It is a rare occurrence that a person of my age would watch C-SPAN and laugh (unless it's at the old representatives who like to nod off on the job). Quite honestly it's rare that I would go out of my way to watch C-SPAN at all. Yet on Friday, Sept. 24th pseudo-GOP pundit, Stephen Colbert got my attention along with thousands of others both young and old when he spoke in front of the House Judiciary Committee in support of the AgJobs bill.
The bill advocates for reform of labor laws that would make it easier for illegal migrant laborers to obtain a visa for work. It would also aim to improve working conditions and treatment of the millions of people who work hard to help put food on our American tables every day. But there is nothing new about immigration reform issues in the United States. Instead, most of the uproar caused by this hearing stems from the antics of guest speaker Colbert, who hosts the satirical talk show the ""Colbert Report.""
This master of satire was invited to speak on behalf of the bill by Representative Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., who met Colbert while working on a farm in upstate New York. This job was far from permanent for each of them, as they both made statementst for the United Farm Workers' ""Take Our Jobs"" program. This title can be taken quite literally as the program invites any American to literally sign up to work in a field picking crops that would normally be manned by illegal laborers from a foreign country, assuring legal citizens that their jobs are not actually being taken by migrant workers. Thus far the UFW's point has been overwhelmingly proven, as Colbert and Lofgren were only two out of a total of seven Americans to take up the challenge.
With only one day in the field, Colbert joked about his in-depth expertise on the subject However, that is one more day than any other congressman, aside from Lofgren, has spent experiencing the life of a farm worker firsthand. And after listening to his account and the many statistics he brought to the table (even if they were presented sarcastically), no one can say he didn't do his research.
Yet, before giving his statement, several Republican Representatives and even one Democrat requested that Colbert remove himself from speaking. They did not want our very austere, decision-making system of law and governing to be made into a mockery.
I'm sure that when Republicans brought the Muppets and Elmo, from ""Sesame Street"" to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee in 2002, that it was a much more serious presentation, completely lacking any humor. At least Colbert is a human.
So I ask, why all the Comedy Central host hate, Representatives? If Colbert hadn't come to speak in front of the committee, how much attention would this very important issue have actually received? Even though it took place over a week ago, it still comes up in discussions across the nation. Not to mention the entirely new audience it brings to Judiciary Committee hearings. Not as many college students are watching C-SPAN as they are ""Jersey Shore"" or ""The Office,"" but they still make time to watch the Colbert Report.
Some Representatives recognized the beneficial celebrity power of Colbert in representing this issue and thanked him for the national spotlight he put on the hearing, but still did not want him to speak and ""waste"" any more of their precious time. That was just plain unfair. Although he stayed in character throughout, submitted a video of his colonoscopy to the Congressional record and poked a bit of fun at mainly Republicans, Colbert was there to make some very valid points. And in that effort, he was actually successful.
Colbert suggested that when left to the free market, these agriculture jobs have been shipped to other countries by the thousands, ""because apparently, even the invisible hand [of the market] doesn't want to pick beans."" I know I don't.
Just because Colbert is a different brand of politics from what the Judiciary Committee is accustomed to doesn't mean he should be disregarded as completely irrelevant. He brought widespread, national attention to an important bill for our economy and workers' rights, and proved you don't have to always be serious to make a serious impact. Watch his speech—not only is it funny, but it truly is worth your time.
Jaime Brackeen is a sophomore majoring in journalism.Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com