Daily Show's Stewart 'Quietly Visiting' Ailing Iraq Soldiers

Comedy Central's Jon Stewart was in Washington, DC Tuesday night for the USO-Metro Awards Dinner, where the Daily Show host was honored with a Merit Award from Joint Chiefs vice-chair General James Cartwright. If it seems an odd fit for a comic who consistently lampoons the Bush administration, the Washington Post's Reliable Source informs readers that all the comedic comfort Stewart gives critics of the Iraq War is matched by his efforts to comfort our wounded soldiers:

Turns out the comedian has been quietly visiting soldiers at Walter Reed and Bethesda hospitals, trips he began in 2004 to better understand the Iraq war. "I felt that I was living in a world of theory," he told the audience, "but I hadn't touched the reality and the humanity of it." The first patient he met was "funnier than I was" -- and Stewart's been a regular ever since.

Stewart told the Post, "I certainly get a lot more out of it than they do...If anything, it's made me angrier... You can be for the war, against the war, but you can't be uninformed about it. To see the human cost is part of the equation."

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Alive Day Memories From Iraq: A Focus On The Walking (And Wheeling, And Crutching) Wounded [HuffPo]
America Supports You: Star-Struck Marines Meet, Greet Celebrities [Military Connection]
Cause and effect [TONY]
Greg Mitchell: The 'Unsung Heroes' in 5 Years of War -- Even Stephen Colbert [HuffPo]
Paul Rieckoff: Troops Die While Bureaucrats Blunder: The Fight Against Red Tape [HuffPo]
Jon Soltz: Helping The Wounded During the Season of Giving [HuffPo]

The Bob Woodruff Family Fund

Comments

[DaDawg]

Well I feel like an ass for being mad that shows on Monday and Tuesday were reruns.

[transendentilist]

Yeah, same here. I though to myself, damn, they just came back from the writers strike and now they are taking time off?? But yes, I am so glad to hear of Stewart doing this.
It's like Al Franken. He has gone to Iraq at least 5 times to entertain the troops. Franken and Stewart are great examples to us all. They walk the walk, and don't just talk the talk.

[WMO]

Jon,
You are a mensch.

[GoCards1978]

And an amin (sp?, mensch in Arabic). It doesn't matter that it's no longer unpublicized -- that's not the point. The point is Jon cares enough to become truly well informed about Mess-o-potamia so he doesn't insult our troops while criticizing a failure of civilian "leadershi­p." I don't get his still being enamoured with John McCain though. He should be ripping him a new one on foreign policy. It's not going to be easy to exit Iraq, but McCain has no more inclination to do so than the Bush administration.

[bethinCary]

You're a good guy Jon..

thanks for being true to yourself. thanks for the work you are doing with vets.
Love ya!

[NotMyPrez]

So next time the trolls call Stewart unpatriotic, send those asshats to Walter Reed!

Stewart/Colbert 08!

[LeftVetPatriot]

Their/Your local VA hospital isn't as far away.

[transendentilist]

Funny, how it's always the ones who weaseled out of their duty to country, that are so fast to call others who did, unpatriotic. I am, by nature, not a violent man. But when I hear a draft dodging chicken-hawk condemn a real veteran for being unpatriotic, it makes my blood boil. There is no greater shame, no lesser injustice. (except for crimes against children)

[HumeSkeptic]

Jon Stewart is what the Right Wing would call a typical Terrorist-Loving America Hater who doesn't wear a U.S. flag lapel pin.

[transendentilist]

I am sure they have, many times. For a little guy, Stewart has huge cajones. Bless his soul.

[eplatypusunum]

It has been my considered opinion, after 40+ years of observation, that it is often the "little guy" who manifests courage. I've seen more big dudes turn out to be candy-ass cowards when the shi* hit the fan. We're human so there are always exceptions, but when it comes to having the courage when it counts, I've witnessed more brave acts by wiry little dudes than by the big guys.

But yes, Stewart has balls. I can't imagine what the last 7+ years would have been like without Jon and Stephen to cheer me through this long dark...

epu

[DELICIOUS]

Bu$h supporters and war supporters think a flag pin on your lapel and a win the war sticker on your pick-up truck is supporting the troops but enlist....­are you kidding? Hey, not me I don't fight I just support Repuklicant Welfare.

[countrycontemplative]

I'm glad to hear this as John's news show is the only one I really watch. Sad but true, Comedy Central has more believable news than all the talking heads. John has impressed me over time that he and Steven Colbert are the only two "news anchors" who see anything amiss about our presence in Iraq, Afghanistan and the sad state of our national union. Their own Indecision 2008 website is really worth a visit, http://www.indecision2008.com/.

[shengirl]

ummm, don't forget Keith Olbermann.­..

[artsandminds]

Yes, we all love Jon and his friends of the show: John McCain, Leiberman, Douglas Fieth, Paul Bremer, you name the hater they have been on the Daily Show, to be "grilled" by Jon, not. The big hitter there was Stephen Colbert, now he has my respect, he spoke truth to power, he was not like Stewart who puts a smiley face of evil.

[NotMyPrez]

arts-
don't be so naive and one-sided. At least JS is more "fair and balanced" and gives them enough rope to hang themselves.
Colbert is a satirist, as is to many degrees Stewart. If you take them literally- check your scrips they may be out of date.

[jsinclair]

Yes, Colbert is gutsy, stood 4 feet from GWB, and mopped the floor with him (was funny, too).

And, yes, Stewart is unfailingly polite and welcoming to the "worst of the worst". But....his dislike for hypocrisy and deceit of any sort always shines through (and, in its own way,is as important as any transient political message). Above all, he's a comedian. I may enjoy his show less than Colbert's, but I don't think less of him (or TDS) because it doesn't really take on the Republicans in any meaningful way.

He (and TDS) are still heads and shoulders above any other comedy or talk show on television (other, of course, than Colbert).

[transendentilist]

Stewart and Colbert are both geniuses in what they do. Stewart is a little more laid back, and given to great muggings for the camera. He is also a very good interviewer. Colbert is one of a kind also. he has a different style, but he is extremely quick witted. He has a rare talent.

[rmetz74]

It's on Comedy Central, not CNN. Jon is a comedian, not a journalist, it's not his job to grill anyone. Your anger is misdirected.

[transendentilist]

Stewart is also smart enough to realize that if trashes his guests, then no one will want to be on. He does what Charlie Rose does, he gives his guests all the rope they need to hang themselves, on national television. He sits respectfully by and watches in amusement. That's class.

[cowman]

He called Chris Matthew's book a receipe for sadness right to his face. He went on Crossfire and took them down.

[qwr]

I totally agree. With every evil person he has on and ass-kisses, I lose more and more respect for him. Don't forget his campaigning for Hillary Clinton right before Ohio-Texas­-RI-Vermon­t.

[KaAp]

I have watched you since you began on the Daily Show my respect for you has always been there ... and this just demonstrates once again your integrity and your patriotism ...

[transendentilist]

And genuine humanity!

[SeriousBlack]

I think Bush and Cheney (not sure about Cheney, actually) have made a FEW photo-op visits to wounded vets in hospitals. But not many. They can't do it on a consistent basis because it would remind them over and over what small men they are compared to the heroes in the hospital beds and rehab centers trying to put them and their loved ones lives back together again after losing body parts, undergoing traumatic brain injury, and being driven mad in a war that those 2 cowards started under false pretenses, because they thought it would be "easy", and because of Cheney's lust for oil.

[greymen]

Yay, Jon! You are so wonderful - and thanks for helping the Greymen keep their sanity during these rancid, vile past 8 years.

[Firbolg]

I heard that when Obama becomes president he intends to outsource the job of press secretary to the Daily Show. Good move, I say!

[transendentilist]

Stewart wouldn't be dumb enough to take the job. It's not really a difficult job. Well, not if the person is honest. Lies are hard to maintain.

[Pammy1151]

Great story. Great man for doing this.

[mach]

How much of a secret is this if it was repeorted a year ago?

[cowman]

No staged photo op, no mainstream media attention, no mention of it on his show...

[mach]

sheep

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i26f0065c630ae55db59c86116b0ebb3a

[mach]

liar.....g­oogle it...it took me 10 seconds

[CommanderWhitehead]

By any estimation­...he's no Colbert.

[bob5701]

I think they have different mothers.

[NotMyPrez]

Yeah Stewart never played a gay teacher on Comedy Central.

[transendentilist]

And Colbert isn't Stewart. They are each great in their own way. Why does it have to be a competition??? Damn.

[CommanderWhitehead]

If he didn't feel (mysteriously) compelled to suck up to murdering lunatics like McCain, they'ed have less credibility with the ill-informed populace, and eventually we would have far fewer wounded men and women in Military hospitals for him to feel the need to visit.

[DrPayne]

You ARE aware, are you not, that he is a COMEDIAN?

Why is it HIS responsiblity to "grill" McCain ?

[rmetz74]

Thank you!

[cowman]

You really think the credibility gain of appearing on a comedy show and being treated civilly has enough force to save lives?

[transendentilist]

Have you ever heard the phrase....­..."Thick as a brick?"

[WomanInOrangeSweater]

he doesn't suck up. He's polite. But he gets his point across without resorting to a shouting match. I find that refreshing.