Recovery.gov and Ed DeSeve v. Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert, host of the Colbert Report on Comedy Central, poked fun at both the site and Ed DeSeve, special advisor to the Office of Management and Budget director for implementation of the Recovery Act, and special advisor to the Vice President.

During his show, Colbert pointed out some 'problems' with the site and mispronounced DeSeve's name as 'deceive':

Watch Tuesday's episode of the Colbert Report.

(Colbert begins discussing Recovery.gov around 4:40.)

Well, now DeSeve is firing back . . . sort of.

He spoke at the Press Club in Washington, D.C. Thursday morning and said that, while he appreciates Colbert taking an interest in the site, he thinks Colbert might be a bit confused.

"Just two days ago, I'm told -- because I don't have cable TV and I don't stay up late -- I'm told that I was called out by Stefan Colburt [sic] -- I was called out as being a malefactor in oversight and execution of stimulus. Not only did he call me out, but he perverted the pronunciation of my name. . . . Now, if this is not unfair treatment -- [Earl] Devaney gets the centerfold, I'm 'decieve'. The only solace I draw from this -- the only solace I draw, is that, quite often, I'm mistaken for Devaney by various people. He's younger than I am, as you can see he's better looking and has more hair than I do so, being mistaken for Earl takes some of the sting out of the unfair treatment -- the harsh treatment by the press."

You can hear DeSeve's entire 'rebuttal' by clicking on the audio at the top of the page.