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Truthiness and Consequences: Clinton, Obama on 'Colbert'

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April 17, 2008 8:19 PM

ABC News’ Eloise Harper and Sunlen Miller report: The Democratic presidential race took a comical turn as both top candidates taped appearances on Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" Thursday evening.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., made her first appearance on the show by coming to host Stephen Colbert's rescue. Her appearance was followed by Sen. Barack Obama’s, D-Ill., debut appearance -- via a remote interview from Greenville, N.C.

Before heading on stage, Clinton spoke backstage with her and Obama’s former opponent, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who also was a guest on the show. No details on the conversation were provided.

The skit began at the top of the show when Colbert's monitor went to a test signal and he complained to his control room.

"What happened, Jimmy; Jimmy the rear projector just went down, the screen's down, Jimmy where's my liberty bell?" he said.

Jimmy told Colbert that there is nobody to fix the screen and that all the technicians are in New York.

Colbert shouted out in frustration, "Are you telling me there's no one in this theatre who can fix the mess we're in?"

Ta-da!

Clinton then appeared on the stage, saying, "I can. I can, Stephen."

The Democratic presidential hopeful then began a very technical conversation with Jimmy, and attempted to fix the screen. Clinton asked a series of questions until she suggested, finally, that Jimmy "try toggling the input."

Miraculously, the screen got restored and the audience applauded.

Clinton then turned to Colbert and suggested that he get a touch up.

"You know what Stephen," she said. "Your forehead is a little bit shiny. Make-up, make-up, can we get some translucent powder, please?"

Colbert responded, "Wow, Sen. Clinton. You are so prepared for any situation. I just don't know how to thank you enough."

Clinton told Colbert that she loves solving problems, and that he could even call her at 3 a.m.

Colbert thanked Clinton and finishes by saying, "I am going to call her at 3 a.m. I'm sure she left her cell phone number."

In his segment, Obama evidently referenced what he earlier Thursday described as "gotcha politics" of Wednesday’s Democratic debate as well as Clinton's 'Colbert' appearance.

"Sen. Obama!" Colbert exclaimed. "Won’t Sen. Clinton be happy that she fixed our screen?"

"I think the American people are tired of these political games and petty distractions," Obama said.

Then Obama called for such "political distractions" to be put "on notice" -- a staple on Colbert’s show involving a list of people and things that are to be watched out for.

Colbert answered, "I have to warn you, I probably don’t have a card for distractions. ... Let’s see: Dimetapp, Dionne Warwick, Deion Sanders, Dion Comma Celine, dirigibles. …

"Aha!" he said. "Distractions" -- ultimately finding a proper card to put on the board.

Obama told Colbert to take James Brady off the "on notice" list to replace it with his choice.

"Manufactured political distractions, you are officially on notice," Obama concluded.

While this was Obama’s first appearance on the show, his wife made an appearance on the show on Tuesday night from Pennsylvania -- after he originally turned down an invitation to appear.

April 17, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (204)

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Hill and Bill are one in same. Both
BS artists who have reinvented the word lie to an all time high. They are both soooooooooooo full of themselves an bs

Posted by: savoymt | Apr 17, 2008 9:39:04 PM

Hillary: you forgot to include, Obama helps organized the 1 million mem march with Farrekan.

Posted by: cookie | Apr 17, 2008 9:40:57 PM

Hillary

You have got to be kidding. If Barack wanted to go after all the dirty hands that the Clintons have touched a two hour debate wouldn't be long enough. Last night was an poor use of our first amendment and a damaging night for the ABC News Team. Having seen as many debates as I have, it was an obvious setup. The pundents want this race to go on for the ratings. The outcome is already set, get used to the idea, it will be Barack Obama as the nominee. He has played by the rules, which a Clinton has no idea of such things.

Posted by: Lou - NH | Apr 17, 2008 9:42:04 PM

Savoymt,
What is the relationship between Barack Obama and Talib Kweli? Wait until the press figures this one out.
========================================
WooHoo, Obama's day's a comin'
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 17, 2008 9:42:05 PM

McCain misspeaks, Obama tries to figure out what he "actually meant" and Hillary lies? The people who don't have brains enough to think for themselves have to let the media think for them. What about Obamas add, only takes small donations, running while he is in SF at fundraisers at $2,500.00 a person? Don't know about you but I am not elite enough to think that $2,500.00 is the same as $5.00. Hillary is the only one that can pull us out of the mess that Bush has put us in. Obama has set civil rights back 30 years. And HE is going to pull this country together?

Posted by: Lucille | Apr 17, 2008 9:44:58 PM

Now the Clintonistas are telling superdelegate women that they have to vote for HRC because she is the only chance they will get to elect a woman.
That's a lie. No one knows how much her candidacy will set back women in politics, but if we can actually consider the issues maybe a decent human who is a woman, will be realistic candidate later. The Clintons have reached the horror moment, when they are now behind even in Indiana and no one will support them if they lose Indiana.
So they are trying to get supers to commit now, before the train wrecks. To do so on the basis that ONLY HRC could be a woman to win, is so much nonsense, I pray that women the country wide will vote against her on this basis alone. There are many brilliant, kind, wise, women and some of them will be candidates for high office as long as this race does not become a matter of prejudice.
I think the Senators from Missouri and California *Boxer are both women I would like to see as VP or President. HRC is not the only woman who could be in high office. She is just the only person that thinks she is the only person who could be in high office. Stop this now and commit to Obama, all you supers. What a low pitch of desparation. Sad, really. How low the mighty are taken down by their desire for power.

This is like saying Geraldine Ferraro speaks for Clinton and that they both actually think that people are only for Obama because of his color.
I am not black or a Christian and I support him because he is bright and is the only candidate who says he will restore the Constitution, our right to be charged with a crime before Condi and McSame can waterboard you.

Posted by: bruce becker | Apr 17, 2008 9:47:08 PM

Thank heavens Hillary has a sense of humor. Her opponent and his supporters certainly don't. It's not surprising that Obama isn't laughing because his surrogates, such as Rev. Wright and Bill "the bomber" Ayers, are not remotely funny. The racist Wright is going to be living in the lap of luxury in a one Million dollar home Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) has purchased for him in Tinley Park, IL. Here's the punch line, the mansion is in an exclusive gated community, has a 10 Million dollar line of credit attached to the home, and the community residents are 93 percent white.
I guess "God Damn America" has provided well for Rev. Wright. He should feel right at home living among the affluent white folks he despises. Nothing like a little hypocrisy.

Posted by: Emily | Apr 17, 2008 9:48:06 PM

Poor Obamaniacs...nothing else to do with their pathetic lives but clog up the blogosphere with paeans to the Obamessiah even when the blog has nothing to do with him. It is the self-absorption of the candidate that must attract similarly predisposed lemmings....

At least Senator Scrappy McPantsuit seems to have a real sense of humour...and one that encompasses self mocking.

(BTW...why was he brushing dandruff off his shoulders in NC this afternoon? Hasn’t his stylist told him about H&S?)

Posted by: LG | Apr 17, 2008 9:50:25 PM

The media is holding back the maturity of the American people. This debate shows ABC's lack of evolving debates. 52 minutes on Rove tatics on both candidates. I am outraged. Stick to the need's of the American people. Not the unintelligent debate we got.

Posted by: Tina | Apr 17, 2008 9:53:13 PM

Bishop. the PPP poll for Pa has Obama leading by 2% and they interview more people than the poll you quoted.
There are several polls for Pa, none are infallible.

HRC is telling women superdelegates she is the only chance for a woman to win high office. I feel it is the opposite. If she gets out soon enough, many wonderful women candidates will have a chance in the future. She has too high an opinion of herself.
She is not the last, best hope for women.
She doesnt know how to run a caucus, which we will soon see in the west, after she loses in NC and Indiana. She is on a two loss streak again, having lost Mississippi and the Tex caucus.

Posted by: bruce becker | Apr 17, 2008 9:53:31 PM

Good job Hillary, nice to have some comic relief this week.
Fixing the problems in the White House is a more daunting task to be sure, but you clearly have what it takes to get the job done.

Go Hillary!

Posted by: TexasLJ | Apr 17, 2008 9:56:41 PM

Two famous right wing preachers (incuding Hagee of Tex) have already said the God has already damned America and they both support McSame. Or doesnt that actually count?

The people who choose to support a candidate are not the candidate.

I for one agree with the Rev Wright. 9-11 was indeed OUR CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST.
Or do you pretend to forget that it was done by the Obama bin Laudin brigage, trained by your CIA and your tax dollars at work. That's your chickens, come home to roost. Do you approve of that?
Some people have the courage to speak out against the CIA and its predatory self serving actions.
No WMDs. Just a trillion dollar war.
Now you dont have the right to be charged with a crime before Condi and McSame can waterboard you.

Posted by: bruce becker | Apr 17, 2008 9:59:10 PM

hey everyone go check this video of obama out http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/obamaflipsoffcl.html
it certainly shows a different side that the media does not show

Posted by: joshua bradshaw | Apr 17, 2008 10:02:21 PM

ABC moderator worked for the Clintons.
He wasnt trying to get to the issues.
He was part of the Clintonista team, bent on trivializing the election, not to discuss how the WTO is overwhelming our economy, or how to make health care affordable.
Why is there a shortage of doctors?
Why cant we have 20 new medical schools run by the National Institutes of Health?
Because it is an intentional shortage to drive up the income of the MD field.

Posted by: bruce becker | Apr 17, 2008 10:02:32 PM

Have often wondered why all of the Obama supporters are screaming over last nights debate. Not all of us have felt that Obama has adequately answered these questions that were asked last night. Have also wondered why his supporters are so negative and abusive about anyone who doesn't support their candidate. The rest of the country is NOT required to agree with your blind adoration of Senator Obama.

Posted by: 2old2smart | Apr 17, 2008 10:04:07 PM

check out Joan Vennochi in today's Boston Globe..the gist of it is...Kerry, Kennedy and Deval Patrick met with Massachusetts women who support HRC and want the superdelegates to find a way to count the votes in M and F.."The men, all Obama supporters in a state that went for HRC on primary day-said they believed in fairness, but not, necessarily, in counting votes in other states when Clinton claims victory"...they said they would be willing to talk to Dean but not to take their cause public,...these guys are in HUGE trouble in Massachusetts...Female voters are a very powerful force in Ma. None of these guys would have won without them and believe me, the girls are pissed and dissed!, So, Bruce..save your platitudes about "maybe a decent, kind woman later"..it's condesending and patronizing and more evidence that sexism is alive and well in American discourse...

Posted by: morn | Apr 17, 2008 10:07:55 PM

Hillary is great! She has a wonderful sense of humor. It shows all the time - in debates, in conversations.

Why is Obama so glum and angry all the time?? Always the blame game - no substance when he talks - only a truckload of NONSENSE.

Posted by: Jkan | Apr 17, 2008 10:12:03 PM

I just looked at the two most current Penn polls.
In one Clinton lead by 1%. That was taken today after the debate.
In the other Obama led by 3% before the debate.

In either case, the results are within the margin of guesswork, based on interviewing less than thousands of people in each area of the state, which no one does.

So the tall tale that HRC is going to win Penn is just a spin. In real life, no one knows who will win.
It is too close to call.

Posted by: bruce becker | Apr 17, 2008 10:13:39 PM

Posted by: joshua bradshaw | Apr 17, 2008 10:14:43 PM

Interesting that Obama only agreed to appear after Hillary had signed on. Another instance of "me, tooism". Only a person who's comfortable in their own skin can pull off a humorous situation as Clinton does.

The 'authentic' Obama is too wary and anything but authentic.

Posted by: s. valenti | Apr 17, 2008 10:16:13 PM

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