Kermit the Frog hopped aboard rampant speculation about the
possibility of a brokered GOP convention on Wednesday night, weighing
in on the long GOP presidential primary with some political predictions on “The
Colbert Report.”
“The fact is, Stephen, that this race is far from over,” Kermit told
Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert. “You know, we haven't even hit
[Mitt] Romney's strongholds of New York and California yet. And the
closer Mitt gets to that magical number of 1,144 delegates, well, the
more leverage he has at a hypothetical brokered convention. However!
However, you know, if rumors of a Santorum/Gingrich superticket prove
true, well, we're in for a hot time in Tampa. How's that?"
Although speculation continues to build that none of the remaining GOP
candidates can become the clear nominee before the GOP
convention — which is set to begin Aug. 27 in Tampa, Fla. — most
experts see the possibility of a brokered convention as unlikely.
Rick Santorum, Romney’s closest challenger, has indicated he would
consider Newt Gingrich for his vice presidential pick should be become
the nominee, but Gingrich has maintained that he is staying in the
race at least until the convention.
Gingrich’s campaign has also indicated that its goal will be
preventing Romney from accumulating the 1,144 delegates he needs to
secure the nomination before the convention.
Although Colbert introduced Kermit as “The Colbert Report's chief swampland political analyst,” with insight into the bayous of
Louisiana — where caucuses are set for March 24 — Kermit downplayed his
own political expertise.
"I'm just a frog...I don't know very much about politics,” he said.
"Seriously, Stephen, I really don't talk much about politics. I am an
amphibitarian. We're not partisan except when it comes to pigs."
Kermit dismissed the idea that he had any insight into Newt Gingrich
based on his name.
"Newt? Oh, Newt!" he said. "Kermit the Frog must know all about newts
because I'm an amphibian-American? Do we all look alike to you?”
He also sidestepped Colbert's questions about his previous
journalistic experience, gained in the 1981 film “The Great Muppet
Caper.”
“I just don't take sides, you know,” Kermit concluded. "When it comes
to politics, I really think everyone, everyone, Democrats,
Republicans, the independents, all of them will really enjoy our new
movie 'The Muppets' on DVD and Blu-Ray March 20."
