Faux conservative Stephen Colbert on Monday shifted completely into activist mode and urged his viewers to write letters to Florida newspapers bashing that state's Republican governor.
Colbert mocked Rick Scott's office for encouraging supporters to send pre-written e-mails supporting the governor. He then read a Mad Lib-style letter he posted on ColbertNation.com. The host derided, "Dear editor, it is my strong belief that rick Scott is a adjective governor."
Viewers were invited to fill in the blanks and then send them to the newspapers that Colbert's website provided. He continued with his template: "His letter praising himself makes me want to verb up. I adverb, verb this great nation and everyone should action verb Rick Scott with a noun for an interjection full body shave like a naked mole rat. Sincerely, name, city."
[See video below. MP3 audio here.]
ColbertNation.com featured the addresses of the Orlando Sentinel, the Florida Times-Union, the Tampa Tribune, the Tallahassee Democrat and the TC Palm.
Perhaps Colbert, like his colleague Jon Stewart, will now insist that he's just a comedian and not an activist.
A transcript of the June 27 segment, which aired at 11:40pm EDT, follows:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Florida's new Republican Governor Rick Scott is toxic. Look at this. His approval rating is 29 percent. He just got into office. That's according to a new Quinnipiac poll. 29 percent for the new governor.
COLBERT: 29 percent Is low. He'd probably be doing better if he wasn't trying to kill Harry Potter. Well, folks- it was a campaign promise, what can he do? It was a campaign promise. Well, folks, I am not giving up on Governor Scott. In fact, I am going to be sending this letter of support to all the newspapers in Florida. It reads in part, okay, "Dear editor, when Rick Scott ran for governor he promised to create jobs and turn our economy around. While politicians usually disappoint us and rarely keep their promises, Rick is refreshing because he's keeping his word. Rick Scott deserves our unwavering enthusiastic support. How can we expect to elect leaders who will keep their word and do what's right for our state if we don't stand up for those with the courage to set priorities, make difficult choices, and actually deliver on their promises made." I'm so proud of this letter. Which is why I'm giving a tip of my hat to Governor Rick Scott for writing it.
You see, to boost his popularity Scott courageously posted this pre-written letter of praise for himself that his supporters can sign and forward to Florida newspapers. Now those anti-government Tea Partiers who elected Rick Scott can have the government write their letters for them. Well, folks, I want to praise Rick Scott's praise of Rick Scott so I am posting a pre-written letter on ColbertNation.com for you to print out, sign, and send to Florida newspapers. Don't worry, I'm not putting words in your mouth. I have left blank spaces so you can fill in your real opinions of Governor Scott. It reads, "Dear editor, it is my strong belief that rick Scott is a adjective governor.
His letter praising himself makes me want to verb up. I adverb, verb this great nation and everyone should action verb Rick Scott with a noun for an interjection full body shave like a naked mole rat. Sincerely, name, city. " And I'm sure the Governor will appreciate you sending these letters. And just to make sure, I'm also posting a letter on my web site from Rick Scott saying he appreciates it. We'll be right back.
