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Catholic Stephen Colbert, Trump and the Dirty Business of Political ‘Humor’

Catholic Stephen Colbert, Trump and the Dirty Business of Political ‘Humor’

Last updated on: May 12, 2017 at 12:14 pm by Kate O'Hare

Catholic Stephen Colbert, Trump and the Dirty Business of Political ‘Humor’ 2017-05-12T12:14:01-08:00 Kate O'Hare

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Stephen Colbert, professed and public Catholic, caused a stir earlier this week with a vehement and profane rant against President Trump on CBS’ “The Late Show.”

As quoted in the Los Angeles Times:

“You talk like a sign-language gorilla that got hit in the head,” Colbert said of Trump in a monologue earlier this week. But that was just the windup. He then went on to say suggest, in the rawest, most explicit terms, that Trump was — we will be delicate here — a sexually submissive partner to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The move ignited the hashtag #FireColbert, with some accusing the comedian of homophobia. Colbert remained unapologetic and is not backing down.

I don’t know what his pastor thought of the outburst, but it’s hard to imagine he was pleased. It might even be a cause for confession, but Colbert is largely publicly unrepentant.

On Wednesday night, he said (as quoted in the Washington Post):

“Welcome to the ‘Late Show.’ I’m your host, Stephen Colbert. Still? I am still the host? I’m still the host!!” he said triumphantly. “Now, if you saw my monologue Monday, you know that I was a little upset at Donald Trump for insulting a friend of mine. So at the end of that monologue I had a few choice insults for the president in return. I don’t regret that. He, I believe, can take care of himself. I have jokes; he has the launch codes. So, it’s a fair fight. So while I would do it again, I would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be.”

When Colbert played the role of an angry, partisan host on his old show on Comedy Central, many wondered if the Colbert that came to CBS to replace David Letterman would be a continuation of that character or the real man.

At first, it seemed like we had a kindler, gentler Colbert, who had no issue discussing the Faith on-air. But this rant was something else. This was a man who took a private grievance to a public forum and foully tongue-lashed somebody he didn’t like.

And it wasn’t even funny. He quipped that Trump attracted more skinheads than free Rogaine — which doesn’t make any sense, since skinheads are bald by choice. That sort of joke would get groans on an open-mike night.

But, as the Washington Examiner pointed out:

Stephen Colbert is what happens when you let politics take over your life.

You become ugly, nasty and mean.

…

Colbert broke character for CBS, revealing that he is actually angrier and pettier than his nearly 20-year-old Comedy Central alter ego. His jokes have become increasingly bitter and partisan, and his style of humor uncomfortably personal. Get him near politics and watch him froth.

CBS probably won’t fire him. Before Colbert, David Letterman was equally smug and partisan, and his off-air antics exceeded his on-air bravado.

From the New York Times in 2009:

David Letterman apologized on the air Monday to his wife, Regina, for his revelation last week of his sexual relationships with staff members, saying she had been “horribly hurt” and adding, “I’ve got my work cut out for me” to mend the relationship. Mr. Letterman made the remarks at the start of the taping of his Monday night show on CBS. They were his first public comments since last Thursday when he revealed details of an apparent extortion attempt tied to sexual relationships with his staff members.

At least, Letterman never held himself out as a devout Christian.

Even Crux wondered recently if Colbert’s Catholic fans are starting to drift, whether it’s because of presidential politics, or an issue he apparently doesn’t speak out on.

From Crux:

Buzzfeed considers Colbert pro-choice. He has consistently defended the nation’s largest abortion provider, even repeating the embarrassing argument that abortion is only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does. There is no pro-life case for Planned Parenthood (an organization which depends on abortion revenue to stay in business), and a nonviolent approach to health care requires that we direct federal money for women’s health to federally qualified community health centers.

His support of Planned Parenthood doesn’t necessarily mean Colbert is broadly supportive of abortion rights, but when coupled with his general silence on the issue more generally, it isn’t a good sign.

Whatever you think of the president, it’s hard to imagine any network-TV talk-show host saying anything about the previous POTUS along the lines of what Colbert did and keeping his or her job for even 24 hours.

But these are the times we live in, when politics gives people justification for the worst behavior — after all, they can always point to the other guy and say, “He started it.”

That never worked with my folks, and I suspect it doesn’t work with our Father in Heaven, either.

UPDATE: After receiving complaints about Colbert’s language, the FCC is investigating.

Images: Courtesy CBS/screenshot

Don’t miss a thing: head over to my other home, as Social Media Manager at Family Theater Productions; and check out FTP’s Faith & Family Media Blog.

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