Stephen Colbert Invites You To Join Him At FEC Offices Today!

video

by Jon Bershad | 11:11 am, May 13th, 2011

» 14 comments

With each new wrinkle in the story of ColbertPAC, Stephen Colbert’s Political Action Committee, The Colbert Report has been demonstrating the absolute silliness of campaign finance regulations. In his bid to “affect the 2012 election,” Colbert is now calling upon the help of his fans. And, no, he’s not just asking for email addresses now. Colbert is heading to the Federal Election Commission offices today to apply for a media exemption and he’s asking the Colbert Nation to join him.

Here’s the story so far. First, Colbert was told he the PAC ran up against corporate “in-kind donation” rules by discussing it on his Viacom-owned show. Fortunately his “personal lawyer” (former FEC Chairman Trevor Potter) helped show him a loophole where all he needed to do was change it to a SuperPAC by writing the word “Super” on the cover letter. Then, this week, he was told by Viacom lawyers that he could no longer legally speak about his SuperPAC on air. Potter came to the rescue again by telling him about the “media exemption” that the many PAC-holders on Fox News have that claims they are just “reporting the news.” So, once Colbert gets the exemption, he should be able to talk about and support as many candidates and issues as he wants.

Last night, Colbert announced to the audience that he would be heading to the FEC office in Washington, D.C. to apply for the exemption and that he wanted them to join. He even added the extra encouragement by pointing out that today is his birthday! And, for the past few hours, he’s been promoting the event with the kind of Twitter-blitz not seen since Sen. Jon Kyl started speaking in non-facts.

So, will people be showing up today? I’d assume so. I mean, it’s not like Colbert is inexperienced when it comes to getting people to go to the nation’s capital…

Watch last night’s announcement from Comedy Central below:

ColbertPAC, stephen colbert, Trevor Potter

Barack Must Go

Be sure and rush right down to Washington to join him libs.

I hear as a special thank you he’ll be lighting Hoola – Hoops on fire for you guys to jump through.

Sounds like a good, no great time will be had by all.

FILM AT 11:30……..can’t wait to see you on the MEDIAite 3:00 AM clip of the festivities…NOW GIT GOING….
http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

Can’t wait for the pictures…

“And they’re monochromatic right? … Every picture I see shows them to be. … Meaning they’re all white. All of them, every single one of them is white.”

-Chris Matthews
OxyCon

Check out the hippie:
http://curfuffled.posterous.com/young-stephen-colbert
grafxmail7

OxyCon said:
Check out the hippie:
http://curfuffled.posterous.com/young-stephen-colbert

You were a Democrat for 40+ years….

What’s your point?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Barbara-Hodges/100000863918892 Barbara

I like being a liberal Democrat since I’ve noticed we have more fun than the haters/birthers/deniers/conservatives….and I’m old so I know things.
http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

Barbara said:
deniers

keep believing in Global Warming… sounds like a hoot…
Dem4Ever

I guess Colbert has decided to quit stalking Fox News and their staff since after this stunt anything he tries to criticize will be viewed as hypocritical.
BarneyFranken

Barbara said:
I like being a liberal Democrat since I’ve noticed we have more fun than the haters/birthers/deniers/conservatives….and I’m old so I know things.

Is it fun being a truther? You all seem miserable to me.
Raygun

Dem4Ever said:
I guess Colbert has decided to quit stalking Fox News and their staff since after this stunt anything he tries to criticize will be viewed as hypocritical.

You’re having trouble understanding how satire works.
Dem4Ever

Raygun said:
You’re having trouble understanding how satire works.

I suppose this means that Steven will continue to stalk Fox News and their staff.
MrTPar_taY

This guy’s face would look so much better with a fist in it!
BarneyFranken

Dear Mr. Colbert,

I think what you are attempting here could be very, very awesome. Shining a light on the corruption of our campaign finance system through mockery is brilliant and no one mocks for a living better than you.

However, it would be very disappointing if all this ends up being is another way of attacking Fox News and/or Republicans. I have those suspicions based on that being the premise for every show you’ve done since 2007.

Therefore, I ask that you ridicule both sides of the isle evenly on this one, and not turn colbertpac into the elaborate stooge for the democrat party that your television show has become.

Sincerely,

Americans who enjoy comedy more than partisan politics.
Raygun

Dem4Ever said:
I suppose this means that Steven will continue to stalk Fox News and their staff.

He’s satirizing what Karl Rove, etc. do on Fox News. He’s not sincerely going to run a Liberal Super PAC, I expect it will raise money for charity and a couple of funny tv spots.
rod paul

Classic, yet brilliant satirical example of possible “slippery slope” from Citizens United v. FEC decision. Perhaps it’s time for the Roberts court to to revisit this pro-corporate decision.

Bottom line: corporations are not human beings. They don’t have same 1st amendment protection as citizens.