‘Meet the Press’ transcript for Oct. 21, 2007

MR. COLBERT:  Write that novel you got kicking around in your head.  You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration?  You know, fiction.

(End videotape)

MR. COLBERT:  Yeah.  That sounds familiar.

MR. RUSSERT:  And why did you say that?

MR. COLBERT:  Be—I just had so much respect for the way the press supported the goals of the administration for the first four years.  And I was just so distressed that, at any point, they started standing up to the administration asking questions, and, and I just couldn’t understand why they couldn’t go back to the good old days of 2001 to mid-2004.

MR. RUSSERT:  Which, which did you prefer?

MR. COLBERT:  I preferred when they didn’t ask any questions at all.  I mean, it was easier for the president to get things done, and that’s what he’s there for.

MR. RUSSERT:  What do you watch, yourself, as a person preparing a run for the presidency?

MR. COLBERT:  I watch my show to get a pulse for the nation.  I have to watch Jon Stewart’s show because he tosses to me at the end of his show.  I like “Grey’s Anatomy,” that’s a pretty good show.  I like Conan O’Brien.

MR. RUSSERT:  These men you’re describing, aren’t they liberal?

MR. COLBERT:  Jon’s—I would say Jon has had some misguided statements.  I don’t think Conan’s liberal.  I don’t think Conan’s made any political statements.

MR. RUSSERT:  If you are trounced in South Carolina, I mean...

MR. COLBERT:  All right, all right, here’s the attack.  Yeah.  All right.

MR. RUSSERT:  Simple question.

MR. COLBERT:  Yeah, I’m trounced.

MR. RUSSERT:  What happens then?

MR. COLBERT:  Well, it’s proportional voting on the Democratic side.  All I need is enough votes on the Democratic side to get one delegate, and I’ll feel like I’ve won.  Because if, at the Democratic National Convention, somebody has to stand up and say, “The proud state of South Carolina, the palmetto state, the home of the greatest peaches and shrimp in the world, casts one vote for native son, Stephen Colbert,” I’d say I won.

MR. RUSSERT:  So you will not allow that Democratic convention to claim their nominee.  There will be no unanimous acclamation.

MR. COLBERT:  No...

MR. RUSSERT:  You’re going to stop that.

MR. COLBERT:  Listen, why else run as a favorite son if you’re not going to broker a convention.  And if I get, and if I get a delegate, it will be a brokered convention.  Unless they offer me to speak there, then maybe I would turn over my delegate.

MR. RUSSERT:  Well, we want to thank you for joining us and sharing your views.

MR. COLBERT:  Thank you very much.

MR. RUSSERT:  It’s going to be a...

MR. COLBERT:  It’s been an honor.

MR. RUSSERT:  It’s going to be an interesting campaign to cover.

MR. COLBERT:  Thank you very much.  Can I—am I allowed to ask people for money on your show?

MR. RUSSERT:  You have an 800 number you want us to give out?

MR. COLBERT:  I have a Web site.

MR. RUSSERT:  I’m not going to do that.

MR. COLBERT:  No?

MR. RUSSERT:  But I am going to ask you to be safe on the campaign trail.

MR. COLBERT:  Thank you very much.

MR. RUSSERT:  And you can read an excerpt of Mr. Colbert’s new book or campaign manifesto, “I Am America (And So Can You)!” on our Web site.  Plus, watch our MEET THE PRESS Take Two Web extra.  Stephen Colbert goes out of character and reflects on his job and family.  A rare conversation with the real Stephen Colbert on our Web site this afternoon, mtp.msnbc.com.  And we’ll be right back.

(Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT:  That’s all for today.  You can now watch the rebroadcast of MEET THE PRESS Sunday evenings at two new times, 6 PM Eastern and 2 AM Eastern, both on MSNBC.  We’ll be back next week.  If it’s Sunday, it’s MEET THE PRESS.

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