Les Moonves, chairman and CEO of CBS, is trying to calm those who worry the new “Late Show” host, Stephen Colbert, is a far-left ideologue whose politics and cultural outlooks put him way out of sync with most of America.
He’s a moderate, really, Mr. Moonves said, The Hollywood Reporter said.
“You know what? Ironically, Stephen Colbert is much more moderate than people think he is,” Mr. Moonves said at a recent Milken Institute Global Conference, Politico reported. “He’s a great social commentator, and that’s sort of what we want. That’s sort of what David Letterman has been.”
Conservatives aren’t convinced.
Rush Limbaugh has painted the network as warring against the “heartland of America” with Mr. Colbert’s hire. Even Bill O’Reilly of Fox News fame has issued criticisms against the Comedy Central hire, saying conservatives won’t watch the “left wing mouthpiece,” various media reported.
Mr. Moonves, meanwhile, stands by his pick.
“[I would] respectfully disagree with that assessment of who Stephen Colbert is,” he said, Politico reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.