Jon Stewart, Fox News Trade Barbs

From the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz:

DENVER, Aug. 25 -- Jon Stewart ripped the cable news networks Monday as a "brutish, slow-witted beast" and castigated Fox News as "an appendage of the Republican Party."

Wearing a gray T-shirt and a healthy stubble, the "Daily Show" host told reporters that Fox's fair-and-balanced slogan is "a (expletive) you to people with brains" and that only "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace "saves that network from slapping on a bumper sticker . . . Barack Obama could cure cancer and they'd figure out a way to frame it as an economic disaster."

"I'm stunned to see Karl Rove on a news network as an analyst," he said of the Bush White House aide-turned Fox commentator.

A Fox News spokesman replied that "Jon's clearly out of touch," citing a Pew study showing the network has the most balanced audience in cable news, 39 percent Repubicans and 33 percent Democrats. "But being out of touch with mainstream America is nothing new to Jon as evidenced by the crash and burn ratings of this year's Oscars telecast."

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Comments

[Yellowcat]

I'm sorry, but I cannot imagine why anyone with more than 4 functioning brain cells would watch anything on Faux news. I finally took John Prine's advice and got rid of the tv. Now I have to actually make an effort to find out what's going on instead of having it poured into my neural system by a bunch of pandering idiots.

[ilovemydoggy]

I got rid of my TV too. It's like exiting from a TRANCE. You feel calm and capable of thinking again. I highly recommend it. As for "being out of the loop" - I'm sure if something really bad or newsworthy happends, someone will tell me on the street.

[Thad]

Memo to Fox: "Out-of-touch" is a turn of phrase you should probably avoid using during this election season.

[thebron]

By calling Mr. Zeitgeist out of touch, FoxNews did to Stewart exactly what he said they'd do with a cancer-curing Obama. And that's why they're so amazingly good at what they do: nothing will ever deter them from shaping their message. Thankfully Stewart & Co are equally unwavering and even better at packaging their message.

[RobertArend]

Watch the convention on C-Span. You get just the convention, not anything or anybody else.

On the CableNewsNetworks, the convention is just background scenery for the preeming and posing of these news celebrities.

[rcwblessed]

That's exactly what I'm doing... C-Span. The pundits on the other networks (especially ABC) gab through speakers they deem as unimportant, which I find very snobbish and rude!

[bobby2006]

The coverage on PBS is very good as well.

[ssg13565]

I am also part of the CSPAN fan club.

Our local paper ran a news wire story about how badly the other channels are covering the convention. They compared lots of channels, but did not even mention CSPAN nor PBS.

I wrote a letter to the editor asking them why they refuse to divulge the best kept secret around, the fact that CSPAN gives you coverage with no pundits, no reporters, and no commercials.

[queensboro]

thanks jon, they don't think we get it!

[Pronto]

Jon Stewart is "stunned to see Karl Rove on a news network as an analyst". I wonder if Jon Stewart is stunned to see James Carville as an analyst on multiple news networks and broadcast networks WHILE HE IS WORKING ON THE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON CAMPAIGN. My guess is that Jon is not "stunned" by that. What a phony.

[Ironfox]

To my knowledge Carville is not a statutory felon and traitor.

[Pronto]

Jon Stewart is a statutory felon and a traitor? I did not know that.

[clipper291]

Being raised a Christian and alter boy, I was taught that cheating, lying, etc, would send me straight to hell, well that didn’t frighten me that much so I continued to sin, now that I’m old and more concerned about my final outcome, I’m trying to be a good person, and the incentive that pushed over the hump to try to be good was that instead of going to hell, I’d have to watch fox news, the O’Reilly factor, with Sean Hannity, now added Karl Rove, I can’t imagine anything more disgusting then that, so now I’m living a good clean life.

[Pronto]

I'm glad you've discovered a piece of Heaven. Bless you, my son.

[darthmaul]

There is a difference between the two you know. While both Rove and Carville are political partisans. Carville was never under suspicion of breaking the laws of the land, revealing a CIA operatives identity, tinkering with the justice departments staff to make it more "Republican friendly" and thumbing his nose at a congressional subpoena. If his boss wasn't the president of the United States Rove would be in jail where he belongs.

[Pronto]

Don't kid yourself. There is no difference between Karl Rove, Paul Begala and James Carville. Rove was under suspicion by Chrs Matthews and Keith Olbermann and the rest of the press. Never charged with anything. And, thumbing your nose at Henry Waxman is hardly a crime - more of a virtue. But again, Carville is on these political shows as an "analyst" when he's working for Hillary's campaign. That makes a lot of sense.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Hillary Clinton campaign? Talk about out of touch. Where have you been for the last several months???

[kfdan]

John is just humorously pointing out that Faux News is NO NEWS!

[Criticalthinktank07]

I stopped listening to anything Fixed Noise has to say, a long time ago. More young people get their news from Jon Stewart than any MSM network would like to admit.

[1conservative]

Oh my gosh so now Jon Stewart is a cult leader?

[JiminNC]

Anyone that disagrees with the fascist party line is a cult leader, so of course Jon is.

[madnana]

The only "news" show I can stand to watch is the "Daily Show". The world is so grim and the politicos so stupid and frightening that if I can't take this poison with a little lightness, I can't take it at all. I am reminded that many of us who were the most frightened of nuclear disaster were often the ones who laughed hardest at "Dr. Strangelove". I have heard Jon Stewart talking seriously about the news; I have seen him politely but firmly disagree with Hannity ; he regularly has Bill Kristol on his show and although their politics could not be further apart, he is polite and gets his digs in in a way that Kristol can respond.
The "Colbert Report" is popular for the same reason, even if Steven is goofier. Satire is often more true than simple description. If people spent time on-line or reading different newspapers or (heaven forbid) books, we wouldn't have to worry about whether the media slanted left or right. People would form their own educated opinions. Too much reliance on the talking heads.

[QueenofSheba]

And if my grandmother had balls, she'd be my grandfather.
The best antidote for depression and frustration is action. Instead of wishing the great majority of people would act responsibly and vote intelligently on their own (they never will - it's "hard work") , volunteer to canvass, engage in GOTV activities, drive people to the polls on election day. Educate those lazy voters, whether they want to be enlightened or not.

[Zork4]

You got it, your majesty. Freedom isn't free, you gotta work for it and act on your opinions. And hey folks, before you form opinions, do a little research. And while your researching, set aside the prism you look through and keep asking questions.

Here's a question: 50 years ago outgoing Republican President Dwight Eisenhower used his departure from office to warn us of the danger of the Military-Industrial complex. Today, the Military and allied businesses consume around half the tax money raised in this country and the majority of the funds borrowed from future generations. The system is rich with pork and useless wasteful unverifiable spending. When will it end?

[JackND]

Out of touch...Jon Stewart.

Not with young voters.

Speaking of that, young voters have no excuse for not voting...almost every battleground state has early voting:

AK: Oct 20-Nov 3
CO: Oct 20-Nov 3
FL: Oct 20-Nov 2
GA: Oct 27-Oct 31
IN: Oct 6-Nov 3
IA: Sept 26-Nov 3
MN: Oct 3-Nov 3
MT: Oct 6-Nov 3
NV: Oct 18-31
NM: Oct 18-Nov 1
NC: Oct 16-Nov 1
ND: Oct 20-Nov 3
OH: Sept 30-Oct 6
OR: Oct 20 is when vote-by-mail starts
WI: Oct 5-Nov 3

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/voting-early-in-battleground-states.html

[QueenofSheba]

You forgot Texas...and absentee voting is available in every state, although some states require absentee voters to jump through a few hoops and be very creative in their reasons for needing an absentee ballot.

[RobVukovic]

There is no mainstream media, there is no liberal or conservative bias. It is, very simply, all about the money.Dog bites man doesn't sell newspapers, man bites dog might sell a few. Think of it this way. In 2000 the Presidential election was decided by a few hundred votes. I won't opine as to who actually won because I'm not trying to sell my comments. Also in 2000 both houses of congress were split about 50/50. The people in the media/news/entertainment business aren't fools even though they employ many of them. They were selling advertising and, in order to do so, they chose up sides. FOX went for the 50% conservative audience and MSNBC went for the 50% liberal audience. Of course, there are crossover advertisers and crossover audiences. I will watch or listen to conservative and liberal bloviators pretending to be news programs with an enthusiasm equal to that I have when watching pro wrestling pretending to be an actual athletic competition. Come on folks, it's just entertainment. As my folks use to say when I became upset over my favorite cowboy getting wounded: It's okay dear, it's only television.

[Criticalthinktank07]

Which is why I have been watching the Convention on C-SPAN. No political posturing, and partisan blustering.

[RJuna]

Absolutely! I'm so tired of the manic, babbling heads incessantly interrupting for fear of losing eyeballs. I love that I can watch the actual proceedings on C-SPAN, occasionally turning to my wife and discussing what's happening in Denver. Now THAT'S good TV.

[theknightb4]

You said it. It's so strange to see commentators so passionate and devoted to their parties. I like comparing them in my head to how regular people actually talk. In that way, these commentators always sound insane.

[RobVukovic]

There is no mainstream media, there is no liberal or conservative bias. It is, very simply, all about the money.Dog bites man doesn't sell newspapers, man bites dog might sell a few. Think of it this way. In 2000 the Presidential election was decided by a few hundred votes. I won't opine as to who actually one because I'm not trying to sell my comments. Also in 2000 both houses of congress were split about 50/50. The people in the media/news/entertainment business aren't fools even though they employ many of them. They were selling advertising and, in order to do so, they chose up sides. FOX went for the 50% conservative audience and MSNBC went for the 50% liberal audience. Of course, there are crossover advertisers and crossover audiences. I will watch or listen to conservative and liberal bloviators pretending to be news programs with an enthusiasm equal to that I have when watching pro wrestling pretending to be an actual athletic competition. Come on folks, it's just entertainment. As my folks use to say when I became upset over my favorite cowboy getting wounded: It's okay dear, it's only television.

[MsDoc]

I switched from CNN ( after years and years ) when I found myself throwing things at the television. Wolf Blitzer and Lou Dobbs have become charicatures of themselves I am reminded of "Frankly Unctuous " and "Walter Wonderful" from Allen Drury's book, Capable of Honor.

I read that Rove was working for Faux News, but I thought the writer was being satirical... I just couldn't believe ANY network would be that stupid. At least the Congressional Sergeant at Arms will know where to find him if that esteemed group ever gets off their tails and has that evil creature arrested.

Sometimes I just can't understand where this country has gone.

[Furby]

"Sometimes I just can't understand where this country has gone." ... and how it got there. Just look for a handbasket in hell.

[bija]

I agree with Jon Stewart. I have Fox "News" blocked so I don't even see it in my tv guide lineup while flipping around with my TiVo. I don't want to listen to propaganda.

[Gib]

I glance at it from time to time (only briefly!) on the principle that you need to know your enemy.

[plooger]

Faux has to redirect to the strike-hindered Oscars ratings as their line of attack against Stewart? Doesn't Stewart have some other regularly aired show from which Stewart's popularity trend could be determined?