No. 2 Dem: Colbert's House appearance 'an embarrassment'

WASHINGTON - Comedian Stephen Colbert's satirical testimony before a House subcommittee last week was "an embarrassment" that should not have happened, the No. 2 House Democrat said yesterday.

"I think his testimony was not appropriate," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on "Fox News Sunday." "What he had to say was not the way it should have been said." Hoyer's position contrasted with that of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Colbert, who parodies a generic right-wing talk show host on his Comedy Central show, testified in character. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the subcommittee chairwoman, had asked him to speak after they tried field work as part of a United Farm Workers campaign.

Colbert's testimony wasn't all levity. He spoke of "working with these men and women picking beans . . . for hours . . . in the unforgiving sun," and added, "It is really, really hard." - Los Angeles Times