In a stunning failure of perception, accountability and responsibility, the second most powerful Democratic House leader, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, actually had the gall to criticize Stephen Colbert for Hoyer’s own party’s disgraceful conduct, which was egregious enough to humiliate the institution of Congress, the democratic process, and the nation as well.

“I think it was an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House,” Hoyer told “Fox News Sunday.”
“What he had to say was not the way it should have been said.”

Unbelievable. Hoyer’s party’s own committee invited Colbert, a comedian whose shtick is mocking conservative Republicans, to testify about the wisdom of allowing illegal migrant workers to harvest crops despite the fact that he has no special expertise or credibility on the subject whatsoever. It was obvious that this was a nakedly political stunt designed to ridicule illegal immigration opponents from the GOP side of the aisle. It was reported well in advance of his testimony that Colbert would speak as the mocking character he portrays on television, a pompous, none-too -bright Bill O’Reilly clone. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the committee chair who drafted him, sat grinning idiotically as Colbert spoke.

Colbert was funny, but the event was tragic. It showed for all time, if any doubt remained, how arrogant and incompetent this Congress is. The Bush tax cuts are about to expire, threatening to increase tax burdens on many fronts in the middle of an economic crisis: care and compromise is needed, while jobs and futures hang in the balance. Rather than work on this crucial and pressing matter, Congressional Democrats opted for sarcasm and mockery. The failure to devise a measured and enforceable immigration policy is dividing the nation, straining local budgets and undermining the rule of law. Rather than give the issue and the many legitimate views on how to handle it a serious and respectful inquiry, Lofgren’s committee opted for ridicule. Serious problems weigh down America, and its elected legislators can think of nothing more appropriate than to provide a platform for a comedy act.

Anyone who is not depressed and angered by this stunt had given up hope before it happened. It is absurd to blame Stephen Colbert: he was doing his job, which is to be messenger of satire, and to promote his program. It was Hoyer and Nancy Pelosi’s party, and the U.S. Congress, that abdicated their duty and made representative democracy a joke.

No American should forgive this, even if the Democrats had the sense to apologize. As Hoyer demonstrated, however (and Pelosi, whose cretinous comment was, “I think it’s great!”), they can’t even muster the class and common sense to do that.