Don Blankenship, a Republican candidate for Senate in West Virginia, got some attention for a bizarre campaign ad he released Thursday evening, but Stephen Colbert wants you to know it wasn't his first dip into unconventional political advertising this week. "Blankenship came out swinging on Monday" with an ad in which he mentioned twice that he "went to prison for blowing up a coal mine," followed by another ad in which he hit back at "Cocaine Mitch." Colbert said on Thursday's Late Show, confused. "Are you saying that this Mitch McConnell is high on coke? Mitch, I say this as a friend: You need to do harder drugs ... something to kick the energy up."
Blankenship explained that he is talking about cocaine allegedly smuggled aboard a ship owned by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's father-in-law, James Chao, who was born in China. "Okay, so now you're liable for your father-in-law's crimes?" Colbert asked. "Watch out, Jared." But Blankenship also raised eyebrows for referring to Chao as a "wealthy Chinaperson." "Chinaperson? Mr. Blankenship, you're starting to sound like a real assperson," Colbert said. "A lot of folks took exception to the term 'Chinaperson,' but Donny defended himself," saying he also believes in "Koreanpersons" and "Africanpersons." Nope, "no one talks like that, except aliens trying to blend in," Colbert said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Rep. Sylvester Turner dies, weeks after joining HouseSpeed Read The former Houston mayor and longtime state legislator left behind a final message for Trump: 'Don't mess with Medicaid'
-
Trump pauses Ukraine intelligence sharingSpeed Read The decision is intended to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin
-
Supreme Court rules against Trump on aid freezeSpeed Read The court rejected the president's request to freeze nearly $2 billion in payments for foreign humanitarian work
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster showSpeed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top GrammysSpeed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own roomSpeed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
