Colbert enters chaotic presidential race
By Roujin Mozaffarimehr
If any of you are as obsessed as I am with the campaign process for next year's presidential election, then you must have heard that comedian Stephen Colbert has joined the presidential race -- at least in South Carolina.
For those of you who don't know, Colbert hosts his show, "The Colbert Report," weeknights on Comedy Central. During the show, he pokes fun at politicians and celebrities, while voicing insightful opinions and asking questions about the world we live in. What does this mean to America? What is Colbert trying to say?
Colbert is known for making his views heard loud and clear, even off his TV show.
Some find his treatment of politics and the president insulting, but others see it as a breath of fresh air.
Personally, I think his dabbling in politics is refreshing.
Here is a man that dedicates his time to questioning the actions of politicians, businessmen and world leaders every night on television. He may not be presidential material, but his presence in this process, albeit only in South Carolina as of yet, has the power to wake up voters and get them out of the apathetic coma they've been stuck in for so long.
On both sides of the two-party system, people are campaigning for party endorsement. Senators, congressmen, mayors and even an actor are stepping up to the plate, only to make the election process look like complete chaos.
Colbert's involvement may appear to be a contributing factor to the chaos. But if we take a step back and consider his position, we can see the point that he is making: There is something wrong in our political process that needs to be addressed. He is using his presence to get us to listen.
For the last year, as happens every year before an election, candidates have stepped up and started the campaigning process. This year it seems that the mudslinging has reached an all-time high in both parties.
What do we want from a president? Do we want an actor? Do we want a person who has experience in government? Do we even know what we want?
Colbert's presence in this process has the potential to get some answers to these questions. He is not an actor, and he definitely does not have the political experience of some of the candidates, but that is not the point. Colbert is challenging the status quo.
On his TV show, he cracks fun at Bill O'Reilly's "The O'Reilly Factor" to prove a point. Maybe, as a presidential candidate, Colbert can bring to light the follies and weaknesses of the other candidates, the campaigns and the issues that arise in the process.
Take Colbert's involvement in stride. As much as I wish he did, Colbert has no real ambition to be the president of the United States. He is bringing something to the attention of the American people. Something obviously needs to be changed, and Colbert has the power to highlight those points with his charisma and talent. Colbert '08!
Roujin Mozaffarimehr is a senior political science major.