Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Stephen Colbert essentially made clear that his latest publicity stunt of exploring a run for president in the South Carolina Republican primary — a repeat of his previous campaign on the Democratic side in 2008 — was about making a commentary on the role of super-PAC’s in campaign fundraising. (Colbert is in fact far too late to get on the ballot in South Carolina, and there is no option for a write-in vote.)
George Stephanopoulos played a new TV ad running in South Carolina, from Colbert’s super-PAC (control of which was officially transferred to Colbert’s close colleague, Daily Show host Jon Stewart). The ad features a voiceover narration from actor John Lithgow, who declares alongside audio of Romney: “If Mitt Romney really believes ‘Corporations are people, my friend,’ then Mitt Romney is a serial killer. He’s — Mitt the Ripper!”
“I had nothing to do with that ad. I have no control over that ad,” Colbert insisted — while also standing by the ad. “If anything in that ad is inaccurate – if he did not say corporations are people, and if he did not make his living cutting up corporations—”
Colbert was interrupted by Stephanopoulos, who continued to ask about Colbert potentially calling Mitt Romney a serial killer. Colbert and the super-PAC. Colbert said it is no longer his super-PAC. “It’s the super-PAC of — I hope I’m pronouncing this correctly ‘Jon Stew-air’? I believe it’s a soft ’T.‘”