No laughing matter

The comedy of American democracy

Jessica Stewin, Volunteer Staff

Stephen Colbert — the satirist, writer, and more recently a potential American presidential candidate — is no longer in the running. Stephen Colbert abandoned his 2008 presidential bid after the South Carolina Democrat Party refused to put him on the state’s primary ballot. On Oct. 17, Colbert announced his intention to run in the presidential primary elections for both the Republican and Democratic parties in South Carolina. He stated that he would run under both parties “so he could lose in both races.” Colbert’s Democratic application was rejected in a 13 to three vote by the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council, and he was unwilling to pay the $35,000 filing fee to appear on the state GOP primary ballot with the Republican Party. To run under the Democractic Party Colbert had to receive 3,000 signatures, pay the $2,500 late fee, and then his application had to be approved by the executive council.

Despite receiving the necessary 3,000 signatures and paying the $2,500 fee before the cut-off date, Colbert was rejected by, what he calls, the “slimmest margin in presidential election history — only 10 votes.” It is good to know that we are able to entrust 16 people with moral authority over the vast majority of Americans. This example demonstrates perfectly the democratic system in action — 10 votes by an executive council outweighing the 3,000 signatures and Colbert’s numerous supporters.

The Facebook.com group “One Million Strong For Stephen T. Colbert” reaching one million members in less than 10 days is indicative of the strength of Colbert’s supporters. The group currently has around 1,400,000 members. Perhaps Facebook isn’t the best indicator for how many people would have actually voted for the comedian, but it does show the support he had nationwide for his campaign.

The council claimed to have rejected Colbert’s bid because he did not meet their requirements of nationally viable candidacy. (A well-watched nationally broadcast show, and Facebook obviously didn’t count.) CNN reported that at least one member of the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council, who went unnamed, felt “pressured” by Inez Tenenbaumm, the former state superintendent of education, to vote against Colbert’s bid.

The executive council’s statement that Colbert did not appear to be nationally viable is simply ill-informed (or a flat-out lie). Colbert’s name was included in a Public Opinion Strategies poll of 1,000 likely voters. The results found Colbert had a resounding 2.3 per cent of the votes. This number placed him above Gov. Bill Richardson (N.M.), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) and former senator Mike Gravel (Alaska), all of whom will appear on the ballot.

The concern of the council may have been more accurately been a concern not for Colbert’s nationally appeal, but rather that the satirist would make a mockery of the system that empowers the 16 “morally superior” council members. The concern is a legitimate one; however, to deny American citizens from a candidate they have shown support for is not a demonstration of what democracy is all about. If American citizens want a comedian in office, then that is what America should get. Democracy operates so that the people are represented. Who they choose to represent them is, well, up to them.

Some felt that Colbert’s run for presidency was an attempt to turn politics into a joke. Turn politics into a joke . . . that’s a joke, right? Anyone who has watched President George W. Bush stumble his way through a speech and make comments like: “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we, ” knows that politics is already a joke. Why not let American elect someone who is intentionally funny?

Many have wondered what motivated Colbert to make a bid for the presidency. Some have speculated that it was a political statement, others a genuine desire to run, but I would like to offer another plausible reason. The Writers Guild of America went on strike Nov. 4, after last-minute negotiations with producers failed. The Colbert Report was one of the many shows that, as a result of the strike, will be airing re-runs until the strike ends. Colbert may have wished to get some last bit of publicity for himself. He has recently released a book and a DVD based on The Colbert Report material, both of which may have suffered from a reduction in sales had Colbert not become such a hot topic.

Whatever Cobert’s intentions were, the point remains that democracy sure did reign. Those 16 people decided on behalf of the country that the comedian would not run, and made sure that Stephen Colbert’s 1,400,000 Facebook friends and 3,000 endorsers would not make the foolish decision to vote for the man they support.

Jessica Stewin is a University 1 student.