Stephen Colbert Calls Stephanopoulos 'A Political Operative,' Gets Twice the Airtime as Perry

January 15th, 2012 3:32 PM

ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Sunday proved once and for all what a joke he is.

Not only did the This Week host give twice the airtime to faux political candidate Stephen Colbert as Texas governor Rick Perry, he did so after the Comedy Central star called him "a political operative" (video follows with transcript and commentary):


GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: And here now for an exclusive interview, the latest candidate. Comedian Stephen Colbert rocked the political world this Thursday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN COLBERT: I'm forming an exploratory committee to lay the groundwork for my possible candidacy for the president of the United States of South Carolina. I'm doing it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANOPOULOS: Mr. Colbert, welcome to This Week. Down in South Carolina, your campaign seemed to hit a brick wall right out of the gate--

COLBERT: Excuse me, I don't have a campaign, George. I don't mean to correct you. I have an exploratory campaign.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Exploratory--

COLBERT: Finding out whether there's a hunger for a Stephen Colbert campaign right now. Don't force me into a campaign yet. I realize you're a political operative, but there are stages to this, George.

No better support for Colbert's accusation - albeit likely a joke - was that Stephanopoulos actually devoted about ten and a half minutes - almost one quarter of the show! - talking to a liberal comedian impersonating a Republican candidate.

By contrast, an actual candidate for president, Texas governor Rick Perry, was given less than five minutes to express what he would really do for the nation if elected.

How could anyone ever take Stephanopoulos seriously after this?