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Colbert’s take on the vice presidential debate: A night of dullness and deflection
A comedic critique of the VP debate
On Tuesday night, Stephen Colbert took to “The Late Show” to share his thoughts on the recent vice presidential debate. The event featured Tim Walz and JD Vance, who tackled several contentious issues, including the January 6th insurrection and gun violence. Colbert’s humorous yet insightful commentary provided a unique perspective on the candidates’ performances.
The candidates: contrasting styles of dullness
Colbert began his monologue by describing the candidates’ contrasting yet equally uninspiring styles. “The VP candidates were both different flavors of dull,” he quipped. “JD Vance looked like a business lemur on beta blockers, and Tim Walz was, you know, the ol’ likable coach but appeared to be way over-caffeinated.”
This characterization set the tone for Colbert’s analysis, highlighting the lack of excitement and substance in the debate.
Vance’s vague patriotism and the January 6th insurrection
One of the key moments Colbert focused on was JD Vance’s attempt to downplay former President Donald Trump’s role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Vance’s response was filled with vague patriotic rhetoric, which Colbert was quick to mock.
“It’s really rich for democratic leaders to say that Donald Trump is a unique threat to democracy when he peacefully gave over power on January the 20th, as we have done for 250 years in this country,” Vance said during the debate. Colbert responded with his signature wit, “Yeah, after his coup failed! That’s like a toddler saying, ‘Look, I went to bed peacefully at 8 p.m., and I think it’s time we stop focusing on the 45 minutes I spent screaming and biting the babysitter because I wanted more bubbles.’”
The Facebook ads comparison and fact-checking
Colbert also addressed Vance’s comparison of the January 6th insurrection to Hillary Clinton’s complaints about Russian disinformation on social media. Tim Walz countered this by stating, “Jan. 6 was not Facebook ads,” a sentiment Colbert wholeheartedly agreed with.
“He’s right, it’s not. I’ll fact-check that. Jan. 6 was not Facebook ads,” Colbert said. “But if it were, it would be, ’10 weird tricks to overthrow the will of the people! Mike Pence can’t stand number six!’” This humorous take underscored the absurdity of Vance’s comparison.
Avoiding the 2020 election question
Another significant moment in the debate was Vance’s refusal to directly answer whether Trump lost the 2020 election. When Walz asked, “Did he lose the 2020 election?” Vance deflected by saying, “Tim, I’m focused on the future.”
Colbert seized this opportunity for satire, mimicking Vance’s response: “‘Yes, Tim. I’m focused on the future. Let’s not talk about Jan. 6, 2021. Let’s talk about Jan. 6, 2025! This time we’re bringing two shamans.’”
Gun violence: deflection and inaction
The discussion on gun violence in schools was another area where Colbert found fault with Vance’s responses. “When asked about gun violence in our nation’s schools, JD Vance had an answer: Anything but what would work,” Colbert remarked. This critique highlighted the lack of concrete solutions offered by Vance during the debate.
A night to forget
Colbert wrapped up his segment by summarizing the overall experience of watching the debate. “it was 90 minutes of constant talk that made one thing clear: Tonight was like having Thanksgiving with your most nervous uncle and your smuggest nephew. It was unpleasant, awkward, and thankfully, you only have to do it once every four years.”
This final observation encapsulated the general sentiment of frustration and disappointment with the debate, leaving viewers with a sense of relief that such events are infrequent.
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