Maurice Sendak, children’s literature’s favorite curmudgeon, looked awfully annoyed on the Colbert Report on Tuesday night.
Sendak’s three grouchiest quotes:
• “Newt Gingrich is an idiot of great renown.”
• On children: “I like them as few and far between as I like adults.”
• On Colbert’s idea for a sequel to “Where the Wild Things Are:” “It is so bad that it not only will sell, but it will make pots and pots of money for you.”
Someone’s having a no-good, very bad day.
On the eve of his trip to Charleston, S.C. for his “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain: South Cain-olina Primary Rally,” Stephen Colbert took to his Comedy Central late night show to express horror that his Super PAC — The Definitely Not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC — was running ads against him.
Then he performed a “Carolina”-themed duet with James Taylor.
Here’s the video:
One man is exploring a run for president of the United States of South Carolina, but didn’t quite make the primary ballot.
The other man is on the ballot, but has suspended his campaign.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The two will join forces Friday when comedian Stephen Colbert and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain hold a 1 p.m. rally at the College of Charleston, one day before the South Carolina primary.
Colbert, the Comedy Central host and Charleston native, previewed the rally Friday morning in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
What’s going to happen at the event, dubbed the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-Olina Primary Rally?”
“Clapping and talking,” Colbert said.
Colbert, who has launched his faux-exploratory committee in an effort to satirize the role of super PACs in the 2012 presidential race, has urged his supporters to vote for Cain in Saturday’s first-in-the-South contest since his own name won’t be on the ballot.
On Friday, he emphasized that Cain – who suspended his campaign amid allegations of sexual harassment and a 13-year affair – remains his top choice in the race, even though he’s technically no longer a candidate.
“How much more of an outsider can you be? He’s not even running,” Colbert said.
The Comedy Central host also came to the defense of former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), whose second wife went public on Thursday with the private details of their relationship, including a charge that Gingrich “wanted an open marriage.”
“A lot of politicians mess around on their wives, but he was enough of a gentleman to ask permission,” Colbert said of Gingrich.
Below, Colbert previews Friday’s rally on his Thursday night show.
YOUR PHOTOS: Squirrel Appreciation Day
‘Open Marriage’: What does it mean?
PHOTOS: Weird coffins at London death festival
GQ’s ‘50 most powerful in Washington’ listStephen Colbert, Herman Cain turn spotlight on super PACs in South Carolina
View Photo Gallery — ?Comedian Stephen Colbert is asking South Carolinians to vote for the former GOP contender because it was too late for Colbert to get his name on the primary ballot.
Text SizePrintE-mailReprints By Melinda Henneberger, Charleston, S.C. — Not everyone hooting Herman Cain at the Stephen Colbert rally here Friday was laughing with him. But he didn’t mind being the butt of jokes, he said, if only Americans could learn how to take one. His message? “As I said in one of the debates, America needs to lighten up.”
Colbert’s message, on the other hand, was as serious as its delivery was lighthearted. Politicians in both parties promise to bring Americans together, but Colbert actually does, through comedy. And this rally on the campus of the College of Charleston, the day before the state’s presidential primary, was an extended riff on the serious subject of money in politics.
Loading...CommentsWeigh InCorrections?
Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain broke out in song during a rally with Stephen Colbert at the College of Charleston. He also quoted “Pokemon.” (Jan. 20)More on this StoryRead more on PostPolitics.comRomney scrambles to fend off Gingrich in S.C.Gingrich’s personal intangible pulls in votersStephen Colbert takes aim at super PACsView all Items in this StoryDebate fatigue strikes on GOP trailThe Fix: S.C. debate’s winners and losersFact Checker: 15 dubious statementsRomney campaign looks to consolidate support of GOP establishmentSOPA, PIPA votes delayedSupreme Court sides with Texas on redistrictingPolarized in South Carolina House Republicans hold subdued retreatWith Spanish moss framing the backdrop of a campus that not only looks like an Old South movie set but has served as one many times, the Comedy Central host bounded onstage, sang “This Little Light of Mine,” with a gospel choir as backup, then gave a history lesson.
Calling himself the “Martin Luther King of corporation civil rights,” Colbert said that in a time maybe not everyone in the audience could remember — two years ago — corporations were sadly limited in the amount of money they could pour into political campaigns.
But that changed, he said, when “five courageous justices” on the Supreme Court ruled in the 2010 Citizens United decision that “corporations are people,” that people are entitled to free speech, that free speech equals money and that corporations should thus be entitled to dump as much money as they like into the political water table, provided they don’t coordinate with the campaigns they’re funding.
It’s the super PACs that are funding the flood of negative ads that the candidates all say they hate, even though the Citizens United decision was widely praised by Republicans.
Then Colbert asked the crowd, which included people of all ages and political persuasions, to send a message about super PACs by voting for Cain, who is still on the ballot here, though he suspended his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. And, somehow, both Republicans and Democrats were charmed.
Joe Wright, a college sophomore and a Republican who said he was torn over whether to support Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney, said that while super PACs “are not a good thing,” the main point of the rally, for him, was that “Colbert makes the campaign a little lighter” and less nasty.
“I love that he’s making such a mockery of Republican politics and the super PACs,” said Cookie Washington, a Democrat who grew up in the District but has lived here for 25 years. “But this is South Carolina, so I’m not 100 percent sure people know it’s satire.”
Eleven-year-old Avi Goldschmidt, whose mother had driven him here from their home in Myrtle Beach, was not in that camp: “I like the way he’s pretending to be a Republican and is really a Democrat,” he said. (“He’s in the gifted and talented” program at school, said his mother, Natasha, who said she saw his day off from class as a “social studies field trip.”)
The event — dubbed the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary” — began with a gospel rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with Colbert harmonizing, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the crowd shouting, “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”
Continued12Next PageSuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.
More about badges | Request a badge Culture Connoisseur BadgeCulture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.
More about badges | Request a badge Fact Checker BadgeFact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.
More about badges | Request a badge Washingtologist BadgeWashingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.
More about badges | Request a badge Post Writer BadgeThis commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.
Post Forum BadgePost Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
More about badges | Request a badge Weather Watcher BadgeWeather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.
More about badges | Request a badge World Watcher BadgeWorld Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.
More about badges | Request a badge Post RecommendedWashington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.
You must be logged in to report a comment.
Sign in hereYou must be logged in to recommend a comment.
Sign in hereComments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.
All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.
More about badgesGet a badgeTo pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.
WP Social Reader Hide this Friends' Activity Most Popular in lifestyle Most Popular in lifestyle Most Popular Right Now
Your Friends’ Most Recent Activity
View More Activity
The Post Most: LifestyleMost-viewed stories,videos, and galleries in the past two hoursMost PopularCarolyn Hax: Newborn wedding-crasherAfter the death of Jack Kevorkian, Lawrence Egbert is the new public face of AmeDate Lab: Blind daters go where the wild things areAsk Amy: Theft victim points to likely suspectAt Melody Record Shop, sadness and a tinge of guilt as an era endsTop VideosMegaupload Shutdown, Impact on Cogent CommunicationsNASA satellite captures 'solar fastball' (0:09)Cain sings at rally with Colbert (2:35)Stephen Colbert: New attack ad targeting RomneyDoctor: Casey Anthony got pregnant after passing out (1:08)Top GalleriesSatellite images from around the worldCruise ship Costa Concordia runs aground off ItalyColbert, Cain hold joint rally in South CarolinaDead but not goneEye on entertainmentPost Newsletters & AlertsSign-up for e-mail newsletters and alerts and get the news you need delivered directly to your inbox. Going Out Guide: Dinner & DrinksGoing Out Guide: With The KidsAt HomeDC ScoutGoing Out GuideLean & FitMoviesTravelSee all Washington Post NewslettersFeatured Advertiser LinksMesothelioma cancer shatters lives. Find out what to do before the killer strikes the one you love.>>Actos gave you bladder cancer? You may be entitled to compensation. Learn how to file an Actos lawsuit.>>Join Pres. Obama. It's time to do it again.>>Are you in? Join Barack Obama's campaign now.>>Help Pres. Obama keep moving America forward.>>Join the 2012 campaign at BarackObama.com>>Looking to buy a home? Visit TWP Real Estate section for the latest open houses.>>Make Your Vanguard Investing More Profitable - Free Research Report Reveals Best & Worst Funds>>Top lifestyle Stories People Also ReadMost Popular Videos
Carolyn Hax: Newborn wedding-crasherCarolyn Hax 
After the death of Jack Kevorkian, Lawrence Egbert is the new public face of American assisted suicideManuel Roig-franzia 
Date Lab: Blind daters go where the wild things areChristina Breda Antoniades Ask Amy: Theft victim points to likely suspectAmy Dickinson 
At Melody Record Shop, sadness and a tinge of guilt as an era endsJessica Goldstein 
Carolyn Hax: A mother who needs to back off on expectations of a grown daughterCarolyn Hax 
A new ailment on the 2012 campaign trail: debate fatigueJason Horowitz 
@Work Advice: Karla Miller examines what could be a pattern of resigning women::unspecified:: 
Food critic Tom Sietsema looks into his mailbagTom Sietsema 
To protest SOPA, the strike was updated for the Internet ageMelissa Bell 
Stiff challenge: How Kim Jong Il and other leaders join the ranks of the preservedMonica Hesse 
Stephen Colbert, Herman Cain turn spotlight on super PACs in South CarolinaMelinda Henneberger Ways you can get us Mobile Apps Newsletter & alerts RSS Post Store Facebook Photo Store Twitter Washington Post Live The Washington Post Work for us Community Relations PostPoints Corrections/Suggestions Archive Contact the Ombudsman Report a problem Web site Make us your homepage Digital Guidelines Ask The Post Newspaper Subscribe Home delivery service e-Replica Advertise In the newspaper On the web site Mobile Events The Washington Post Company Post Company web sites Partners Slate Express Night Out Captial Business El Tiempo Latino The Root Foreign Policy Trove Post Tickets Capitol Deal Service Alley Post Master Class WP Live Student Advisor College Reviews © 1996- The Washington Post Terms of Service Privacy Policy Reprints and Permissions Help Contact Us Ad Choices 
"Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" (Kris Connor - GETTY IMAGES) Last week, when Stephen Colbert announced he was turning over his Super PAC to Jon Stewart in order to form an exploratory committee about running for president of the United States of South Carolina , his lawyer made it very clear that Colbert could not coordinate with his Super PAC.
And to prove how much he’s listening to those instructions, the Super PAC’s latest ad attacks...Colbert himself.
“Come on. Why is the T in his name silent? What else is he silent about? Letting murderers out of jail?” sneers the ad, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.
Anyway, the ad also urges people to vote for Herman Cain. In case you missed it, Colbert is holding a rally in South Carolina a day before the state’s primary featuring Cain as a special guest.
Colbert promises that the rally — called “The Rock Me Like a Herman Cain: South Cain-olina Primary Rally” — will be even better than his “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear”in Washington last October, if only for the absence of Jon Stewart.
Related reading:
The Fix: The Stephen Colbert effect
Run, Stephen Colbert, Run!
Colbert and the Super PACs: The men who stare at votes
Stephen Colbert is exploring a run for president of the United States ... of South Carolina.
The comedian and Charleston native announced on his show Thursday night that he is forming an exploratory committee and is handing over control of his super PAC to fellow “Comedy Central” host Jon Stewart.
The name of the new organization?
“The Definitely Not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC.”
Colbert’s move comes days after a poll by Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling, which conducts automated surveys, showed him taking five percent support in South Carolina That’s one percentage point higher than that for former Utah governor Jon Huntsman (R), whose name, unlike Colbert’s, will be among those appearing on the state’s Jan. 21 GOP primary ballot.
It also comes weeks after Colbert made an unsuccessful attempt through his super PAC to fund the South Carolina Republican primary. He had offered $400,000 in exchange for a deal that would have renamed the contest “The Colbert Super PAC South Carolina Republican Primary,” a proposal that state GOP officials ultimately rejected.
Colbert’s his super PAC was approved by the Federal Election Commission in June. But the comedy host missed the deadline for qualifying for the ballot, and South Carolina election rules do not allow write-in votes in party primaries or in the presidential and vice presidential races.
As Colbert announced to viewers Thursday night:
“For over a day now, the people of South Carolina have been crying out for someone who can restore our nation’s 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. 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!”
Citizens United, of course, is the 2010 Supreme Court decision that paved the way for the formation of super PACs, the “independent expenditure-only committees” that can accept donations of unlimited size but are prohibited from directly coordinating with political parties or candidates.
So far, those committees have been responsible for nearly half of all TV ad spending for the 2012 presidential cycle.
With names such as “Make Us Great Again,” “Restore Our Future” and “Priorities USA,” most super PACs give little outward indication as to which candidate’s campaign they’re supporting.
For a test of your super PAC knowledge, take our quiz, and see if you can match up the name of the group to the candidate it supports. (As of press time, the Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC had yet to be added.)
Read more on PostPolitics.com
Obama proposes shrinking government
Obama’s plans mean musical chairs for the Cabinet
Santorum charity spent most of its money on political friends
Gingrich asks PAC to pull Bain ads
