Measuring the "Colbert Bump"

An anonymous reader writes "Democratic politicians receive a 40% increase in contributions in the 30 days after appearing on the comedy cable show The Colbert Report. In contrast, their Republican counterparts essentially gain nothing. Moreover, even a cursory analysis demonstrates that despite being a comedy program The Colbert Report appears to exercise 'disproportionate real world influence' — likely due to the 'elite demographic' of its audience." In my home we refer to Stephen as "Loud Daddy" because my child would scream bloody murder when we paused him (and only him) on screen. Even at 8 months old the kid has strange taste.

Colbert

[Anonymous Coward]

For president!

Democracy

[Stooshie]

Shouldn't it be Democrat politicians rather than Democratic politicians. After all, whatever your views on Republican politicians, aren't they Democrati...

Ah, I see your point.

Huh?!?

[BitterOldGUy]

Moreover, even a cursory analysis demonstrates that despite being a comedy program The Colbert Report appears to exercise ''disproportionate real world influence'' - likely due to the ''elite demographic'' of its audience.

Elite? Ohhhhhh, I get it. Nice jab at the McCain campaign there!

Re:Colbert

[thermian]

What's wrong with the Governator?

Just what you see, pal.

Did I miss something

[Minwee]

Wait... Colbert is pregnant?

Whoah.

Re:Colbert is the only Liberal in America with Bal

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder if China got the Colbert Bump?

Re:Yes, they're the joke.

[indifferent children]

We have met the joke, and he is us.

Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion

[maxume]

You can see the amusement boiling up into Bush's face at the end of the speech.

Re:Colbert is the only Liberal in America with Bal

[PortHaven]

I believe on most male mammals, the balls are not far from the asshole. So it makes sense, there is a very thin line between the two.

- The Saj

Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion

[njfuzzy]

My former roommate was surprised when we finally explained to him that Colbert is making fun of Conservatives, not agreeing with them. The amazing thing was, he still thought the show was funny, even though he didn't get the basic gag.

Re:Colbert

[Gilmoure]

Reagan is still alive and working at a toy store [shortpacked.com].

Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion

[oxidiser]

Maybe he was just high a lot... my roommate was.

Re:Not a big Republican demographic on Comedy Cent

[Alzheimers]

Right, next you'll be saying that the greatest threat to America isn't Bears.

Re:Colbert

[Churla]

I will wholeheartedly throw my support behind this as long as he picks Lewis Black as his VP.

The mental image of Lewis Black presiding over Senate proceedings would make it worth the vote right there.

Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion

[caluml]

A girl I know changed her "It was shit and boring" opinion of Borat's American adventures when I told her that all those people he met? They weren't actors. Then she realised how funny and smart the guy is.
Course, it's not a great endorsement - being thought you're smart if you didn't get the whole parody thing yourself.

Re:Colbert

[WeeLad]

Mayor is fine...the splatter damage area is greatly reduced to maybe no more than the tri-county area. Regan fscked us with onerous debt and Sonny Bono gave us unconstitutionally long copyright terms.

Using "splatter" and "Sonny Bono" in the same post... I laughed quietly to myself and felt horrible about it.

Re:Colbert isn't republican...

[wilsoniya]

[Politics is] about focusing on non issues, or at least, focusing on issues that a very small minority finds irrationally important.

By that logic shouldn't politics be focused squarely on 2008 as the year Linux is ready for the desktop?!

Re:Colbert

[spidercoz]

Damn right. He made accumulating national debt the national pastime.

Re:Colbert

[Poltras]

You're doing very well without him, may I remind.

Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion

[spidercoz]

His gut told him it happened, so it happened.

Re:You understood what he said, didn't you?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's "Nip it in the bud." That's not a spelling error, so you should feel happy about that. Butt-nipper.

Re:Colbert

[corbettw]

Mayor is fine...the splatter damage area is greatly reduced to maybe no more than the tri-county area. Regan fscked us with onerous debt and Sonny Bono gave us unconstitutionally long copyright terms.

Inigo Montoya would like a word with you.

Re:Colbert

[RenderSeven]

They led you where you are now

You mean affluent, employed, or happy?

Re:Colbert

[Convector]

No, the only person qualfied to be Colbert's VP is his debate partner from "Formidable Opponent".

Re:Colbert

[drodal]

Damn right. He made accumulating national debt the national pastime.

And he made catsup a vegetable! Think of the children!

Re:Colbert

[HTH NE1]

Dr. Emmett Brown: Then tell me, "Future Boy", who's President in the United States in 1985?
Marty McFly: Ronald Reagan.
Dr. Emmett Brown: Ronald Reagan? The actor?!
[chuckles in disbelief]
Dr. Emmett Brown: Then who's Vice-President? Jerry Lewis?

[rushing out and down a hill toward his laboratory]
Dr. Emmett Brown: I suppose Jane Wyman is the First Lady!
Marty McFly: [following] Whoa! Wait! Doc!
Dr. Emmett Brown: And Jack Benny is Secretary of the Treasury!
Marty McFly: [outside the lab door] Doc, you gotta listen to me!
Dr. Emmett Brown: I've had enough practical jokes for one evening. Good night, Future Boy!

Re:Colbert

[jollyreaper]

Mayor is fine...the splatter damage area is greatly reduced to maybe no more than the tri-county area. Regan fscked us with onerous debt and Sonny Bono gave us unconstitutionally long copyright terms.

Using "splatter" and "Sonny Bono" in the same post... I laughed quietly to myself and felt horrible about it.

I can't ski, babe. Mind that tree, babe.

(in the interest of good taste, I'll avoid the obvious "George of the Jungle" theme song tie-in.)

Re:Colbert

[Lars T.]

"Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." --Ronald Reagan

Reagan has all these great libertarian quotes.. but he shrunk the size of government NOT AT ALL. Even if he really believed what he was talking bout, he didn't really fix any problems.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93253890 [npr.org]

Thomas Frank's Indictment Of Conservatism: Conservative politicians complain that big government does not work, writes Frank - then they get elected and prove it.