ABSTRACT

The face was familiar, but it seemed out of place. Comedian Stephen Colbert, or his faux alter-ego, the conservative spokesperson, was testifying on migrant workers, marshaling his experience of an afternoon working in the fi elds. The event was not without controversy. Some members criticized the event and questioned the loss of respect for Congress such a gimmick might have on Congress produce. Representative Steve King (R-IA) challenged Colbert’s role as a policy spokesperson, arguing that he supported American workers who “prefer the aroma of fresh dirt [more] than the sewage of American elitists.” 1 In the long run, the gimmick did garner signifi cant media attention for both Colbert and the issue.