NBC‘s Chuck Todd blasted Stephen Colbert’s recent political exploits, saying the Comedy Central host is essentially making a mockery of the political system and likely pushing an anti-Republican agenda.
Colbert embarked on a bid for president of “The United States of South Carolina” earlier this month, handing control of his super PAC over to fellow host Jon Stewart. Within the last week, the super PAC has released a series of mocking ads, including one branding GOP candidate Mitt Romney as “Mitt the Ripper.” Colbert’s strategy shifted to encouraging South Carolinians to vote for Herman Cain, whose name is still on the ballot despite his dropping out of the race. Cain and Colbert appeared together at a rally Friday, termed the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally,” though Cain did not actually solicit votes.
“He is making a mockery of the system,” Todd said during a panel discussion at Winthrop University Thursday. “Yes, the process is a mess, but he‘s doing it in a way that feels as if he’s trying to influence it with his own agenda that may be anti-Republican.”
“We in the media are covering it as a schtick and a satire but it’s like, wait a minute here, he also seems to be doing his best to marginalize the Republican candidates in a way, and we’re participating in that marginalization.”
