Showing posts with label Colbert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colbert. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg, & Pete Buttigieg - The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.
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Thursday, May 22, 2014
Obama Appoints Leftist Jesuit To U.S. Commission On International Religious Freedom
May 20th, 2014 | By Editor2
Father Thomas Reese is the darling “Catholic” of the secular media.
Barack Hussein Obama has just appointed Father Thomas Reese, S.J. to serve on the U.S. Commission On International Religious Freedom.
Reese is a long-time liberal Catholic who has been an apologist for Obama and is frequently quoted by the secular press for a “Catholic” viewpoint.
Reese defended the Obama Administration’s abortion mandate in Obamacare by stating that:
“HHS and the Administration have gone out of their way to resolve the concerns of religious institutions that object to covering contraceptives in their insurance programs. They have found creative ways to provide contraceptives to the employees of religious colleges and hospitals without the involvement of these institutions.”
Father Reese even appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss his admittedly socialist ideas and Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget proposal:
He’ll be an Obama apologist and troublemaker on the U.S. Commission. You can count on it.
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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Colbert gets conditional OK on campaign finance
FEC gives conditional OK to Stephen Colbert on using TV show for political fundraising
Comedian Stephen Colbert grabs cash money from a supporter as he climbs into a vehicle to depart the Federal Election Commission in Washington, Thursday, June 30, 2011, after the FEC granted his request to form a Political Action Committee. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Andrew Miga, Associated Press, On Thursday June 30, 2011, 4:18 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Election Commission said Thursday that comedian Stephen Colbert can use his TV show's resources to boost his political action committee, but he must disclose some major expenses as in-kind contributions from the show's corporate owners.
Colbert played it straight during his appearance before the commission, letting his attorney do most of the talking while saving his trademark quips for a crowd that gathered outside the commission building after the meeting.
"I don't accept the status quo," he told the crowd, brandishing a portable credit card processing machine. "I do accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express."
Many in the crowd handed Colbert their credit cards or dollar bills as contributions.
Asked what point he was trying to make about corporate America, Colbert did not miss a beat.
"None," he quipped. "I want their money."
Colbert, who plays a conservative TV pundit on "The Colbert Report," is forming Colbert Super PAC, a type of political action committee that will allow him to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions and individuals. The money will be used to support or oppose candidates in the 2012 elections through independent expenditures such as TV ads.
Colbert has not indicated what kinds of candidates he might support.
The FEC decision comes amid a broader erosion of campaign finance regulations in the wake of recent court rulings and with Republicans on the Federal Election Commission and elsewhere pushing for a rollback to give corporations and other wealthy donors stronger sway in financing campaigns.
Colbert had asked the commission for a "media exemption" to allow him to use his show's airtime, staff and other resources for his political action committee without having to publicly disclose them as in-kind contributions from Comedy Central's parent company, Viacom Inc.
In-kind contributions are given as goods or services rather than money.
Colbert has said those undisclosed contributions could include the use of his show's staff to create TV advertisements about candidates that would air as paid commercials on other shows and networks.
The commission ruled 5-1 that he would have to publicly disclose as in-kind contributions from Viacom any ads produced by the show for Colbert Super PAC that air on other shows or networks. He also would have to disclose administrative costs that his show covers for Colbert Super PAC.
The Colbert ruling eclipsed a lesser-noticed decision by the Federal Election Commission Thursday that could also have a significant impact on the 2012 elections.
The commission said candidates and party officials may solicit contributions for super PACs, but those contributions could not exceed the $5,000 limit for donations that applies to traditional political action committees.
Some campaign watchdog groups had feared the commission might permit candidates and party officials to solicit unlimited contributions, opening yet another door to big-ticket donations.
While Colbert delights in lampooning politicians on his Comedy Central show, he raised some serious issues about public disclosure of corporate campaign contributions before the Federal Election Commission.
"Stephen Colbert is a funny man, but he asked a legitimate question and received a serious answer," FEC Chairwoman Cynthia Bauerly said. "The opinion adopted today does not give him everything he asked for, but it appropriately applies the press exemption consistent with past Commission and court precedent. "
Campaign finance watchdog groups also had warned that a favorable ruling for Colbert could spur many more undisclosed contributions to political figures who are TV hosts or commentators and who could opt to create their own super PACs to take advantage of any new loopholes.
The groups cited politicians such Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum who already have traditional political action committees and are either working now, or have worked, as TV hosts or commentators.
The Campaign Legal Center, one of the watchdog groups, called the commission's ruling on Colbert "a victory for disclosure" that prevents new loopholes.
"The FEC's advisory opinion will give Mr. Colbert the freedom to engage in legitimate political commentary and comedy with the support of Viacom, but will also ensure that the public is informed about the corporate money his PAC receives," said Tara Malloy of the Campaign Legal Center.
"The Colbert Report" has used satire to shine a light on campaign finance rules following the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court that helped pave the way for super PACs. Campaign finance reform advocates complained the ruling gave wealthy donors, particularly companies and unions, considerably more sway in politics.
Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from corporations, labor unions or individuals, unlike candidates or traditional political action committees. Super PACs cannot contribute directly to candidates, however.
Colbert has said any ads for Colbert Super PAC would not be coordinated with any candidate or party.
Source
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Comedian Stephen Colbert grabs cash money from a supporter as he climbs into a vehicle to depart the Federal Election Commission in Washington, Thursday, June 30, 2011, after the FEC granted his request to form a Political Action Committee. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Andrew Miga, Associated Press, On Thursday June 30, 2011, 4:18 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Election Commission said Thursday that comedian Stephen Colbert can use his TV show's resources to boost his political action committee, but he must disclose some major expenses as in-kind contributions from the show's corporate owners.
Colbert played it straight during his appearance before the commission, letting his attorney do most of the talking while saving his trademark quips for a crowd that gathered outside the commission building after the meeting.
"I don't accept the status quo," he told the crowd, brandishing a portable credit card processing machine. "I do accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express."
Many in the crowd handed Colbert their credit cards or dollar bills as contributions.
Asked what point he was trying to make about corporate America, Colbert did not miss a beat.
"None," he quipped. "I want their money."
Colbert, who plays a conservative TV pundit on "The Colbert Report," is forming Colbert Super PAC, a type of political action committee that will allow him to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions and individuals. The money will be used to support or oppose candidates in the 2012 elections through independent expenditures such as TV ads.
Colbert has not indicated what kinds of candidates he might support.
The FEC decision comes amid a broader erosion of campaign finance regulations in the wake of recent court rulings and with Republicans on the Federal Election Commission and elsewhere pushing for a rollback to give corporations and other wealthy donors stronger sway in financing campaigns.
Colbert had asked the commission for a "media exemption" to allow him to use his show's airtime, staff and other resources for his political action committee without having to publicly disclose them as in-kind contributions from Comedy Central's parent company, Viacom Inc.
In-kind contributions are given as goods or services rather than money.
Colbert has said those undisclosed contributions could include the use of his show's staff to create TV advertisements about candidates that would air as paid commercials on other shows and networks.
The commission ruled 5-1 that he would have to publicly disclose as in-kind contributions from Viacom any ads produced by the show for Colbert Super PAC that air on other shows or networks. He also would have to disclose administrative costs that his show covers for Colbert Super PAC.
The Colbert ruling eclipsed a lesser-noticed decision by the Federal Election Commission Thursday that could also have a significant impact on the 2012 elections.
The commission said candidates and party officials may solicit contributions for super PACs, but those contributions could not exceed the $5,000 limit for donations that applies to traditional political action committees.
Some campaign watchdog groups had feared the commission might permit candidates and party officials to solicit unlimited contributions, opening yet another door to big-ticket donations.
While Colbert delights in lampooning politicians on his Comedy Central show, he raised some serious issues about public disclosure of corporate campaign contributions before the Federal Election Commission.
"Stephen Colbert is a funny man, but he asked a legitimate question and received a serious answer," FEC Chairwoman Cynthia Bauerly said. "The opinion adopted today does not give him everything he asked for, but it appropriately applies the press exemption consistent with past Commission and court precedent. "
Campaign finance watchdog groups also had warned that a favorable ruling for Colbert could spur many more undisclosed contributions to political figures who are TV hosts or commentators and who could opt to create their own super PACs to take advantage of any new loopholes.
The groups cited politicians such Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum who already have traditional political action committees and are either working now, or have worked, as TV hosts or commentators.
The Campaign Legal Center, one of the watchdog groups, called the commission's ruling on Colbert "a victory for disclosure" that prevents new loopholes.
"The FEC's advisory opinion will give Mr. Colbert the freedom to engage in legitimate political commentary and comedy with the support of Viacom, but will also ensure that the public is informed about the corporate money his PAC receives," said Tara Malloy of the Campaign Legal Center.
"The Colbert Report" has used satire to shine a light on campaign finance rules following the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court that helped pave the way for super PACs. Campaign finance reform advocates complained the ruling gave wealthy donors, particularly companies and unions, considerably more sway in politics.
Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from corporations, labor unions or individuals, unlike candidates or traditional political action committees. Super PACs cannot contribute directly to candidates, however.
Colbert has said any ads for Colbert Super PAC would not be coordinated with any candidate or party.
Source
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Stephen Colbert's testimony: Mocking Congress?
September 27, 2010 10:00 am
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer confirmed Sunday that Democrats can be just as cranky as Republicans when being made fun of on their own turf. According to the New York Daily News:
Even some Democrats thought Stephen Colbert's Capitol Hill routine was more gaffe than goof.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called the Comedy Central star’s bit, which had some laughing and others groaning last week, "not appropriate."
"I think it was an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House," the Maryland politician said on "Fox News Sunday."
"What he had to say was not the way it should have been said," Hoyer added.
The "Colbert Report" funnyman was invited to testify before the House Judiciary Committee by Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a move that rankled some.
"I think that he mocked the hearing process," Rep. Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, said after the hearing on Friday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported Colbert.
King's reaction is in line with the Beltway consensus that Colbert made a "mockery" of Congress with his satirical testimony on immigration reform. King, who confessed he had never watched "The Colbert Report" in the past, was evidently so unprepared for some face-to-face humor that he ordered his staff to flag any unflattering footage Colbert may have aired of him.
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) preempted everyone else's crankiness by inviting the comedian to leave the House Judiciary Committee hearing before he could speak. Conyers and his colleagues looked every bit the part of elderly curmudgeons protecting their lawn as they sat poker-faced during Colbert's act, while their younger aides, seated behind them, cracked a few smiles and laughs.
I'm not a regular Colbert viewer; I probably take in more hours of early-morning rebroadcasts of congressional hearings on C-SPAN than late-night Comedy Central. But I'll give Colbert this: If there's any issue for which Congress deserves some face-to-face mockery, it's immigration reform.
-- Paul Thornton
Photo: Stephen Colbert. Credit: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
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