Posted by
Jonathan on Friday, September 29, 2006 3:34:06 PM
In the course of his journalism career, "Kazakh journalist" Borat has suffered many insults. People have called him an anti-semite (apparently with some justification). And the Kazakh government has even tried to tar his reputation within the United States. Oh, the indignity of it all!
But Borat will not be silenced. In fact, he showed up at the White House yesterday:
Secret Service agents turned away British comedian
Sacha Baron Cohen, in character as the boorish, anti-Semitic
journalist, when he tried to invite "Premier George Walter Bush" to a
screening of his upcoming movie, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America
for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."
Also invited to the screening: O.J. Simpson, "Mel Gibsons" and other "American dignitaries."
Kazakh officials are unhappy about Borat's antics, to say the least.
Until recenetly, Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union and best known
for the Baikonur Cosmodrome and the rapidly disappearing Aral Sea.
But the country is independent now and desperately wants to raise its
image in the world in order to attract more foreign investment.
According to Reuters, Kazakh officials are eager to "assure the West
that, contrary to Borat's claims, theirs is not a nation of drunken
anti-Semites who treat their women worse than their donkeys." Best of
luck, Kazakhstan.
Borat, of course, doesn't need luck. Are you kidding? You can't buy publicity like this.
For more: Check out these YouTube clips of Borat's antics. And keep your eyes peeled for the November edition of Vanity Fair.