We are not amused

By Ethel C. Fenig

The majority Congressional Democrats are beginning to realize that their actions and behaviors are tragicomic and that their constituents, worried about unemployment, potentially higher taxes and yes, terrorism, are not amused. Are they angry? So angry they might vote for Republican candidates in large numbers, endangering the jobs of some Democrats? Perhaps.

Appearing on Fox News , House Majority Leader Rep Steny Hoyer (D-MD), in an indirect criticism of his fellow Democrats, admitted that Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert's testimony on legalizing illegal alien farm workers "was inappropriate." He did not comment if the choice of Colbert, with his vast one day experience as a farm worker, to testify was "inappropriate"; merely his utterances.

Proving how out of touch he is, Hoyer, the number two man in the House, also felt that Colbert's remarks were an embarrassment--not so much to the House of Representatives--but to Colbert, stating

I think his testimony was not appropriate. I think it was an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House.

Uhm, Colbert is a professional comedian not a professional congressman--he can't be embarrassed. That's his job. And at least he traveled to Iraq to entertain the troops.

But Hoyer might be embarrassed--and more--to learn that the number one person in the House, the Speaker, who promised to run the most transparent House ever, the totally unembarrassable Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), blithely cheered on Colbert.

"Of course I think it's appropriate," Pelosi told reporters Friday. "He's an American. He can bring attention to an important issue. I think it's great."

Colbert, of course, brought attention to himself--and probably to the Stewart/Colbert forthcoming rally in Washington. That is his job--not that of Congress.

Or, as House Minority Leader Rep John Boehner (R-Ohio) put it, also on Fox News:

"Washington is spending more time with comedians than debating (our) economic future," Boehner said, referring to comedian Stephen Colbert's mocking testimony of the House on Friday. "They have time to bring a comedian to Washington, D.C., but they don't have time to end the uncertainty.

"If we leave here this week and adjourn for the election without passing tax cuts, this will be the most irresponsible thing we've seen," Boehner said.

And that is not a joke. It is an embarrassment. And totally inappropriate.