Steven Colbert Debates Ron Paul! Make this happen!

[cynic]

Stephen Colbert is jumping into the South Carolina primary. This would be a huge problem for us (both competing for the college vote), but point in fact he's not even on the ballot.

This means he can only help us out!

So, what we need is to have a Paul/Colbert debate. Sure, other candidates might get the invite, but just think how cool Paul and Colbert's over-the-top neo-con persona going at it would be!

We could even have John Stewart moderating!

I don't care if the debate was only half-an-hour. The coolness factor alone would get huge numbers of twentysomethings out to vote, and might be just enough to put us over the top....

Don't let the negativity here get to you nakor.

I could see your idea masking as a debate when in fact it would be an interview to get the message out. Colbert has made a few wise cracks at Paul but they've been harmless compared to what most journalists have said about him. Also, they were done as satire and Stewart appears to be very fair towards Paul.

Of course, there may be some concern that it would minimize Paul but it may also show his lighthearted side.

Anyway, it's always good to be thinking so don't get discouraged.

 

[eleganz]

Colbert is a distraction.

 

[cynic]

Colbert is a distraction.

Agreed. A distraction with 1.5m nightly viewers.

 

[Unknown.User]

..

 

[ronpaulitician]

Just make it a mini-debate on Colbert's show (at the table).

 

[The Binghamton Patriot]

I think a debate with Colbert (an honest one), with an honest moderator, would draw a lot of attention. Especially if Colbert jumps on a grenade for us and is able to draw a dichotomy between himself and Ron, and asked simple minded questions which his viewers could relate to. I bet Colbert would be very fair to us if we could agree to something like this. I like the sound of it on paper, but some real stubborn conservatives would find reasons to not like Ron for this, and not vote for him-especially because he skipped Tax Hike Mike's welfare candidate forum.

 

[specsaregood]

Most people get their news from the Daily Show so it's not such a bad thing. The media exposure would be great.

"most people"? time to put the vaporizer down man.

 

[lakefx]

I would have Ron Paul debate Hitler, William Wallace, Butch Cassidy, Bruno, Leonidas, Peter Griffin, or one of the Olsen twins if it meant airtime and a spreading of his message.

 

[Paul or not at all]

I think a debate with Colbert (an honest one), with an honest moderator, would draw a lot of attention. Especially if Colbert jumps on a grenade for us and is able to draw a dichotomy between himself and Ron, and asked simple minded questions which his viewers could relate to. I bet Colbert would be very fair to us if we could agree to something like this. I like the sound of it on paper, but some real stubborn conservatives would find reasons to not like Ron for this, and not vote for him-especially because he skipped Tax Hike Mike's welfare candidate forum.

Real Stubborn conservatives always gonna complain...

 

[playpianoking]

Sorry OP, not a good idea.

 

[ropa2012]

Hold on. How about a simple appearance on Colbert's show. Jay Leno was brilliant. Jon Stewart is favorable. As long as it's not advertised as an official 'debate', Colbert would satirically make it as such...but it wouldn't strike me as being 'below' Ron if its orchestrated as a simple appearance - it would simply serve as good entertainment from Stephen and good publicity for Paul. ?

 

[ironj221]

As hilarious as a Colbert/Paul debate would be, I don't think it's a good idea.

 

[PaleoPaul]

If Ron Paul considers debating Donald Trump below his pay grade, what would debating Colbert be?!

 

[pilby]

 

[milo10]

Don't let the negativity here get to you nakor.

I could see your idea masking as a debate when in fact it would be an interview to get the message out. Colbert has made a few wise cracks at Paul but they've been harmless compared to what most journalists have said about him. Also, they were done as satire and Stewart appears to be very fair towards Paul.

Of course, there may be some concern that it would minimize Paul but it may also show his lighthearted side.

Anyway, it's always good to be thinking so don't get discouraged.

I agree, and I think it's the beginning of a good idea. But not as a long debate, but just a typical interview on his show with Colbert roleplaying a debate. I wouldn't want to see a debate platform or anything, just them sitting down for a regular interview, while Stephen asked Ron a question, then told him what he would do. It would be really memorable.

I think Colbert is more widely liked than Jon Stewart. I like them both, but Stewart is more political, whereas Colbert is just as sharp, but has a lighter touch in regards to getting his view out there.

 

[The Free Hornet]

Colbert seems more like a wild card. Anti-Bush-the-President, Pro-Obama-the-Candidate - what does that mean for Ron Paul? And that Stewart is in favor of being fair to Paul, maybe even nice, does not indicate how Colbert would act. It might be great, but I see more downside than up. Colbert is a comedian and he will be trying to make people laugh. Colbert's jokes could be ageist, racist, and as careless as the heartless neocon he portrays. Maybe Ron Paul won't think it is funny that the US has caused hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children to die.

I just don't get the punchline in this scenario - especially as a debate! An interview can be positive, funny, upbeat. A debate would have to be contentious even if only artificially and humorously so.

 

[mainstream economist]

Colbert is all about mocking whoever can be mocked, truth be damned.

Compare and contrast his end-of-show interviews with Jon Stewart's end-of-show interviews.

Jon Stewart, though imperfect and misinformed on many issues, is a good-faith interviewer who tries to extract a clear view of his interviewee's views for his audience. Colbert doesn't care what his interviewee thinks. Colbert just wants to make fun of his interviewee or making his interviewee uncomfortable. This is not to say that Colbert is evil (he's only trying to make money), but a Colbert interview only has downsides for Dr. Paul.

 

[lucent]

Hold on. How about a simple appearance on Colbert's show. Jay Leno was brilliant. Jon Stewart is favorable. As long as it's not advertised as an official 'debate', Colbert would satirically make it as such...but it wouldn't strike me as being 'below' Ron if its orchestrated as a simple appearance - it would simply serve as good entertainment from Stephen and good publicity for Paul. ?

No.

 

[impaleddead]

Do any of you even watch his show? He's pointing out how screwed up SuperPACs are. Blame the media for reporting it as if he's actually running, when clearly it's just a joke on the show.

Paul did a bit on Colberts show in the past where he argued with some jackass from the NYTimes about the gold standard.

 

[unknown]

This might be the worst idea I've ever heard

There are other terrible ideas out there, somewhere.