Just a Bump in the Beltway

via DemfromCT:

Colbert's Offer Fails To Lure Lieberman Onto TV Show
August 3, 2006
By Alexandra Fenwick and Brian Lockhart, Staff Writer

In Tuesday night's broadcast of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report," host Stephen Colbert enticed U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman to visit his show with a package of the senator's favorite things: a bowl of Cocoa Puffs, a CD of Andrea Bocelli, a copy of the movie "Mystic River" and a trip to south Florida.

"All of this could be yours if you've got enough Joe-mentum to get to my studio before the primary day next Tuesday," Colbert said.

Lieberman, once again, declined.

The challenge came a day after Ned Lamont, Lieberman's opponent in the Democratic primary, sat down for a segment with the politically irreverent comedian who frequently taunts guests on his program, a satirical take on conservative, personality-driven pundit shows.

Lamont, Colbert said, "is in an historic battle for the soul of the Democratic Party. He is fighting it out with one of my favorite Republicans, Democrat Joe Lieberman."

Colbert said he had invited Lieberman to appear on the show several times, but the senator declined. This time, to sweeten the offer, Colbert researched Lieberman's likes and dislikes from a 2004 election profile, which included his fondness for chocolate.

"But surely, now that Mr. Lamont is enjoying his post-Colbert bump in the polls, or PCB as the kids call it, he's having second thoughts," Colbert said of Lieberman during the show's introduction Tuesday.

"Senator -- the offer still stands," Colbert continued as he gestured to an empty leather chair. "In fact, I've placed an empty seat here for you much like Jewish families set a place for Elijah at the Passover table should he care to stop by." Lieberman is an Orthodox Jew.

In response to Colbert's invitation, Lieberman said he would not appear on the show before the Tuesday primary. "He's a very gracious man," Lieberman said of Colbert. "Maybe after the primary."

Lieberman, who was campaigning on a bus tour throughout Connecticut yesterday, said that he has appeared on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," on the same network.

Colbert said on last night's show that the offer to Lieberman, dubbed "Showless Joe," still stands. The empty leather chair remained next to Colbert's desk, but he said there's now a fresh box of Cocoa Puffs and, possibly, a "glowpen" in the package.

Colbert said he expected Lieberman to accept his challenge to appear on the show last night. He even turned to interview Lieberman at one point, and asked about the senator's relationship with President Bush.

But the chair was still empty. "I set aside the whole portion of this show for an interview," an apologetic Colbert said to the audience.

Holy Joe is in deep trouble, his campaign is in chaos and I have to admit this was a rare moment of rationality. Colbert would have eviscerated him.