Jon Stewart Defends Michele Bachmann Over 'Newsweek' Cover (VIDEO)

After briefing the London riots on Tuesday night's "Daily Show," Jon Stewart did something slightly out of the ordinary: defended Tea Party Rep. Michele Bachmann.

By now most people have seen Newsweek's latest cover featuring Bachmann with the headline "Queen Of Rage." But it's not the story that's making headlines -- it's the way Bachmann looks in the photo: wide-eyed, a bit startled and a bit startling.

Stewart concluded that it couldn't possibly be "an accidentally s***ty" picture of Bachmann and showed several photos of her looking very photogenic to back it up. Of course, he still worked in some amazing send-ups, including placing the cover side by side with the poster of Steve Carell from "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (the similarities are uncanny!).

Newsweek Editor Tina Brown has defended the cover, saying it aimed to capture how Bachmann is "galvanizing" voters in Iowa, but Stewart insists that the photo intended to make her look crazy. Watch the full clip to hear Stewart's solution for a Bachmann Newsweek cover that would actually do the trick -- without even using a photo.

WATCH:

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Comments

[Whistlejackett]

05:52 PM on 08/13/2011

Why blame Newsweek, all American news outlets use degrading photos, even the HP, which is a constant.

[Conjoe]

08:02 AM on 08/14/2011

Stewarts correct, you're correct.

[Whistlejackett]

09:38 AM on 08/14/2011

k

[pxbxcx]

04:56 PM on 08/11/2011

I don't agree with anything Jon Stewart is saying. We show pictures of old, wrinkly political men giving speeches with animated faces and no one stops to say anyone tried to make them look bad. She's supposed to look "pretty" in all of her pictures because she's a woman? That's what I'm getting out of all of this feedback. Only photograph her good side? Please.

[ZLM]

08:56 AM on 08/12/2011

She should at least look sane, even though she really isn't!

I'm an equal opportunity individual. I'll laugh at an awkward photo from anybody, but she is just the flavor of the week.

[Whistlejackett]

05:54 PM on 08/13/2011

I think they use video then choose the most silly pic from there. Trying to get a photo would almost be impossible.

[lynzyluhu]

01:14 PM on 08/11/2011

Just like the time she gave the speech and couldn't look into the camera and we all blasted her for it. Why would she approve this photo?? I blame her publicist!! Or is it an agent?

[NonPrawf]

10:29 AM on 08/11/2011

She can't hide behind her looks forever.

She needs to be attacked from every angle.

[ruthtruth]

08:48 AM on 08/11/2011

He didn't defend her as much as say that a better picture could have been used. If you watch the whole thing he disses her the whole time with her own words and then showed a picture of her comprised of her stupid statements.

[Hugatreetoday]

10:01 AM on 08/11/2011

Yeah, that was a classic last night. :-)

[ZLM]

08:57 AM on 08/12/2011

They're always classic! Jon Stewart is awesome!

[Ferris J Anderson]

07:03 AM on 08/11/2011

Why should it be up to the so called left wing media to make that tramp look attractive

[dennis1943]

05:51 AM on 08/11/2011

Gee,i looked at the cover and said: Somebody finally got it right...........

[William Sherman]

09:34 AM on 08/11/2011

If you want to criticize someone, use their words against them. Stewart had it right on the mark.

Newsweek has lowered it's level to that of a junky tabloid. It's a failed rag making a desperate attempt for publicity.

[cm86]

04:33 AM on 08/11/2011

Why do y'all have to be so mean?

[InedaName]

07:11 PM on 08/11/2011

It's not nice to say that people are a part of Satan because of who they love. Don't dish it out if you can't take it.

[cm86]

04:32 AM on 08/11/2011

you people are jer*s

[gurukalehuru]

05:09 AM on 08/11/2011

Wh*t?

[Ferris J Anderson]

07:02 AM on 08/11/2011

w*o?

[ApprxAm]

03:51 AM on 08/11/2011

use her words.

[Freenation]

02:29 AM on 08/11/2011

A lunatic will appear lunatic be it in picture or other forms of media, what is hard to understand here?

[VolatorVentum]

02:24 AM on 08/11/2011

Stewart is a comedian. He'll make fun wherever he can.

[Sol76]

02:04 AM on 08/11/2011

Sometimes The Daily Show tries too hard to appear balanced. I get Jon Stewart's point about a bad photo being intentional but has he considered that in Michelle Bachmann's case, it might be harder to find a good photo from any photo shoot? You can only do so much in post.

[AdamWest1313]

02:57 AM on 08/11/2011

To be fair, he DID show some good pictures of her as well.

[Sol76]

04:27 AM on 08/11/2011

Yes, they showed her best photos in her defence and that is commendable. She just may not look that good in most photographs and personally I think her ideas are ugly and outdated.

[hugodrax]

04:42 PM on 08/11/2011

I don't think he was trying to appear balanced. He was saying that using that photo left Newsweek open to legitimate criticism from her defenders and that attacking her with her own words is a much stronger position to take.

[eddw88]

01:47 AM on 08/11/2011

I agree with Newsweek. Don't give this crazed woman anything that might make her look sane.

[billysixx]

03:44 AM on 08/11/2011

What makes her "crazed"? The fact that she has a different opinion than you do? You're so "progressive".

[DaveAscone]

04:27 AM on 08/11/2011

Let me guess...... You get your "news" from Fox?

[Oniweeki]

05:12 AM on 08/11/2011

Excuse me, did you not watch the video? Her WORDS designate her craziness.

[DaveMB]

12:56 AM on 08/11/2011

I like Stewart, but I disagree that the cover was unfair. That wide eyed look is not unusual for Michelle Bachmann. If she never looked like that, then it would be unfair, but if she commonly has that wide eyed, unblinking, cult look, then it's fair and also good journalism. I'm posting a link to show that that look is common for her http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/weird-things-michele-bachmann-believes