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October 22, 2007 —
The presidential race was turned upside down recently with Stephen Colbert's announcement that he would be running - or was it? The brash move has been the subject of a great deal of downplaying in the media, with most experts saying that it will have little in the way of consequences, either in the political scene or in Colberts' reputation.
I don't think, though, that this will necessarily be the case. Colbert's reputation, especially among college students, is soaring. His popularity in general is astounding. His show, The Colbert Report, became an instant success after spinning off from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His book, I Am America (And So Can You), debuted at number one on the New York Times Bestseller's List.
It has been mentioned that this isn't the first time a comedian has made a bid for presidential office. Pat Paulsen apparently ran six times, beginning in 1968. However, I can guarantee that Pat Paulsen's popularity and influence never reached that of Colbert's.Stephen Colbert, at this point, is not a comedian - he's a pop culture icon. I'm willing to bet that Paulsen would not have been able to garner 17 million votes to get a Hungarian bridge named after him.
Beyond the fact of simple popularity, there is the nature of it. Certainly Brad Pitt is a very popular individual, and in some ways is more of a household name than Colbert. However, if Pitt decided to run for office, he would be laughed at. Colbert, on the other hand, should have some people laughing, and others worried.
The reason is, Colbert's success comes from an entirely political backdrop. Not only that, but his show has brought about new awareness in media, such as his Wikipedia antics. Colbert's brand of satire, such as his "Better Know a District" segment, has been showing parts of politics beyond the mainstream to people who would tune in elsewhere if it were presented on a conventional show.
While some may sneer at the notion, Colbert is an educational force in America, attracting viewers who would have otherwise no interest in politics and world events. The apathetic and the impatient turn to him before Fox News or CNN, getting their half-hour of daily half-news.
Colbert is an intelligent person, no question about it. And anyone who has seen or heard him out of character quickly realizes that he has a substantial, real interest in the political world. When someone intelligent, charismatic, funny, and wildly popular declares an intent to run for office, it should rightfully turn heads.
The governor of California can attest to the significance of pop culture influence. And Colbert has already received 17 million votes once - and that was just for a bridge. While the universe will probably implode if Colbert actually gets elected, the influence he could have on the upcoming election could be significant.
This is a sign of the changing times - the role of the media is transforming, and will continue to do so in the future. Stephen Colbert has been, for some time, the prime example of the shifting climate. Here's one thing to be expect - potentially record numbers of college-aged voters this election.