When Stephen Colbert briefly toyed with running for president four years ago, there was a certain amount of criticism from people who said he was demeaning what ought to be a serious process, no matter how much the campaigns and candidates might work to demean it themselves. The argument wasn't entirely without merit, though whatever damage was done was probably outweighed by the satirical value to be gained. And this year, in the wake of the Citizens United decision, wherein the Supreme Court essentially lifted nearly all restrictions on campaign spending by those seeking to buy elections, the need for satire is greater than ever. Happily, Citizens United also allows Colbert to engage in all kinds of mischief, which is all the more appropriate when aimed at foolishness like the Ames Straw Poll. Here's the latest bit of awesomeness from Colbert's SuperPAC, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow. The ad is titled "Behind the Green Corn":
Now tell me, is that corn sequence really any more pornographic than the usual montage of waving flags, strong firefighters, and hopeful kids gazing upward that we see in political ads? Both are meant to hit you right in your erogeno-patriotic zones, generating an autonomic response that circumvents rational thought.
