One of the insults was a Trump-Putin oral sex reference that drew the attention of the Federal Communications Commission.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai promised to “take the appropriate action.”
“During his opening monologue, Colbert went off on Trump over the President’s treatment of CBS News’ John Dickerson, who saw an interview with Trump abruptly ended when he asked about the President’s unproven claims that then-President Obama had wiretapped Trump and members of his campaign. As Dickerson and Colbert are both CBS employees, Colbert felt it his duty to say the things Dickerson himself could not.
“Sir, you attract more skinheads than free Rogaine,” Colbert said near the end of the insult-laden rant. ‘You have more people marching against you than cancer. You talk like a sign language gorilla that got hit in the head. In fact, the only thing your mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c–k holster.’ The final remark has drawn the internet’s ire, with viewers taking to social media to declare Colbert is homophobic.The hashtag #FireColbert began spreading around Twitter, along with calls for people to boycott sponsors of the late-night show,” according to Variety.
Robert Reich says, “Late-night satirical putdowns of presidents are a staple of American life, even when tasteless or edgy. No off-color joke by a late-night comedian has ever been investigated by the FCC before now, and no FCC chairman has ever threatened “appropriate action” against one.
But Trump is thin-skinned and vindictive. He especially hates being laughed at. He’s already blasted Saturday Night Live for satirizing him. Trump’s FCC chairman seems eager to do Trump's bidding.
Trump is even threatening to widen libel laws so he can sue the media for criticizing him.
Stephen Colbert can take care of himself. I worry about other comics and Trump critics who may now pull their punches. That’s what this is really all about.
Yes, Mr. Reich, that is what it’s all about.
