Stephen Colbert from the Colbert Report, testified last Friday before Congress in character, on immigrant farm worker programs and the need for immigrant labour for America's farms.

Most media personalities panned the testimony as embarrassing and even some of the politicians at the hearing were angry that Colbert had been invited to testify at all, despite having brought a lot of exposure to a very important issue.  The fact is that much of the work being done on farms across North America are being done by immigrants, many of whom work through government agriculture programs which farmers can use to find labourers.  These are gruelling jobs that aren't being sought after by American or Canadian workers that have long hours and relatively low wages, but also provide the food we all eat and the wine we drink.  In fact, from personal experience as being one of the very few Canadians who actually sought a job and worked a season in the fields of a vineyard, I was one of maybe three non-immigrants in the entire region.  Twelve to fifteen hours a day was the norm and not the exception, something that would be scoffed at by most, except hard working immigrant labourers.

As a build up to Colbert's testimony, he and a camera crew for his show spent some time volunteering to learn what it was like doing the jobs immigrant labour does for us.  What he determined through the genius of satire was that the jobs being done by immigrants through these programs is incredibly hard and should be grounds for a path to citizenship. 

Just prior to Mr. Colbert's testimony, he was asked by Democratic Rep. John Conyers to submit his written testimony and leave the hearing without speaking.  He had no problem leaving without testifying, but noted that he had been invited to speak by the Chairwoman, at which point he was allowed to testify. 

We should take a moment and remember that the Sesame Street puppet Elmo had previously appeared before a Congressional hearing to testify without much in the way of media and political push back.

That being said, I want to call out a few people and set the record straight on who and what is really embarrassing from this little episode of whining.  First and foremost I find it distasteful for people in the media, especially from a 24 hour news network, to criticize any attempt to bring attention to an important issue.  These are the same people who turn to Stewart and Colbert every morning to discuss (and laugh) at who or what the two comedians have uncovered, either about the crappy media, or bullshitting politicians.  The 24 hour networks actively push story lines in pursuit of advertising dollars and tend to spend a fraction of the time necessary to properly understand, or analyze a particular issue.  Whereas someone like a Stephen Colbert, through wit and satire, can cut through the bull and get to the point in a far more interesting and enlightening way.  We live in very cynical days and it's people like Stephen Colbert who are able to bridge the credibility gap, because in many ways he and Jon Stewart are just as cynical as the rest of us, which quite frankly is a refreshing change from the constant barrage of bullshit constantly being spewed by politicians through the media.

Which of course brings us to the worst part of the blow back against Colbert and his testimony the other day.  Politicians.  There were only a few Democrats and Republicans who were upset, but if you were to read the stories on this topic you would think that there were many more.  However, I'm supposed to believe that people who spend their lives practising the art of rhetoric, sophism, and solipsism are somehow standing on high moral ground on this issue?  The same people who use the media to repeat the same rhetoric over and over again so that they can continue to play the same games?  I don't think so.

In any event, watch Colbert's testimony below and enjoy it for what it is.  A funny and smart look at an important issue.