( cheers and applause ). >> jon: that's our show. join us next week at 11:00. here it is, your moment of zen.

>> now is the time to heed the timeless advice from teddy roosevelt. speak softly, and carry a stick. end of quote. i promise you, the president has >> stephen: tonight, republicans release a newant-obama attack ad. i can't wait to hear what country he was born in now. ( laughter ) then super-pacs go to college and immediately gain political power. and 15 pounds. ( laughter ) and my guest, jack white harks new album, "blunderbuss."

finally, a pro gun song not by ted nugent. james carville says mitt romney stole one of his famous lines. i don't remember romney saying, "hello, children. i live in your nightmare." ( laughter ). this is the "colbert report." ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: yeah! yeah! yeah! whooo! whooo! >> stephen! stephen! stephen! stephen! stephen! >> stephen: nice, nice, thank you so much. welcome to the report. thank you for joining. before we start off, i just want to say i would like to do tonight's show for the whales. ( laughter )

( cheers and applause ) well, nation, the general election is in full swing. and it looks like the only voting bloc that matters, other than stay-at-home moms, social conservative hispanic dads, and evangelical nascar uncles are the young people. ( cheers and applause ) you see-- i got the young demo. in the 2008 election, barack obama had the kids in the palm of his hands. he was an historic candidate. he spoke their language, and he briefly toured with the black eyed peas. but, mr. fresh-faced hopey-changey of 2008 has now become old gray haired grandpa didn't close gitmo.

and the younglings are in play. >> the polaroid needs these voters badly. in 2008 he won the youth vote by 66%. >> but some of that enthusiasm has waned. just 45% say they have a high interest in the fall election. >> i think if obama loses the huge edge he has among youth it's going to be a very, very close election. >> count chocula is right. ( laughter ) ( applause ) good to see him getting work. good to see him getting work. this could be close for obama, and obama is clearly panicking. because on tuesday, in a blatant pander to the youth vote, obama went on the jimmy fallon giggle-time news hour to talk about his student loan policy. it was a pathetically successful ploy to be appealing. and fox news nailed him for it. >> he's on jimmy fallon slow jamming about a policy that is

actually not going to help anybody. >> he needs to look presidential. does this make somebody sitting at home without a job, you know, without a home, or a home facing foreclosure saying, "i'm going to vote for him"? >> so lame, so unfunny. >> i just personally do not agree with the highest office of the land, the most important figure in world going on these comedy shows. i think it lowers the status of the office. >> the profit united states ordinarily wouldn't do that. harry truman wouldn't do that. >> stephen: exactly. why can't obama be more like harry truman. he knew how to reach out to the youth vote-- nuke japan. now, if obama must go on these shows, he should do it with dignity, like romney did on "letterman. >> number 9. >> what's up gangsta, it's the m-i-double fizzle. >> stephen: now that's kind of gravitas we want in the leader of the free wizzle.

( cheers and applause ) because, clearly, listen to him. mitt is down with the homies. he has to be. he has so many homies. and the most devastating slam of obama's fallon fiasco came from the republican national commit whoa showed america's youth the difference between a class clown and class president. in this powerful ad, a tale of two leaders. >> everywhere i go, americans are tired of being tired. and many of those who are fortunate enough to have a job, are working harder for less. >> now is not the time to make school more expensive for our young people. ( cheers and applause ) >> ooohhh, yeah. >> stephen: hashtag, not funny. turn off your atari, obama.

because the game is over. so, remember kid, when you step into that voting booth, ask yourself, who do i like? the guy i like? or the guy i don't like? ( laughter ) ( applause ) i think the choice is clear. now, luckily, folkes, i don't need any help relating to the youth kids because i'm young. i always-- ( cheering ) yeah, thank you. the people have spoken. they know i'm young because i always carry a full deck of yout yu-gi-oh. and i love the power rangers and i am strengthening my relationship with young america, thanks to colbert super-pac. you know our motto. say it with me-- making a better tomorrow, tomorrow. although, if you're watching this tomorrow on tivo, you should remember to add one yesterday. ( laughter ) now recently, a university of texas student be paul benefiel, wrote me asking for help

starting his own super-pac on his campus. mr. benefiel explained his motivation to kxan. >> he formed his own super-pac he has set aside texans like congressman perry and lamar smith. >> there's no better place to start something like this than austin, texas. >> this is the first of stephen colbert's super-pacs to hit a college campus. the university of missouri and purdue and it continues to spread to other college campuses nationwide. >> stephen: yes, i have planted a seed in austin, texas. and i'm sure no one will take what i'm about to say out of context eye want to spread my seed around a lot of colleges. ( cheers and applause ). because folks, let me tell you something, while the amateurs over here think that they've been going after the youth vote, i have been quietly building a vast network of college super-pacs with my colbert

super-pac super fun pack. it contains everything college students need to create actual super-pacs and become political king makers-- millions of dollars sold separately. ( laughter ) now, only 1,000 of these boxes were made and in less than one week, we sold out. but by today, they should all have been delivered to campuses around america. kids, here's how you recognize it. it's its thing in your mailbox that's not from val-pak, chase sapphire or whoever jury sumons is. that guy really want meas to come and hang out with him. i told you to stop writing me, mr. sumons. conot make me take you to court. so if you are one of the 1,000 college students who ordered a box,iment you to get out the include treasure map right now. because i'm about to reveal for the first time the actual treasure that this map leads to.

okay? folks, what is the one thing you never knew existed, but absolutely have to have? that's right-- it's a 100-year-old antique sterling silver bell in the shape of a turtle. ( laughter ) ( applause ) that, that's the sound of freedom. this priceless antique was made in chester, england, in 1911, and was likely used-- used to summon servants on british estates like downton abbey. but you can bring it to some politician whose loyalty you'll be purchasing with your unlimited super-pac money. oh, governor romney! ( applause ) bring me my tea, mitt, and relax

e.p.a. regulation. look sharp, man! now, this treasure in box will be hidden somewhere in the united states. the first super-pac rat track it down also gets a visit to their college campus from an expert in the field of campaign finance, stephen colbert. now, fair warn, kids-- i have heard he's also looking to spread his seed. and now, to start the treasure hunt, i reveal the launch clue. red, yellow, orange, green, blue, pink, light blue, black. and, yes, that looks like the gay pride flag because we're here, we're using unlimited funds to influence the election, get use to it. ( laughter ) isn't that right, parents? ( applause ) we'll be right back.

( cheers and applause ). >> stephen: welcome back, everybody. thank you so much. i can listen to you doing that all night long. folks, my guest tonight is rock impresario, whose new solo album is called requested blunderbuss." it's a great album but it

takeses five minutes to lode into your cd player. please welcome jack white. ( cheers and applause ) thank you very much. jack, thanks for coming-- ( laughter ) where's-- where's jack? jimmy, where's jack? ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen, can i talk to you for a minute? >> stephen: we can talk over here if you wanted to. i'll be right-- i'll be right back. hold on ( applause ). ( cheering ) hey, what's up? >> do we have to do this? >> stephen: do what? this. >> stephen: the show?

what do you mean? do what? >> why-- i mean, what will we talk about? >> stephen: uhm-- >> you want to talk about music? that's ridiculous. it's like that phrase,un, it's like dancing about architecture, or singing about paintings or something. you want to set your billy idol again? >> stephen: we can go dance. we can go out there and dance. we don't have to talk. you want to dance. you are a renowned dancer. >> no, i am not. >> stephen: let's do a dry run. if you don't like it, we won't do it. we both sid sitdown and i say, "jack white. hey, good to see you again, how you been? >> okay. >> stephen: last year we did a record together. >> we did. >> stephen: you guaranteed me a grammy. how did that work out? >> i don't like the-- i don't think the voting process for started for that yet. >> stephen: really, when do we submit? >> usually a good year after the vord put out. >> stephen: listen, when we're nominated so we'll be going to the grammys together? >> yeah, all right, okay.

>> stephen: great. your new album is called "blunderbuss." >> yes. >> it's your first solo album. >> yes. >> stephen: is it any coincidence that you work with me and then you went solo? >> no, there's no coincidence at all. >> stephen: do you hear any of my influence in your recent work? >> no, i don't, not at all. >> stephen: i do. oh, yeah. it's subtle. it's subtle. >> as in what? >> stephen: the rhythm. it has rhythm. ( laughter ) a lot of your earlier stuff-- >> didn't have rhythm. >> stephen: well, polyrhythmic stuff. >> really. >> stephen: by the way, i offered to do some guest vocals on your album. i never heard back from you. is there any time for me to slap a little something in the background. >> i think we're going to get this album out as a preliminary. >> stephen: i'm ready to juice it. put a little electricity ♪ aaa-aa. yeah, yeah ♪ oooo-yeah-yeah. >> that's juicing if. >> stephen: let me tell you about it!

♪ aa-haaa. yeah ♪ can you use a little bit of that? ♪ a-ha, yeah ♪ let me tell buit. >> does that grab ( bleep ) by the balls right there. >> we will do some re-records of the record. >> stephen: i gotta ask you a question. we're friends, right? >> yes. >> stephen: that's the question. >> okay. >> stephen: i just want to have that oned record. ( applause ) jack white. pretty cool. thank you. it's official. tonight, you're performing your new single "freedom at 21." >> uh-huh. ( laughter ) are we going to talk about that? >> stephen: no. unless you do. >> i'm fine. i'd rather just play the song rather than talk about the song.

q. you did something here.to pr0 vinyl records attached helium balloons that have since landed throughout the southern states. >> yes. >> stephen: 1,000-- how many-- how many of them have been found by people? >> i've been told five of them have been found. ( laughter ). >> stephen: five out of 1,000. >> yeah. >> stephen: and are you head of distribution? ( laughter ) for your own label? >> uhm, well, what would that be-- >> stephen: one half of 1%. one half of one-tenth of 1%. that's the business model. that's what we call that in the biz. have you ever thought about just writing it on-- the sheet music and sticking it in the bottle and throwing it out into the ocean? people from all over the world could open it up. >> yeah. >> stephen: and then how much do they pay you when they find it? >> they don't pay me. >> stephen: they don't pay you. >> yeah. >> stephen: okay. why is the music industry dying? ( laughter ) ( applause )

i don't understand. >> imagine if you went to five people's houses and did the show in their living room. i think they'd probably never forget it. >> stephen: they would never forget it, and neither would my network pause i would be canceled. we go out to millions of people. >> you stay in one place and everybody comes to you, how nice. because i have to go on tour and get in a bus and go around the world. >> stephen: do you really? not tonight. tonight, that and that are spraying you out to the youth demographic. do you know anything about marketing, jack, anything? not really. >> stephen: you're getting the colbert bump right now. >> i don't know what that is. >> stephen: ride it. ride the wave that is my show. ( laughter ) >> did you invent this colbert bump in your head or is this actual -- >> stephen: no, those are actual-- >> can you back this up. >> stephen: no, there are studies that have been done. >> by who? >> stephen: people who study things, jack. >> it sounds like you're doing the interview right now. >> stephen: i'm not. this is just a dry run. >> okay. q. so, anyway, that's what wewo. >> okay. >> stephen: are you okay?

>> i guess so. >> stephen: all right, so are you ready to go do that? >> i guess. i mean, i don't have a choice. >> stephen: we're out of time. ( sighs ) i guess we'll just be back with the song-- with rwe going to do the song? >> yes! >> stephen: we'll be back

♪ ♪ >> ♪ cut off the bottoms of my feet ♪ make me walk on salt take me down to the police ♪ charge me with assault

a smile on her face ♪ she does what she wants to me that's right and ♪ she don't care what kind of wounds she's inflicted on me ♪ she don't care what color bruises that she's leavin' on me ♪ 'cuz she's got freedom in the 21st century ♪ alright ♪ ♪ ♪ two black gadgets in her hands all she thinks about ♪ no responsibility no guilt or morals ♪ cloud of judgement smile on her face ♪ she does what she damn well please ♪ right and she don't care about the ♪ things people used to do she don't care that what ♪ she does has an effect on you

she's got freedom in the 21st century ♪ ( guitar solo ) ♪ ♪ cut off the bottoms of my feet cut off the bottoms of my feet ♪ make me walk on salt make me walk on salt ♪ take me down to the police take me down to the police. ♪

( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: jack white, everybody. we'll be right back.