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Measuring the "Colbert Bump"

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the wish-i-had-a-bump dept.

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.

28 of 674 comments (clear)

  1. Colbert by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    For president!

    1. Re:Colbert by thermian · · Score: 1, Funny

      What's wrong with the Governator?

      Just what you see, pal.

      --
      A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
    2. Re:Colbert by Gilmoure · · Score: 2, Funny

      Reagan is still alive and working at a toy store.

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
    3. Re:Colbert by Churla · · Score: 5, Funny

      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.

      --
      I'm a fiscal conservative, it's a pity we don't have a political party anymore
    4. Re:Colbert by WeeLad · · Score: 5, Funny

      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.

      --
      Seriously, Don't take anything I say seriously.
    5. Re:Colbert by spidercoz · · Score: 3, Funny

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

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
    6. Re:Colbert by Poltras · · Score: 3, Funny

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

      --
      Of Code And Men
    7. Re:Colbert by corbettw · · Score: 1, Funny

      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.

      --
      God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
    8. Re:Colbert by RenderSeven · · Score: 2, Funny

      They led you where you are now

      You mean affluent, employed, or happy?

    9. Re:Colbert by Convector · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    10. Re:Colbert by drodal · · Score: 2, Funny

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

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

    11. Re:Colbert by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      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!

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    12. Re:Colbert by jollyreaper · · Score: 2, Funny

      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.)

      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    13. Re:Colbert by Lars+T. · · Score: 2, Funny

      "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

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

      --

      Lars T.

      To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck

  2. Democracy by Stooshie · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

    --
    America, Home of the Brave. ... .and the Squaw.
  3. Huh?!? by BitterOldGUy · · Score: 2, Funny

    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!

  4. Did I miss something by Minwee · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wait... Colbert is pregnant?

    Whoah.

  5. Re:Colbert is the only Liberal in America with Bal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I wonder if China got the Colbert Bump?

  6. Re:Yes, they're the joke. by indifferent+children · · Score: 4, Funny

    We have met the joke, and he is us.

    --
    Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it. --Mark Twain
  7. Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion by maxume · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  8. Re:Colbert is the only Liberal in America with Bal by PortHaven · · Score: 2, Funny

    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

  9. Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion by njfuzzy · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

    --
    My Photography - http://ian-x.com
    The Deathlings (comic) - http://thedeathlings.com
  10. Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion by oxidiser · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  11. Re:Not a big Republican demographic on Comedy Cent by Alzheimers · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  12. Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion by caluml · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

    --
    Get your own free personal location tracker
  13. Re:Colbert isn't republican... by wilsoniya · · Score: 2, Funny

    [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?!

    --
    I can't remember the last time I forgot anything.
  14. Re:I Can't Find a Reasonable Conclusion by spidercoz · · Score: 4, Funny

    His gut told him it happened, so it happened.

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire
  15. Re:You understood what he said, didn't you? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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