By Susan MacDonald

MILWAUKEE —Two members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation have matched wits with comedian Stephen Colbert, and not only did they emerge with their reputations intact, they each described the experience as a lot of fun.

Colbert, the wildly popular host of "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, featured Rep. Mark Pocan and Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District on Monday in his "434-part" series, "Better Know a District." On May 15, Colbert featured Rep. Gwen Moore and the 4th Congressional District.

Pocan said he was nervous playing the straight man to the quick-witted Colbert, who has now developed a reputation on Capitol Hill that Moore described as "a bad boy, just tearing people apart."

"Many members have told me their strategy is just to survive, and say as little as possible," Moore said.

Colbert's interview with Pocan included the comedian using a blow torch to light a cupcake stuffed with candles -- to celebrate the freshman's first 100 days in Congress -- then asking Pocan to blow out the candles. Colbert also grilled Pocan about gay marriage, the health care reform bill, and Pocan's past work as a magician.

"How long have you been turning tricks?" Colbert said to Pocan, a Democrat from Madison.

"You know you're going to get goofy questions and you just roll with it," Pocan told WISN.com.

Pocan said his entire interview with Colbert took 90 minutes to tape. He and Moore taped their interviews on the same day.

"I was happy with it," Pocan said of the edited, eight-minute segment. "I'm glad I didn't do anything too embarrassing."

 

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