That “Better Know a Riding” on last night’s Colbert Report was wild! I’ve noticed a few comments around the ‘net this morning that said “Stephen” was being particularly … over the top, and it’s certainly true that Ujjal Dosanjh experienced the character in all its bombastic and ignorant glory last night. But never fear, he was always in on the joke. Today’s Vancouver Sun features the MP’s thoughts about the experience, and you really couldn’t ask for a better it-getting response:

The truthiness about Colbert, according to Ujjal Dosanjh
He’s a satirist, not an insult comedian, and his message is worth reflecting on
By Ujjal Dosanjh, Special To The Sun February 23, 2010 9:05 AM

. . .

Some would find it strange that Canadians would flock to cheer along an American who had been waving his flag in our faces for months. But Canadians should know that the real Stephen Colbert is not the man we see on our TV screens, but instead a man who wants to see the backward character he plays disabused of the very ignorance he represents. It’s a kind of brilliant new sarcastic satire that Canada could use much more of — taking on our politics and culture in a way that largely discards political correctness on its way to the truth, or “truthiness” as Colbert would call it.

. . .

It’s been a wild ride. After his producers contacted my staff in October, I sat down with Stephen in Washington, D.C. a month ago to tape what would turn out to be one of his longest-ever interviews: an hour and 45 minutes, all for what became a seven-minute segment. Few interviewers are as tough as Stephen Colbert, but keeping a straight face was almost as tough as Stephen’s questions as we bantered back and forth on subjects ranging from gay rights to gun control and health care to the Canadian identity. It was a thorough back-and-forth on some of the issues that most differentiate the United States from Canada. Through the lens of Colbert’s satire, it is my hope that many more Americans will begin to take an interest in our values and experiences as Canadians.

. . .

Read the full article here

It’s so cool that Mr. Dosanjh took the time to write such a complimentary article; I’m glad he understood Stephen’s brand of humor so well (it would have been a shame if he’d misunderstood Stephen the way the very cool Barney Frank did).

Here’s the Better Know a Riding segment, if you missed it (the intro segment is here):

EDITED TO ADD: There’s a little more on the taping and Mr. Dosanjh’s reaction to the final interview here. I loved the part where he talked about Stephen shouting that he was the white MLK and Ujjal just broke into laughter!

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