Jon Stewart’s Double Standards – A Retrospective
Speaking truth to power (as long as Republicans are in charge.)
It’s ironic and perhaps not accidental that tonight marks both the first Republican Primary debate on FOX News, and the final episode of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I look forward to a ratings comparison next week.
Stewart’s political shell game occupies two sides of the same coin. On the first side rests Stewart’s claim that he speaks truth to power—as long as Republicans are in charge, anyway. Once Obama became president and Democrats controlled everything else, Stewart became a protector of the powerful.
On the second side we find what the Daily Caller’s Jim Treacher calls the “clown nose on, clown nose off” routine. When Stewart says something that helps Democrats, he’s hailed as a serious news analyst. When he says something outrageous about Republicans, hey—he’s just a comedian.
In honor of his last show, Justin Monticello and Alexis Garcia of Reason TV have put together a reel you won’t see on Comedy Central any time soon:
The Top 5 Ways Jon Stewart Was Full of Sh*t
Jon Stewart has been a major cultural and political commentator for the past 16 years. He liked to take down the powerful—at least, when his head wasn’t shoved up Uncle Sam’s a**.
As The Daily Show host ends his run, reminisce with Reason TV the top five ways Jon Stewart was full of sh*t.
Warning: This video is rated R for language.
Liberals are positively giddy over Stewart’s last show, especially attention hungry celebrities who want to be associated with his legacy.
National Public Radio reports that Stewart’s set will be donated to the Newseum:
The Newseum Will Acquire Set Of ‘The Daily Show With Jon Stewart’
The Newseum in Washington, D.C., has announced that it will acquire the set of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart after the host’s last episode airs on Aug. 6. The museum devoted to the news says the set will be available for future display.
Stewart has hosted the late night show since 1999 and has interviewed an array of celebrities, including actors, authors and President Obama. He’s also been compared to Walter Cronkite from time to time.
“We are thrilled to accept the donation of these artifacts to the Newseum collection,” said Cathy Trost, senior vice president of exhibits and programs at the Newseum. “They are part of America’s cultural and media history, telling an important story about how political satire and news as humor made ‘The Daily Show’ a trusted news source for a generation.”
Walter Cronkite? Trusted news source? Please.
The clown nose is finally coming off forever.
Good riddance.
Featured image via YouTube.
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Comments
John Stewart Leibowitz is a product of a narrow demographic (those who actually watch the ‘Comedy Channel) and the uber-liberal writers who put words into his mouth.
I don’t think he could last 30 seconds with Mrs. Fiorina or Dr. Carson.
Full disclosure, other than an occasional clip, I’ve never seen Jon Stewart. But “Double Standards?” From the little I’ve seen or read, he has no standards.
Actually that comparison to Walter Cronkite might be valid, in so far that Jon is a Democrat sycophant and “Uncle Walter” was a Democrat of the Communist sycophant variety. Plus, Jon probably liked Obama’s goal of radically transforming the US; into a society that Uncle Valter would recognize and love.
Good riddance indeed!
I’m not a Rush Limbaugh fan (don’t hate him, just not my bag), but I noticed that his broadcast regarding Obama’s “common cause” slander yesterday was so on-target that the transcript was linked to, verbatim, by Power Line. Limbaugh remains a scourge after 30 years. Stewart was just a poodle.
Correction.
Stewart was just a poodle’s puddle!
::::ducking::::
“He’s also been compared to Walter Cronkite from time to time.”
Yawn Stewart IS a modern day Cronkite with calculated ‘hip’ snark.
See Joseph Epstein’s essay on Cronkite in Epstein’s book “A Literary Education and Other Essays.”
The essay opens “Here’s a little secret: Walter Cronkite, during his life billed as the most trusted man in the nation, the conscience of the country, the sagacious old uncle to us all, wasn’t very smart, and not especially wise either. He was instead a man making a living out of television journalism-a very good one-by pretending to be serious and objective, when it is far from clear that he was either.”
The essay’s epigram is a Cronkite quote: “But, gee, to depend on somebody to tell you the absolute truth every night and give you The Word every night, that’s a bad thing, a serious problem in a democracy.”
All politics is a job interview for a more lucrative career in media. Be very very wary of people who move in the other direction. They are typically glint eyed demagogues and fascists.
The evil axis of politics and entertainment occur when court jesters like Stewart help tyrants laugh their way into power.
Stewart completely misrepresented many a conservative, but never was called for slander since “it’s comedy”.
Besides his unfair deriding of anything conservative or Republican, his bits were set up in the context of news. But even that part was spin and propaganda.
So not only does he play/prey on the LIV leftist, but he makes that LIV feel informed, while they’ve really only swallowed his leftist spin and pretext. Upon those straw men he attacks political adversaries, with out of context quotes and half sentences parsed and freeze framed.
Just another leftist dishonest shill.
Stewart changed no minds – his audience went to him to hear confirmation of what they already believed. He’s a choir preacher. You’ll now see him (if you want) less often, but he’ll more shrill, more hypocritical, without a corporate network board overseeing him. He’ll be every talk show’s most sought after guest now. They’ll bring him on, they’ll bring up the latest issue in the news, he’ll blame Republicans or conservatives (no longer the same thing), the audience will clap, and it’s on to the next guest, the next hack job.
Gee.
You mean he’ll go all Oprah and get a couch for jumping on?????
Don’t get too estatic, the clown nose will persist past Jon Stewart’s show. It survives on with John Oliver and it impacts the way that a lot of people approach political issues.
For example, Benghazi saw an American ambassador killed. The Administration blamed it on a web video, which was clearly not true. Allegations of gun running to Syria have arisen. Also, Hillary Clinton’s email server shows a 2 month gap around the Benghazi date.
How do opponents address those issues? Well, they use Jon Stewart tactics and say “BEAHGAZEE! ARgahh! *drool*”. Clown nose on, won’t talk about it. Other Jon Stewart disciples will agree with the childish response rather than the methodical accusations.
We’re with the Clown Nose routine for the long haul now. Mockery rules the day. Thanks Jon Stewart.