Colbert Seeks Rapport With GOPers

Stephen Colbert dropped by a meeting of Republican press secretaries today with a joke and a plea:

He said that Democrats are eager to appear on a segment of "The Colbert Report" that profiles the country's congressional districts, one-by-one. For the most part, Republicans aren't.

Colbert wanted these staffers to offer up their bosses as targets.

Jumping into character, Colbert mentioned that he had just interviewed a Democrat. "What can you help me say to tear them a new one?" he asked.

But seriously: why should Republicans go on his show? He plays a Bill O'Reilly-esque character who milks irony out of a superficial version of a Bushian worldview (as conceived of by smart liberals.)

"Stephen Colbert," as described by Stephen Colbert, is an "idiot" who generates laughs by making himself look silly.

But Colbert was quick to remind the GOP press secretaries that audiences respect Republicans who play along. (Rep. Jack Kingston, the first of Colbert's first victim/targets, is a huge fan and has urged other colleagues to do the show.)

Colbert called himself a "blogger with a camera and a comedic agenda," not "an assassin." "A nice guy," he insisted. "I go to church I teach Sunday school. I have family values," he said.

(He was born in Charleston, SC and has two children.)

One press secretary asked Colbert how she could help her boss get over the willies of being subjected to an interview. Colbert's advice: play it straight. Let the comedian be the comedian.

He said a recent interview with Rep. Jerrold Nadler had gone well because the NY congressmen refused to take the bait, whereas an interview with David Brooks about the Duabi port deal denegerated when Brooks tried to be funny.

Getting 434 congressional interviews (minus Duke Cunningham's CD 50, who Colbert pushed into the Pacific Ocean for ousting the Dukester) takes leg work.

Colbert tapes The Report Monday through Thursday and can be found many Fridays either in Washington or in congressional districts.

"I hope to do all of them," he said, "so we can stay on the air for 10 years."

Colbert may have left the meeting with a bit of inspiration. Out of character, he noted that the Bush Administration "has been politically astute" about media relations.

Which caused the audience to titter and one press secretary to call out "Ha!"

Not, said another, "in his second term." [MARC AMBINDER]