Colbert Takes On Piers Morgan Over Gun Control: ‘Do You Hate The United States Constitution?’

[Playinghardball]

On Monday night, CNN host Piers Morgan paid a visit to Stephen Colbert, who was not exactly convinced by Morgan’s passionate gun control advocacy. Questioning whether Morgan has any idea what the constitution even says, Colbert offered a Freedom 101 lesson of sorts.

In the “most respectful way possible,” Colbert kicked off the interview by telling Morgan to “get the fuck out of here.” No, but seriously: “Do you understand, to an American ear, what it sounds like to have an English accent telling us how to live our lives?”

As the pair started chatting about how people in the UK just don’t have guns, Colbert asked whether Morgan hates America’s constitution (“Do you hate the United States constitution?…Do you speak English?”) — helpfully providing the CNN host with his own pocket-size copy of the document.

“We have a different experience with guns than you do,” Colbert elaborated. “So how dare you tell Americans how to live their lives?”

Morgan said he was simply pointing out that in his country, “where we have no guns,” there are few gun murders. “I think when 20 young children get blown to pieces, Americans should say something has to be done,” he added, promptly Colbert to call out his “cheap shot to bring up the subject that we’re talking about.”

Colbert offered a better approach: take some time, “reflect, and eventually forget.”

The interview then moved on to Morgan’s series of explosive interviews. Some people, Colbert said, feel “you are just pumping up your ratings by having on crazy people.” Why not have reasonable people?

The ensuing banter returned to Colbert’s repeated question: “Have you read the constitution?”

Morgan left the interview with two copies.

Watch below, via Comedy Central:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/colbert-takes-on-piers-morgan-over-gun-control-do-you-hate-the-united-states-constitution/

[samsingh]

1. that was a good episode

[malthaussen]

2. Sloppy reporting.

Morgan left with three copies of the Constitution.

-- Mal

[spin]

3. I've watched several Piers Morgan programs on the gun control issue. ...

Obviously since I've enjoyed target shooting handguns for 40 years and have a concealed weapons permit, I do not agree that we need gun laws similar to those in the UK as Piers suggests.

Still that doesn't mean that I am totally unwilling to listen to his views and consider them fairly. Piers does make some valid points.

Since Piers is a supporter of extremely strong gun control I was very interesting in what his pro-gun rights guests might have to say in response. Unfortunately in several of his first programs on the issue, Piers would ask a question and when his guest tried to answer he would fly into a rage. He would not allow his pro-gun rights guests to make any points but would lecture and insult them like they were immature children or total fools.

He came off to me and many others as a bombastic Brit trying to tell all Americans of how his nation was far superior to ours and we were simply misguided children who should have never rebelled against our mother nation. If I visit or even live in a foreign nation I will be well aware that the culture may be far different than in the United States. I might question their attitude on any number of issues but would do my best to be respectful. Americans who visit other nations are often criticized because they feel that they are superior and smarter. As I visitor or resident of another country I would never wish to represent my home nation in this manner.

Some here in the United States felt Piers should be deported. I am not one of them. Recently he has tried to be more polite to his pro-gun rights guests but then he has invited a few true nuts to appear on his program and he simply allowed themselves every opportunity to look like the fools they are.

Piers actually reminded me of Bill O'Reilly who often screams and yells at those who have different views than he holds. Perhaps Piers is doing his best to increase his ratings and feels emulating O'Reilly is the way to go. Perhaps he is right but I personally wish to listen the views of knowledgeable people on an issue. The views of the interviewer is far less important to me.

I am now 66 years old and during my adulthood have watched how my nation has changed with great interest. I feel that overall we are a far better nation than when I grew up in the 50s and 60s. What largely disturbs me today is that we have separated into two camps who largely hate each other and instead of working together to find compromise we merely insult each other. I feel that 24/7 cable news has contributed to this divide with talk show hosts like O'Reilly and Piers Morgan.

Unfortunately this is unlike to change in the near future.