Don’t ask me why but I was researching the history of the show Sesame Street last night when I realized that the muppet named Elmo has actually testified before Congress.
That’s not a misprint. The caption to the above photo reads:
NAMM President Joe Lamond confers with Sesame Street’s Elmo during their testimony before the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Capitol Hill April 23 [2002]. Lamond and Elmo asked Congress for $2 million to support school music education.
I thought this was kind of cute, in its own way, but I wondered who was responsible for inviting a muppet to testify before Congress. The answer was pretty amusing.
The 17-member House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education is chaired by Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio). Elmo’s appearance took place at the invitation and with the assistance of Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-California).
You can read about Duke Cunningham’s stunning corruption here. Somehow, Elmo’s Cunningham sponsored appearance before the Appropriations subcommittee strikes me as a perfect metaphor for the era of Bush.
Elmo asked for a measly $2 million for music education. Meanwhile, Cunningham was working on a higher level.
In 1997, Cunningham pushed the Pentagon into buying a $20 million document-digitization system created by ADCS Inc., one of several defense companies owned by [Brent] Wilkes. The Pentagon didn’t want to buy the system. When it hadn’t done so three years later, Cunningham angrily demanded the firing of Lou Kratz, an assistant undersecretary of defense he held responsible for the delays. It later emerged that Wilkes reportedly gave Cunningham more than $630,000 in cash and favors.
Which, of course, led to this:
* In January, the Justice Department requested the resignation of U.S. Attorney Carol Lam, who led the corruption prosecution of Cunningham. For further information see Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy.
* On February 13, former CIA executive director Kyle Foggo was charged with fraud and other offenses in the Cunningham corruption investigation. The indictment also named Brent Wilkes and John T. Michael.
Tickle me, so I know I’m not dreaming.
Little known fact: Following his testimony to Congress, Elmo was actually invited to the White House to brief the President on international affairs. His “S is for Sunni, S is for Shiite” song was a big hit with staff, but the President reportedly was unable to listen as he was busy looking in trash cans for Oscar the Grouch.
Finally, testimony that Bush can understand.
get a hold of Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music — a great collection of music from Sesame Street.
One highlight is the Goo Goo Dolls doing a version of their hit “Slide” with Elmo, called “Pride”:
Don’t think the Dukester’s too proud right about now… 😉
I was about 14 when Sesame Street first hit the pre-Stevens tube (back then there was only one), but I still watched because it was just so goofy, and I enjoyed seeing real-world celebrities come on and visit or do cameos. I still remember seeing Carol Burnett appear for about three seconds to say, “Wow, Wanda the Witch is really weird” after they aired a little two-minute clip about the letter W.
Someday I’m going to have to spring for the money to buy a frame for a poster that’s been hanging around the house, rolled up in a tube, for several years. It’s from Apple’s “Think Different” campaign, and it shows Jim Henson in a cable-knit sweater, looking all serious toward an off-camera horizon, while Kermit perches over his shoulder, looking straight at the viewer with this big old grin on his face. Even now I tear up a little at the loss of Henson — he was truly a mad genius in the best sense of the word.
on the Radio City tour when the word came that Jim Henson had died…when the guy came and gave the news, we (the tour guide, the spouse and I) thought at first it was Sammy Davis Jr., who was quite ill at the time.
That poster could probably net you a few extra pennies on eBay… 🙂
Wanda the witch who lived somewhere west of Washington?
Whatever BooMan. It’s all about Cookie Monster. Really, could the greatest symbol of unchecked gluttony, ego, and avarice have any other application? Let’s hear the Dukestir sing “C is for Cookie” and all get the shuddery heebie-jeebies.
Ah hell, who am I kidding. Cookie Monster’s my favorite muppet. He ain’t ashamed of who he is.
C is for corruption,
corruption is for me.
C is for corruption,
corruption is for me
C is for corruption,
corruption is for me, OH
Corruption and Contracts and Cunningham start with C.
Somehow, Elmo seems to have a firmer grasp of policy than your average wingnut or Bush Administration flunky. Plus, he’s cuter.
And this surprises you, exactly why?
You know, it shouldn’t. But every now and again I forget that a muppet with furry red feet is actually more coherent than our president.
Can’t imagine why I’d slip up and expect actual STANDARDS and such.
whew… Your headline made me think Elmo had died!
My third ever post here was about Sesame Street.
Oh come on, it’s not like anyone ever dies on Sesame Street.
Gosh, I had forgotten all about that! Thanks for the reminder.
Do you think if they asked Kermit to explain Global Warming, they might actually GET it?
BTW, did Elmo actually get his $2 million? That little guy might have a future in the lobbying business…
Elmo did get the money. He was a guest on Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me a few months ago and they asked him about it.
Henson help me, when I saw the picture I was wondering why Keith Olberman and Elmo were testifying in front of Congress.
I thought Elmo was a communist because he is red.