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Stephen Colbert slings sarcasm at Congress over migrant workers, videos

By April MacIntyre Sep 25, 2010, 5:08 GMT

Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Subcommittee hearing on "Protecting America\'s Harvest," in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on 24 September, 2010. EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

In a ridiculous turn for the US Congress, the body of legislators invited a well-known satirist and comedian with a track record (White House dinner, George W. Bush, remember that?) to testify on a serious issue.

Colbert used his TV character to let Congress know, in his sly way, how badly many Americans view the loathed politicians sitting in the House and Senate.

Stephen Colbert submitted serious testimony to a judiciary subcommittee hearing on the issue of farm workers and immigration, but when it was his turn to speak, the talk show host slipped into The Colbert Report mode as a satirical conservative to make his point.

He brought images from his colonoscopy into the Congressional Record during a riff on how Americans should eat less roughage.

Colbert spoke of the bill dealing with immigrant workers, Colbert quipped, "Like most members of Congress, I haven't read it." He sarcastically expressed confidence that as the bill moves forward, "both sides will work together as you always do."

Colbert's act did not sit well with the ranking Republican, Lamar Smith of Texas, who asked him how many workers had joined him during his day on the New York farm.

From ABCNews.com:

Colbert replied, "I didn't take a count. I'm not good at math." When Smith asked how many of them were illegal, Colbert replied, "I didn't ask them for their papers, although I had a strong urge to."

Smith asked Colbert if that one day on the farm made him an expert. Colbert replied, "I believe one day of me studying anything makes me an expert."

And asked if he endorsed GOP policies, Colbert said, "I endorse all Republican policies without question," prompting Smith to thank Colbert for his endorsement of the Republicans' just-unveiled Pledge to America.

Smith asked if working in the apple orchard was hard work. "It is harder work than this," Colbert shot back, referring to his appearance before Congress.

"I like talking about people who don't have any power. And this seems to be [about] people without any power," he said, arguing that migrant workers "don't have any rights."