Fans of the Colbert Report finally have what they’ve been dreaming of.
After a kabuki-like exchange Thursday night in which comedian Stephen Colbert passed his Super PAC’s reins of power to fellow jokester Jon Stewart, Colbert threw his ridiculously expensive shoes into the ring.
“Nation,” he said, in his best straight-man style, “I have a major announcement to make. For over a day now, the people of South Carolina have been crying out for someone who can restore our nations former greatness to its current perfection. Well, America, that someone is now.
“I am proud to announce that I am forming an exploratory committee to lay the groundwork for my possible candidacy for the president of the United States of South Carolina,” he intoned jubilantly.
“I’m doing it! … And with your help — and possibly the help of some sort of outside group that I am not coordinating with — we can explore taking this country back! Thank you! God bless you all! And God bless ‘Citizens United.'”
Watch Stephen Colbert make election history:
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Colbert began the evening’s drama with a one-on-one-chat with well-known election lawyer and former Federal Election Commission chairman Trevor Potter, who assured him that “You cannot be a candidate and run a Super PAC. That would be coordinating with yourself.”
“You can’t have the PAC, [but] you could have it run by somebody else … somebody who you would not be coordinating with.”
Enter Jon Stewart, who assumed responsibility for the Super PAC in a money-green-colored light show — culminating with the announcement of “The definitely not coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC.”
After the show, the Super PAC sent an email to its list confirming that Stewart was in charge, and that he and Colbert “have already begun updating all of their letterhead with sharpie.”
“Clearly, it’s a tough decision,” Colbert told his audience. “I would not want to be in my shoes — but I am. And folks, they’re incredibly expensive, okay? Colbert Super PAC paid for these babies.”
David is The Daily Caller’s executive editor. Follow him on Twitter