The Trouble with Steny ...

The Hill newspaper reports:

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) took on a rare role yesterday as a defender of President Bush.

Hoyer came to the defense of the commander in chief after Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, where the president took a drubbing from comedian Stephen Colbert.

"I thought some of it was funny, but I think it got a little rough," Hoyer said. "He is the president of the United States, and he deserves some respect."

"I'm certainly not a defender of the administration," Hoyer reassured stunned observers, but Colbert "crossed the line" with many jokes that were "in bad taste."

Colbert needled Bush, often prompting only an expressionless stare from the president, who appeared not to be amused.

DailyKos asks if Steny Hoyer will be the Joe Lieberman of 2008? I.e., the next member of Congress for whom the blogs seek out a challenger and help fund him.

Americablog's John says: "This man used to be someone I respected, but over the past few years all he's been concerned about is his own ego and finding new and interesting ways he can screw over Nancy Pelosi at the expense of the Democratic party."

Yikes says: this is 'business-as-usual' for far too many Democrats. Colbert gives them a perfect opportunity to call-out mainstream media for its lack of accountability in reporting on the Bush administration. They could comment that it's too bad the comments came from a comedian instead of an investigative reporter. Instead, they wimp out and attack the messenger.