Stewart On Blocked DADT Repeal: 'Are We Run By A**holes?' (VIDEO)

Last night on "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart lamented the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" failing to move forward in the senate, leading him to ask if the United States really is "run by a**holes."

Just like the 9/11 first responders' health care bill that was "snatched from the jaws of victory" by the Senate, another seemingly popular bill can't become a law. The problem lies with both Republicans and Democrats acting like a**holes, as Stewart so artfully put it, beginning with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich) attaching the repeal of DADT to a military arms bill, forcing those who normally wouldn't vote to repeal to do so or risk looking soft on defense.

This terrible strategy begins a snowball effect of a**hole behavior, when GOP leader Mitch McConnell asks for 20 amendments to the bill, of which Senate majority leader Harry Reid says they could have one and also tied a "Dream Act" to the bill regarding illegal immigration, that conservatives would presumably not vote for.

After this tit for tat battle, Senator John McCain filibusters, and Stewart does all he can to keep from making innuendos when he suggests the Senate not try to "push this through." Still, Stewart had to state the obvious:

"Are we run by a**holes? Indeed."

WATCH:

Comments

[it is me]

04:39 PM on 09/29/2010

Hmmm, I bet if they reinstated the draft people would be quick to allow gays and lesbians into the military. Actually, if they reinstated the draft I would expect that the majority of people in this country would finally get so outraged that the wars would be ended really quickly.

[olddognewtrick]

05:30 PM on 09/26/2010

They had a slight production problem...The had to keep the meter at least 200 feet away from the host...It kept going off...

[Gregor53]

11:31 AM on 09/26/2010

The answer is Yes.  Wish the Democrats would do their D&$N jobs and challenge the Filibuster.  Let it happen as it is more difficult than one thinks. 

[William Arndt]

11:06 AM on 09/25/2010

I just wish we could stop them from amending/attaching unrelated language into legislation. They call it the safe school bus bill and constantly slip in riders that make it unlawful to chew gum or fund algae research in their home district.

[William Arndt]

10:59 AM on 09/25/2010

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100022196/group/Opinion/
Please keep facts straight. I feel an underinformed person is more dangerous to our civic well being than anything.

[Debbe Lewis]

08:47 AM on 09/25/2010

These jerks are just afraid that they might ENJOY having something inserted in THEIR a**h*les. Just remember all the recent "outings" of politicians going on record as anti-h0m0$exual while actually being g@y.

[Aerows]

11:52 PM on 09/24/2010

Yes, Jon, we are. Glad I could answer that question for you.

[Dosadi]

07:23 PM on 09/24/2010

SantaFeConservative 12 minutes ago (7:06 PM)
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There is a big difference between threatening to filibuster and a filibuster. An actual filibuster has not occurred since 1992. Period.

_______________________________________________________________________

This is getting too easy.





SantaFeConservative 12 minutes ago (7:06 PM)
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There is a big difference between threatening to filibuster and a filibuster. An actual filibuster has not occurred since 1992. Period.

[MsMassachusetts]

05:00 PM on 09/24/2010

I think being an as*h*le is a requirement for the job. I have a friend who applied for the job of town plumbing inspector. He was told that he HAD to be willing to be a bas**rd to people or he wouldn't get the job. He said no, he'd rather stay a good guy. Politicians, eat their young. Nature of the beast. :)

[spyder03]

04:19 PM on 09/24/2010

I have to agree with stewart, we are run by some preety lame people, the republicans are very fond of quoting the constitution and the bill of ights,but when it comes to gay people they pretend the equal rights of these americans don't exist. Everyone knows there have been gay soldiers in every war this country has been involved in and it didn't harm this country one iota, there have been more sex scandals by the very politicians that are against DADT,such as vitter,ensign as well as others that are to numerous to mention.

[Jdaddy1951]

07:24 AM on 09/24/2010

Gay and gay friendly people should vote against the Republican Party in November. And Susan Collins whenever she is up for re-election ...

[rich24h]

08:59 AM on 09/24/2010

good luck the log cabin rethugs will not only vote but will go out and help the rethugs in November so good luck

[Jdaddy1951]

10:06 PM on 09/24/2010

Thanks. Appreciate your encouragement.

[walruswheedchick]

07:12 AM on 09/24/2010

What is the big deal with DADT really? Gay men dont come to the army with flowers on their hair etc if you ask a majority of them this really is no issue? Nobody goes to a dinner party and starts telling everybody whether they are straight or gay or bi for example. Big fuss over nothing.

[rich24h]

09:02 AM on 09/24/2010

homophobic evangelicas and conservatives many of them who happen to be gay themselves
i`m a veteran and we knew which guys were gay and we did not cared as long as they did their jobs we treated them the same as every one because they are like every one else just gay

[davewtf]

08:32 PM on 09/24/2010

Same here. I knew a number of gay soldiers when I served. We didn't care as long as they did their job. Never were any problems.

And, as I say, figure out what a conservative is most against, and that is what they are most into.

[LazarusDurden]

01:03 AM on 09/25/2010

The right needs someone to vilify. Gays, immigrants, liberals, the poor, someone otherwise they'd have to talk about policies they don't have, or ones that have completely and utterly failed. So gay bashing it is for them!

[mamacat]

05:51 AM on 09/24/2010

If the super-majority requirement in the Senate were removed, DADT would have been repealed a long time ago, along with health reform that included a single payer provision.

Getting rid of the 60 vote super-majority rule in the Senate, and restoring the principle of democratic, majority rules, would help us to put this country back on the right track.

[Siebenstein]

04:36 AM on 09/24/2010

'Are We Run By A**holes?'


YES!

[Economist24]

03:46 AM on 09/24/2010

We're not run by A**holes. It's Jesus's plan that only straight men and women be killed in an immoral and unnecessary war.

[LazarusDurden]

01:05 AM on 09/25/2010

LOL Bravo! Awesome!