Stephen Colbert digs deeper into Don Blankenship's bizarre campaigns for Senate, against 'Cocaine Mitch,' China

Stephen Colbert digs into Don Blankenship campaign ads
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Late Show)

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.

McConnell's opposition to Blankenship's candidacy isn't personal so much as rooted in concern that if Blankenship wins the GOP nomination, the GOP will lose the race. Colbert wasn't terribly sympathetic on that point: "Yeah, Mitch, Obama wanted his nominee to be on the Supreme Court, but sometimes a shady bastard ruins your plans, am I right?" Watch below. Peter Weber

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.