Critiquing Stephen Colbert and the Press
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Richard Cohen's scold piece about Stephen Colbert's performance at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner ["So Not Funny," op-ed, May 4] reminds me of the adage about the professional lady who complains about bedbugs in a brothel.
The indecorous comments of a speaker pale in comparison to the rank sight of establishment reporters gussied up in black tie and gowns to share an evening of bonhomie with Washington officials they are supposed to cover.
The Bush administration has done a masterful job of reducing its critics to passed-over employees, out-of-the-loop minor players, traitors aiding the enemy in a time of war and shrill Bush haters, to name but a few of its slurs.
The administration doesn't need further help in the form of a commentator tut-tutting about manners like some old maiden aunt.
MARTIN LAWSON
Arlington
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Richard Cohen's critique of comedian Stephen Colbert as "not funny" and "rude" made me laugh.
Mr. Colbert wasn't "funny" because nothing is "funny" about the Iraq war, this administration or a press corps that has, for the most part, eaten what the administration has fed it. The journalists at the dinner sat tight-lipped and uncomfortable; it's hard to laugh when someone is reminding you of hard truths.
Mr. Colbert's presentation may not have been intended to be "ha ha" funny. Maybe his intention was to be ironic and truthful. That was painful for President Bush, his cronies and the media, and rightfully so.
TONI M. ANDREWS
Alexandria
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Richard Cohen said that Stephen Colbert wasn't funny at the White House correspondents' dinner. He also said that Mr. Colbert wasn't courageous because in this country anyone can insult the president and not suffer consequences.
It is pointless to debate funniness, but Mr. Cohen was wrong about entertainers suffering no consequences for taking on the president. Ask the Dixie Chicks.
Comedians and other artists often cannot get mainstream acceptance if they are too biting. Someone such as Mr. Colbert, who recently got a small cable show and who seeks to book conservative and liberal mainstream figures for that show, did risk consequences by confronting the president.
Most entertainers go along with what's tacitly expected of them for such high-profile events. Mr. Colbert didn't. We should recognize the courage in what he tried to do, whether or not we think he was funny.
LEON DAYAN
Washington
