Everyone wants a piece of the freshman forty-two

The forty-two freshman Democratic representatives who entered the House after the most recent midterm elections have received far more power, advice and attention than congressional freshmen can usually expect. Powerful Democratic figures like Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel are working hard to mentor these congressional rookies, with an eye toward protecting their party’s hard-won majority in the next election cycle. An article in the Los Angeles Times describes some of their efforts to involve the newcomers in roles not typically afforded first-time members of Congress, even as they attempt to steer the freshmen away from potentially damaging or embarassing media exposure. Naturally, Stephen Colbert and his “Better Know a District” series are mentioned.

Democratic pups are top dogs in the House
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer
April 1, 2007

WASHINGTON — In the traditional pecking order on Capitol Hill, newly elected lawmakers are supposed to be seen and not heard, left to labor in powerless obscurity until they bank several years of seniority.

But the Democrats who control the House are upending that tradition, treating their party’s 42 freshmen like royalty.

Democratic leaders are already working overtime to ensure that the newcomers are reelected in 2008 — no easy task, because many of them come from conservative political territory.

They are being mentored by a hard-driving senior power broker, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), who coaches them on media and constituent relations. A special political action committee has been set up to raise campaign money for them. They have been showered with coveted committee assignments that new members rarely get — including four spots on the Rules Committee, a powerful arm of the leadership. And they have been peppered with advice on strategy, including a warning to avoid appearing on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report,” which has run a series of often-scathing segments with members of Congress.

What I find most delightful about this article is the quote from Steve Cohen that appears at the end:

Cohen ignored Emanuel when he warned him against appearing on “The Colbert Report” — a show that is taking an irreverent district-by-district look at House members who are willing to subject themselves to satiric treatment.

The result: Cohen said he was deluged with positive reactions from his constituents. “I got more response — comments, e-mails, letters and asides — from being on ‘Colbert’ than for my vote on the Iraq supplemental,” Cohen said.

Full text of article

I know I’m repeating myself when I say that I think Emanuel’s (and Pelosi’s) dismissal of, if not outright hostility toward, The Colbert Report is misguided. I can understand their point of view to a certain extent, but I wish it were possible to convince them that the only people “offended” by Stephen’s BKAD segments are Beltway insiders (or the often-sycophantic press that covers them). The general population, if it’s familiar with The Colbert Report at all, gets to see a more human, fun-loving side of its representatives when those representatives appear on the show (and the portion of the public that isn’t familiar with The Colbert Report won’t be aware of the BKAD appearances, so there’s no harm done). Fortunately for us viewers of the show, many of the congressional freshmen seem willing, even eager, to take their chances with “Stephen”.