Borderline Crimes

Dear Mr. Colbert,

Like so many others, I consider the Colbert Report to be a powerful, politically courageous fusion of humor and politics, a fusion that at least for me represents a genuine alternative means of challenging the powerful and initiating discussions on pressing issues that are ignored by the mainstream media. I especially appreciate the particular approach of the Colbert Report to this kind of work. The idea of criticizing through exaggerated imitation, in other words through turning the arguments of nationalist groups and multinational corporations inside out and taking them to their logical conclusions. I believe that this is nothing less than a new form of political activism that has resonated with many people.

Colbert mocks the president at the Correspondents' Dinner

Like millions of Americans, I have also been following the right-wing, corporate attack on healthcare reform, an attack that has grown more violent and extreme every day. People like you and other progressive news commentators have correctly pointed out that right-wing organizations, from political parties to think tanks to news channels, funded by insurance and other corporations, have directed nation-wide ‘spontaneous’ actions. Hiding behind ‘the common people’ that they have enlisted and mobilized, powerful interests can carry out a campaign of violence, fear and intimidation they would never be able to carry out openly.

Of course, I have enjoyed the Colbert Report’s recent coverage of these developments, but I feel that there is an unprecedented opportunity here to use the Colbert Report’s approach in a new, potentially groundbreaking way.

As the Report has shown on many occasions, right-wing campaigns, actions and figures are already parodies of themselves. On the other hand, it is more difficult to laugh at the violence and vehemence of the town-hall meeting actions, particularly when pro-health care reform leaders have no effective response. Though helpful, it is not enough to parody these actions from a distance, especially when the consequences are proving themselves to be real, a developing subversion of the aspiration of millions of Americans for a real debate on health care.

In my view, the townhall meetings in particular and right-wing protests in general offer great possibilities for the kind of parody that the Colbert Report epitomizes. First, viewers of the Colbert Report (aka the Colbert Nation) voted to rename a space shuttle, then to donate tens of thousands of dollars to the families of veterans. What would happened if Colbert Report viewers showed up to the health-care reforms town-hall meetings to “join forces with our country’s heroes, to demand an end to socialism and the oppression of insurance companies” (Someone will come up with something better).

The Colbert Report could work together with local groups of viewers to come up with good slogans, involving the innovation of ordinary people in a new form of political activism—direct action parody! People could pretend to be “the mom from down the street” or “Joe the Investment Banker,” and hold signs that ostensibly agree with the signs of their “fellow heroes.” They could even offer more practical benefits to democratic politicians speaking about healthcare, by answering questions in parody that allow them to discuss the real issues (The Report has pioneered this approach in interviews on the show).

With the Colbert Report lending its support (perhaps only to groups it works with), it would be impossible for them to be mistaken for actual FreedomWorks activists. It might have the effect of encouraging people across the country to try their hand in something both funny and politically meaningful. I can envision all kinds of people taking interest, and sympathetic celebrities might even lend a hand, creating even more support for a new, truly grassroots form of defending health-care while laughing all the way.

I wouldn’t be emailing if I didn’t believe in the potential of this idea. I think that part of the reason that the Colbert Report is so appealing is that people who support health-care reform and other progressive causes are not inspired by political-activism-as-usual. I don’t connect with protests that try to out-Republican the Republicans, that compete for the “real American” championship and do their best to clothe themselves in righteous indignation. That is why the Colbert Report is so important, because it is an alternative means of dissent that changes the basis of dissent.

I understand that this is definitely a long-shot for anyone in the Colbert Report to actually read this, let alone respond, but the show’s history of communicating directly with its viewers gives me hope that someone might consider the idea. If you try it and it doesn’t work, then I’m sure the show will survive. Shows have survived much worse in the pursuit of much more mundane ideals. And if you decide not to try it, well then that won’t be the end of the world either. But I watched the correspondents’ dinner, and I appreciated the courage that that took and the commitments to social justice that stood behind that courage. Without sounding too dramatic, in 1994 as in now there has not been an effective, innovative response to the right-wing attacks on health-care reform. What happens in the next few months will determine whether we have to wait another 15 years for change, and at the very least I want artists/activists/purple-mounted heroes like Mr. Colbert to innovate new ways for people to be in the fight. Successful or not, the results will be very funny.

Thanks for being on the air and doing what you’re doing,

I’ll be watching,

Itamar Haritan

Berkeley, CA