The Colbert Report," in which Colbert spent a day working in the fields, will air Wednesday night. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, will also appear on the program to discuss immigration reform.
According to the Daily Caller, Colbert will appear in character for the hearing.
Phil B. Glaize, chairman of the U.S. Apple Association, and Carol M. Swain, a professor at Vanderbilt University, will also testify at the hearing, according to the Judiciary Committee's witness list.
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There's much more to the story. The illegals want us to believe something that is a total myth.
I hope this hearing will bring to light the misinformation the gop has been spewing for the last couple of years. They misinformed the public about healthcare and also immigration.
It appears that nobody else wants that particular job. Even when unemployed, most Americans don't want grueling, backbreaking work.
This is what passes as governance in the Obama world. We are truly doomed.
I didn't see any construction jobs or factory jobs being offered to make the same point. Also, if someone is desperate enough they will do whatever it takes. It would be like Congress offering Amnesty to any illegal aliens who leave the country, stay out for five years, and promise to come back in through legitimate means. The fact that Stephen Colbert is showing up in character demonstrates the seriousness of both efforts.
Wow – this will be interesting!!! I hope I am able to watch but would definitely pick up on the reruns!!
And Ah Yea – I will attend the "Rally to Restore Sanity" on October 30, 2010 if it is still happening!!!
T'SAH – the REAL ONE – and I approve this message!!
We are stunned that Colbert will be "in character" for this testimony. What weight can an oath taken by a comedian/satirist carry? Don't get us wrong. We love, love, love Stephen Colbert. But this concept is sublimly hilarious. Who's in charge of explaining to Congress what "satire" is?
Love him or hate him, Colbert is alot more willing to walk the walk compared to other pundits (legitimate or satirical). I wish politicians (from both sides) would learn a thing or two from him.
It's true that illegal immigrants are taking our jobs – but this group is right here. No one would be willing to work in these fields for a living other than the immigrants barely making ends meet.
Good for Colbert.
I grew up in a southern farming community and know for a fact that you just can't get people willing to do that backbreaking labor. Not without paying a wage that will massively increase the prices at the store and no one will agree to that.
And when people begin to accept that labor is needed, then we can have a real, serious debate on this issue.
I agree that most Americans regardless of need for a job will not do the work immigrant labor does. I expect out government to insure us that these immigrants are legally in the US either through citizenship or visas. I do not support allowing illegals to receive amnesty.
only 3% of illegals work in the fields picking crops. this is a completely dishonest argument by this group. we're more than happy to give out migrant worker visas for those jobs. americans don't want to be cooks or maids? try asking our teenagers who are facing the highest rate of unemployment ever. they're the ones being robbed of unskilled jobs because of illegals.
Should be entertaining.
Where/when can I watch the hearing and is the Colbert report being shown on any public television or internet?
Colbert testifying in Congress. The democrats have reached an all time low.
Colbert's character is practically indistinguishable from some of the actual political pundits. It is brilliant satire, and also a bit scary.
Colbert was once funny, long ago... now he is just a tool.
It's not surprising that only 4 people signed up to work in the fields– its the same reason why so many of the items we buy are "made in China" and that so many companies outsource their customer service call centers to India and Pakistan; Americans won't work for less than minimum wage and in order to keep the cost of products down to an affordable level is to hire folks who will work for way less than minimum wage and no benefits.
"Colbert will appear in character for the hearing." - That will add creditability to the hearings.
And you wonder why we do not have immigration reform. Its because people like Colbert, Jon Stewart and others on the left make a mockery of opposing opinions instead of having a civil discourse they claim to rally for. The need to end illegal immigration isn't about jobs. Its about a whole lot of people breaking the law, and on top of that, when they get here they refuse, out right refuse to assimilate as past immigrant generations have. When my great grandparents came here from Ireland they were no longer Irish. They were American. They weren't Irish-American, they were just American. This is the attitude all immigrants should have no matter what country to are immigrating too. You want to come here thats great, just do it legally, learn english and assimilate.
Get the Governor of Arizona, and John McCain, they will do it. No more illegals, we will harvest the crop!
What a nice dent in the world Stephen Colbert makes. If televised, I hope to watch his testimony. I'm sure it will be a memorable experience.
I will never watch this idiot's show ever again.
This should be good! Stephen Colbert has no qualms about talking truth to power. Go Stephen!
I've done fieldwork before, and I can tell you right now that it's a job the vast majority of Americans won't touch. It's hard, hot, exhausting work for little pay, as all agricultural jobs are. Given a choice between working in the fields and mooching off of Uncle Sam, most Americans will opt for the later, and until our work ethic or priorities change, I don't see there being a huge threat to the American workforce if migrant workers want to fill the void.
These people who claim immigrants are taking American jobs have obviously never worked a day in the field, and the day that they do, I'll give their statement more credence. For now, I'm with Colbert on this one.