Jon Stewart vs. John McCain: Why Is The Best Journalist In America A Comedian?
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That’s the thought that came to mind during Jon Stewart’s interview with John McCain. The thing is, it’s not that Stewart and I sit on more or less the same side of the idealogical aisle, but the fact that the questions McCain faced were just tougher than on any of the Sunday morning talk shows – supposedly the pinnacle of the MSM’s public service. I don’t know if its a lack of journalistic ethics, fortitude or just general laziness but the press is incapable of doing something that’s part of journalism 101: asking a followup. It’s a simple thing, when a politician gives you his or her line of beeswax, the proper thing to do is to say to them that you haven’t answered my question, or that your response is a bland platitude that evades what I was saying. This is simple. This ain’t rocket science.
And yet, the only person who consistently does it with any sort of journalistic rigor is a guy on a news show that is proudly fake. How low the fourth estate has fallen.
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“it’s not that Stewart and I sit on more or less the same side of the idealogical aisle”
RRRRIIIGGGGGGHHHHHTTTTTTTTT.
My favorite part was how McCain thought if he just kept talking he would win the point. He just kept trying to drown out Stewart. He’s been on TDS more often than any other guest. If you go back and splice pieces of all those interviews together, the difference in last nights appearance would be striking. He knows that he owns this strategy of surge, and it sucks. So he has to be an a-hole to all the non-koolaide drinkers. Jerk.
I should count the number of times McCain referred to Jon as “my friend”. Now there’s a hint that there was heat in that there interview.
Stewart’s got the best of both worlds: When he’s a dope, he can say, “I’m just a comedian”. When he’s in the least bit clever, he can say, “See, I’m a journalist”.
Oliver- I think you sell the Wallaces (father and son) short. I also think Russert does pretty good when he’s one-on-one with Republicans.
And then, of course, there’s Larry Kin… Oh. Never mind.
Except, Frank, Jon never says “I’m a journalist.” He’s always a comedian; however, he happens to ask more probing and insightful questions than those who call themselves “journalists.”
I must have missed the outcry over the times he’s been a dope. Maybe because there’s so few of them.
Why Is The Best Journalist In America A Comedian?
I had the exact same thought last night. Perhaps if more journalists were comedians (Bill O’Reilly, Rush and Coulter notwithstanidng), we’d actually get to the bottom of shit.
I think you sell the Wallaces (father and son) short. I also think Russert does pretty good when he’s one-on-one with Republicans.
You’re kidding, right?
Actually, I thought McCain, like Uncle Junior in the most recent Sopranos, managed to emerge from the fog and lethargy he’s been in since he snoozed through the State of the Union. I loved how feisty he was.
I loved even more that Stewart didn’t let him get away with anything. He had a stopper or a foillow up for every bit of pap, snap, and talking point that McCain tried.
And, for a toppper, he had a wow finish: Reminding McCain that the audience is on America’s side. (are you listening, Rudy? Darth? De Lay? ‘resident?)
Best Stewart interview with a right-winger. Ever.
Thanks for posting this, Oliver.
Jon may yet wind up taking over Russert’s show.
He sure does a better job. Russert never seems to have his homework done, and never follows up on obvious questions.
McCain DID try to run out the clock, the way Condi Rice takes five minutes to “answer” a yes or no question.
Loved it when Jon called him on it. “Settle down.”
When poor McCain has to resort to start the interview off by compairing his position to Cheney’s, just to make his look better:
Dear John,
It’s over.
Love,
America!
The real reason for his harder hitting questions is that he can get away with it. There are no alternatives for the pols to go to in order to get better treatment and reach the same audience. Get bashed by Russert on NBC? Hop over to FOX and get pampered.
Stewart has nothing at risk by annoying the pols. Comedy Central has no seat at the daily press briefing or on Air Force One and won’t be seen at (let alone risk not being called on to ask a question during) a White House press conference.
For the MSM shows, the candidates are doing THEM a favor by going on their shows, because there are other similar shows to go on. Stewart has no such concern (Colbert doesn’t count because he’s on the same channel). Stewart is doing them a favor allowing the candidates on his show.
Big difference.
Oliver: “it’s not that Stewart and I sit on more or less the same side of the idealogical aisle”
Dugge: RRRIIIGGGGGGHHHHHTTTTTTTTT.
Me: Here’s the thing, when the Dems screw up, he calls them on it. Sure, he has leans to the left, but he will attack his own side if he can get a joke out of it. Hell, I’ve seen him take shots at Dems when he could have turned the joke on Republicans because the Dems were the better target humor wise.
Oliver’s question is an excellent one, and it’s really Stewart’s main point. The media are as culpable as the Congress for the mess we’re in. Their inveterate suck-uppery enabled this mess. And they’re STILL too spineless to do anything other than say “Didja hear what Jon Stewart said last night?” and call it criticism.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
Call the Federal fucking Marshals, send them to Bernard Shaw’s house, drag that fucker out of his comfortable retirement and GIVE ME MY CNN BACK! From 7 to 8 last night, CNN was wall-to-wall Alec Baldwin’s Voicemail.
Are you fucking kidding me?
I reiterate: Oliver’s question is an excellent one. Maybe the most important one.
Just watched TDS of McCain. “We are where we are” says the Senator. Okay, so tell us now what. We are all aware of where we are, and most of the lucid people agree that it is in the middle of some serious sectarian violence, with a dose of carnage thrown in, courtesy of Iranian and Al Qaeda terrorist elements, as well as a few other actors with agendas. I don’t recall many people, other than political –agenda driven right –wing apologists, disagreeing with the assessment of chaos and violence in Iraq. The question that needs to be answered is “NOW WHAT?” The “surge” (escalation, augmentation, whatever) is the answer for how long? All I am asking of my elected representatives is a straight, concise answer to the question of “NOW WHAT?” Alright, that and an explanation or definition of what victory in Iraq will look like, or how we will know it when it occurs. EVERYONE who interviews a political operative and hears any reference to “winning”, “victory”, “defeating the enemy”, etc. needs to step up and press for a clear vision of what this ephemeral victory will look like, and just as importantly, what comes next. We did not press for these answers before the invasion and that is the reason why “we are where we are.”
All I am asking of my elected representatives is a straight, concise answer to the question of “NOW WHAT?”
Fair enough.
So ask them.
Not us.
Start with these guys.