|
Spolitics Uncovers the Truth Behind the Colbert
Speech Media Blackout
by Heywood U. Reedmore
abuse of Washington insiders. It was the fact that the media
ignored it.
Conspiracy Theories Abound
Many conspiracy theories circulated the blogosphere after the
press failed to cover the sarcasm-fest. One theory suggested the
mainstream media gave it scant mention because they didn’t like
the fact that Colbert criticized them for being mere typists without
the courage to expose the President’s failings. Others suggested
that the President himself got on the horn and convinced the major
media outlets not to mention Colbert in their coverage. They
pointed to this as evidence that media giants like the New York
Times and CBS News are blatantly conservative and pro-Bush.
Only Spolitics.com has discovered the truth. So who was behind
the media blackout of Colbert’s speech? Al Franken.
Franken built his fame and reputation by attacking conservative
commentators like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly, so when “The
Colbert Report” hit the airwaves, Franken saw it as a shot across
his bow.
“Hating Bill, making fun of Bill, that’s Al’s territory,” said one
Franken insider. According to our source, Al believes Stephen
crossed the line when he started to parody the Fox star. Colbert
has been on Franken's hit-list ever since.
Behind-the-Scenes Smear Campaign
“Let’s be honest,” said one source. “Al is not that funny. He
hasn't maintained his stature has the leftist comic of choice with
his sense of humor. It has taken a concerted, even ruthless smear
campaign against his fellow comedianistas.”
“Many don’t know this, but Colbert was originally supposed to get
the CBS anchor job,” said one network news insider. “The
network loved Colbert’s brand of made-up news and felt he was
the right person to succeed Dan Rather.” However, according to
our source, after one phone call from Franken, Colbert was
jettisoned and Curic got the nod.
“Al is a lot more plugged into this town than people realize,” said a
White House correspondent who would only speak on condition of
anonymity. He referred to the secret meeting Al had organized
before the 2004 Democratic primaries to convince the press to
give more favorable coverage to John Kerry as an indication of just
how much clout Franken has.
Secret Media Blackout Team
A long-time attendee of the White House correspondents dinner, it
was no coincidence that Al wasn’t present this year. “When
Colbert was announced as the headliner of the event, Al was
incensed,” sources say. “He knew that if he wanted to keep
Colbert’s popularity in check, he would have to be able to act
freely.” So, Franken stayed home and set up a operations team
tasked with squashing the story.
When Colbert was tongue-lashing all of Washington, Franken was
watching from his home, white with rage. “Many people saw it as
an attack on President Bush,” said one Franken friend, “We knew
better. Colbert was going after Al. Hitting him where he lived.”
According to that friend, Franken screamed, ‘He’s trying to steal
the food out of my children’s mouths,’ then tackled the television
and wrestled it to the ground. Franken wrapped the television in a
headlock and punched the screen several times. “Take that
Colbert!” he reportedly yelled.
Franken believed Colbert was trying to use the occasion to usurp
his position and it would require a lethal counter response. While
he gave supportive comments to the press, behind the scenes,
Franken and his team were working tirelessly to suppress the
story.
Burning the Wire
“Colbert wasn’t even done yet when my cell phone rang,” said one
television journalist. “It was Al. He said to me, ‘You have to keep
it off the air,’ referring to Colbert’s performance. So I did. You
don’t cross Al. If you do, he’ll tackle you.”
According to phone records not yet obtained by Spolitics.com,
Franken called several hundred news outlets across the country
demanding Colbert’s performance be kept off the air and out of
the papers. Several reporters in the mainstream media wrote that
Colbert bombed on direct orders from Franken. When it was all
over, it was as if Colbert's speech never happened.
Many experts agree that, despite his attempts to squash the story,
the night was still a big blow to Franken. His influence as a
Democratic king-maker and rainmaker is in doubt due to Colbert’s
soaring popularity. As one Democratic insider put it, “The only
question now is if Colbert wants to replace Franken. At this point,
the top spot is his for the taking.”
Speech Media Blackout
by Heywood U. Reedmore
- At the White House
Correspondents Association
dinner, the President is
supposed to be roasted along
with the press and other
dignitaries. But where many
comedians have kept it light-
hearted, it was clear from the
outset that the Stephen Colbert,
host of Comedy Central’s
Colbert Report, was going for
the jugular. Funny or not, he
was there to speak his own
brand of “truthiness to
power.”
abuse of Washington insiders. It was the fact that the media
ignored it.
Conspiracy Theories Abound
Many conspiracy theories circulated the blogosphere after the
press failed to cover the sarcasm-fest. One theory suggested the
mainstream media gave it scant mention because they didn’t like
the fact that Colbert criticized them for being mere typists without
the courage to expose the President’s failings. Others suggested
that the President himself got on the horn and convinced the major
media outlets not to mention Colbert in their coverage. They
pointed to this as evidence that media giants like the New York
Times and CBS News are blatantly conservative and pro-Bush.
Only Spolitics.com has discovered the truth. So who was behind
the media blackout of Colbert’s speech? Al Franken.
- Franken Felt Threated by Colbert
For years, Franken has enjoyed
celebrity status as the premier leftist
comic and reaped the benefits of
lucrative speaking engagements at
various Democratic fundraising
events. But according to sources
close to the comedianista, Franken
believes his position as the darling of
the Dems is being threatened by the
up-and-coming Colbert.
Franken built his fame and reputation by attacking conservative
commentators like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly, so when “The
Colbert Report” hit the airwaves, Franken saw it as a shot across
his bow.
“Hating Bill, making fun of Bill, that’s Al’s territory,” said one
Franken insider. According to our source, Al believes Stephen
crossed the line when he started to parody the Fox star. Colbert
has been on Franken's hit-list ever since.
Behind-the-Scenes Smear Campaign
“Let’s be honest,” said one source. “Al is not that funny. He
hasn't maintained his stature has the leftist comic of choice with
his sense of humor. It has taken a concerted, even ruthless smear
campaign against his fellow comedianistas.”
“Many don’t know this, but Colbert was originally supposed to get
the CBS anchor job,” said one network news insider. “The
network loved Colbert’s brand of made-up news and felt he was
the right person to succeed Dan Rather.” However, according to
our source, after one phone call from Franken, Colbert was
jettisoned and Curic got the nod.
“Al is a lot more plugged into this town than people realize,” said a
White House correspondent who would only speak on condition of
anonymity. He referred to the secret meeting Al had organized
before the 2004 Democratic primaries to convince the press to
give more favorable coverage to John Kerry as an indication of just
how much clout Franken has.
Secret Media Blackout Team
A long-time attendee of the White House correspondents dinner, it
was no coincidence that Al wasn’t present this year. “When
Colbert was announced as the headliner of the event, Al was
incensed,” sources say. “He knew that if he wanted to keep
Colbert’s popularity in check, he would have to be able to act
freely.” So, Franken stayed home and set up a operations team
tasked with squashing the story.
When Colbert was tongue-lashing all of Washington, Franken was
watching from his home, white with rage. “Many people saw it as
an attack on President Bush,” said one Franken friend, “We knew
better. Colbert was going after Al. Hitting him where he lived.”
According to that friend, Franken screamed, ‘He’s trying to steal
the food out of my children’s mouths,’ then tackled the television
and wrestled it to the ground. Franken wrapped the television in a
headlock and punched the screen several times. “Take that
Colbert!” he reportedly yelled.
Franken believed Colbert was trying to use the occasion to usurp
his position and it would require a lethal counter response. While
he gave supportive comments to the press, behind the scenes,
Franken and his team were working tirelessly to suppress the
story.
Burning the Wire
“Colbert wasn’t even done yet when my cell phone rang,” said one
television journalist. “It was Al. He said to me, ‘You have to keep
it off the air,’ referring to Colbert’s performance. So I did. You
don’t cross Al. If you do, he’ll tackle you.”
According to phone records not yet obtained by Spolitics.com,
Franken called several hundred news outlets across the country
demanding Colbert’s performance be kept off the air and out of
the papers. Several reporters in the mainstream media wrote that
Colbert bombed on direct orders from Franken. When it was all
over, it was as if Colbert's speech never happened.
Many experts agree that, despite his attempts to squash the story,
the night was still a big blow to Franken. His influence as a
Democratic king-maker and rainmaker is in doubt due to Colbert’s
soaring popularity. As one Democratic insider put it, “The only
question now is if Colbert wants to replace Franken. At this point,
the top spot is his for the taking.”
| The stories on Spolitics.com are made up for entertainment purposes. Spolitics maintains that nothing on this site is accurate. Anything that happens to be accurate is purely accidental, coincidental or both and Spolitics will fire the writer responsible. Copyright © 2006 Spolitics.com. All Rights Reserved. |
Comedianista, Al Franken
Television's Stephen Colbert
