John Oliver: "Stop Letting Old People Serve In The Senate" (VIDEO)

The "Daily Show" took on John McCain's opposition to gays and lesbians in the military last night, turning the tables and mocking his age in the process.

John Oliver excused McCain for his hypocritical stance, saying, "I think he may have forgotten what he said three and a half years ago...Old people are prone to memory lapses."

Putting it bluntly, he proposed a solution that would keep inconsistencies like that from happening: "I think it's time we stop letting old people serve in the Senate."

Echoing the views of those who believe gays should not be allowed to serve, Oliver pointed out the affect of the elderly on Senate cohesion:

"These Senators work long days in close quarters. It's not fair to the other Senators trying to work on legislation, never knowing if one of the 'olds' is gonna come up behind them and offer them a hard candy...These people can't control themselves. "

Jon Stewart then countered, suggesting that old people should be allowed to serve, as long as they don't do it openly. Oliver fired right back: "Face it. You'd still know they were old. The first time you sat down for a meal with them and wound up spattered with a mist of cottage cheese and nostalgia, it'd all be over."


WATCH:

Comments

[zest]

09:49 AM on 02/08/2010

It makes no sense that the country is being held hostage by a very small group of old white millionaire men.

[tuberider]

05:33 PM on 02/07/2010

As long as we can enlist whatever ( for example: it turns out Crazy Larry with the 3 strikes from Delano is our best, uh... shooter) and buy more bombs and crap we'll be just fine. Sgt. New York, Trestles, California.

[BillLaimbeer]

10:48 AM on 02/07/2010

It would be cute if we gave them their own Senior Citizens senate, so they can feel like they're doing something with their retirement.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

06:49 PM on 02/06/2010

These guys are so clever.

[BobBluegrass]

12:48 AM on 02/06/2010

One of the best pieces of satire I have seen in a while.

[Janice Rawlins]

11:29 PM on 02/05/2010

I love old people, I really do. However, sometimes a person might just be right about a certain age serving in the White house. Maybe they should limit age. hum just a thought. I am old myself and losing track of what I am writing..he,he, nay,barely 49 but getting there.
I still love old people if not I would'nt love my grandparents,, who raised me.
Now I feel bad talking about older people.

[OldTart]

02:29 PM on 02/05/2010

John Oliver said what I've been thinking for a long time. First, I'm old - 67 yesterday. So I have credentials for my argument. This is the 21st century. The political and financial realities of this country are the responsibility of my children and after that their children. The Boomers had their day and produced two presidents: Clinton and Bush. I may be very agile mentally for my age, but I am past the responsibility that falls to my children as I am now retired. Let THEM determine how government affects their lives, not a bunch of out-of-date, pandering, corrupt and even demented old men (can't think of any old women in that category but we'll just glide past that one). Down with patriarchs, I say. it is getting embarrassing when it isn't funny.

[hypyrwyf]

10:55 AM on 02/05/2010

"flaming decrepitude" beautiful!

[EmmaJ76]

06:19 AM on 02/05/2010

People are too quick to dismiss comedy but what The Daily Show does time and against is uses satire effectively to show the ludicrousness of the political environment - and they nail it every time.

[LiberalJo]

10:52 AM on 02/05/2010

Completely agreed!

[houseafire]

11:39 AM on 02/05/2010

Completely agree :)

Jon does it again...pointing out the rediculousness of the whole situation...and, I agree, get rid of the old folks, especially in the Senate! lol

[screamingCNN]

04:29 AM on 02/05/2010

hilarious!! brillant spoof

[Lordcron]

04:12 AM on 02/05/2010

Will this mean Different Barracks for the Gays? So we'll have Barracks for the Men, Women, and now Gays.
Then we'll get into Barracks for:

1. Gay Men
2. Gay Women
3. Cross dressing men.
4. Cross dressing Women. ( Because some of them might want an AK, Grenade and a beautiful throw scarf with feathers when they run across that battle field and why!.......... Because Love Is A Battlefield!

Stranjay (B)itches!

[worldviewer]

03:23 AM on 02/05/2010

How is it at all relevant to military service who and how a person prefers to bonk?

Should EVERYone in the military disclose their bedroom habits for the sake of "not denying who they are" ??

[esfranklin]

01:11 PM on 02/06/2010

A soldier's sexual orientation is completely irrelevant to military service, which is why it should not factor in to whether or not someone is allowed to continue to serve. No one should have to pretend to be something they are not in order to do their job, unless what they are is incompetent or lazy (in which case, it would be preferable if the soldier in question - gay or straight - would at least pretend to be hard-working and capable). Qualification should be based on performance. Period.

[eddiefi]

01:18 AM on 02/05/2010

This was one of the most clever comedy sketches I have ever seen! Stewart and his crew are the best at this. But on a serious note, why are we letting a bunch of old men run our country? I am sorry but come on. Really think about this. I mean I know a lot of mid 70 people who are still very sharp but I don't think I want them running the government. I heard all the old Republicans talking today about why they did not support getting rid of Don't Ask Don't Tell and they sounded like some of the same old guys who said similar things during the 60s about civil rights. I mean they actually said that gays could not be trusted in battle situations because they think they will be trying to score with another soldier! I can think of better situations to try and score in than in a war with people trying to kill you. I really doubt that sex is what you are thinking about at that time. I am 57 years old so its not like I am some young guy complaining about this.

[festry548]

12:00 AM on 02/05/2010

Oops. I [heart] John Oliver!

[festry548]

11:59 PM on 02/04/2010

I