An open letter to Stephen Colbert

Posted By Blake Hounshell Monday, May 5, 2008 - 2:27 PM Share

Scott Wintrow/Getty Images

Dear Dr. Colbert,

We must regretfully inform you that, after careful consideration and intense deliberation, we have not included you on the Foreign Policy/Prospect list of the world's Top 100 Public Intellectuals in our May/June issue.

Although your high public profile and loyal following make you a strong candidate for this honor, we have concluded that the lack of empirical evidence and logical coherence in your arguments disqualifies you for consideration as an "intellectual." While all of us here greatly enjoy your work, we simply did not feel that it contained sufficient analytical rigor to place you in the company of such luminaries as Noam Chomsky, Richard Dawkins, or the pope.

This was not an easy decision to make. It has provoked intense bitterness and division among our staff. Therefore, we feel obligated to inform you that there is another way of gaining a spot on the list. Until Thursday, May 15, members of the public can visit ForeignPolicy.com/intellectuals and vote for the world’s top public intellectuals. The e-ballot will include a write-in option for intellectuals that FP did not initially include. We will publish the public's top 20 choices in our July/August issue, in addition to the top five write-in nominees. If you can convince the people of the world that you are not only an entertainer, but a major thinker as well, you just may have a chance of making the final cut.

Given the high caliber of this year's list, we expect that the competition will be tough, but we invite you to make your case nonetheless.

We wish you the best of luck and commend you on your service to America.

Sincerely,
Blake Hounshell
Web Editor, ForeignPolicy.com

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SAM

5:16 PM ET

May 5, 2008

Playing with Lions tail

You are Playing with the Lion's tail Blake! haven't you seen what he does to his opponents? Have you gone insane??? or let me see.... Do you have a book Coming out soon?!

BLAKE HOUNSHELL

5:19 PM ET

May 5, 2008

bring it on

I think he is a paper tiger.

AO5357

5:59 PM ET

May 5, 2008

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Colbert wasn't snubbed. Neil deGrasse Tyson was.

A regular guest of Dr. Colbert's and virtually the host of History Channel's "The Universe," Dr. Tyson (Director of the Hayden Planetarium) is one of the leading voices in astronomical sciences today.

If Stephen wishes to be fair to his fans, he'd preferably advocate to get Dr. Tyson on the list.

Sincerely,
Brad Czerniak
ao5357@gmail.com
http://www.hawidu.com/

MCJ

7:04 PM ET

May 5, 2008

Bear Baiting

Am I the only one that sees this as a thinly veiled attempt to bait Colbert into giving the blog coverage on his show?

Besides, are you baiting Colbert the character or Colbert the person who came up with the cartoonish Colbert character?

CEOLAF

7:49 PM ET

May 5, 2008

The character is not the show's creator is not the

Obviously, you believe that Colbert Nation will drive him to the top of the write in voting. Fine.

But it looks like you are trying to get in on the Colbert joke, in on the satire. And that should not be your role.

Yes, I know that it is confusing that Colbert, the writer/performer, uses his real name for this character, but try not to get the person and persona confused. No, the persona is not an intellectual. No, he does not even approve of empirical evidence or logical coherence. But stop and think about what the show accomplishes. Step outside the satire and examine how well it illuminates the debate.

For example, last Thursday's interview with Noah Feldman was absolutely brilliant. No, not the funniest thing in the world. But he made totally clear the contradictions of the administrations arguments on Iraq. No, the character's arguments do not have logical coherence or empirical evidence, but that he because the arguments of the right and the Bush administration lack these things.

That kind of explication of the policies and the pronouncements of the presidential administration of the world's only superpower, the explication I've have seen in seven years that means anything, is truly the work of a great intellectual.

Even if you can't see him sweat.

BLAKE HOUNSHELL

8:56 PM ET

May 5, 2008

Thanks for your comments, everyone

First, allow me to say this: Passport has always been a bit irreverent, and we are not above having a little fun once in awhile. See here and here.

As to your specific questions:

MCJ writes: "Am I the only one that sees this as a thinly veiled attempt to bait Colbert into giving the blog coverage on his show?"

No.

"Besides, are you baiting Colbert the character or Colbert the person who came up with the cartoonish Colbert character?"

Which one has the honorary doctoral degree?

ceolaf comments: "That kind of explication of the policies and the pronouncements of the presidential administration of the world's only superpower, the explication I've have seen in seven years that means anything, is truly the work of a great intellectual."

As I said in the letter, if Colbert can convince people that he's a major thinker, he deserves a spot on the list. How he does that convincing is his business.

GHLSOG

10:19 PM ET

May 5, 2008

Since when is expert satire

Since when is expert satire not an intellectual pursuit?

Voltaire and I are disappointed in your poor judgement.

GREATESTBUSINESSMAN

12:40 AM ET

May 6, 2008

Colbert

Jon Stewart would be a better pick for this list.

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