Jon Stewart Mocks Ames Straw Poll Entertainment Circus (VIDEO)

With the Republican presidential debate Thursday night in Ames, Iowa, the country's attention is now pointed at the quadrennial straw poll event taking place this weekend. On Saturday GOP presidential hopefuls such as Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum will set up tents and charm potential voters with petting zoos, musical performances, peach jelly and deep-fried butter logs with the hopes of identifying a clear front-runner before the winter caucuses.

Now if that's not ripe for comedy, we don't know what is.

On Thursday night's "Daily Show," Jon Stewart had a field day mocking what he calls, "some good old-fashioned, down-home, country vote buyin'" taking place in America's heartland this weekend. In the first segment below he previews what all the candidates have planned inside their air-conditioned tents. As it turns out, many have high-profile musical guests like country singer Randy Travis. But three candidates (yes, three) have booked none other than Mike Huckabee and his band to provide the entertainment -- Tim Pawlenty, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum.

"It's not a great sign for you when your musical entertainment could probably do better than you in a straw poll in Iowa," Stewart joked.

It was also worth noting that Sarah Palin is bringing her One Nation bus tour to Iowa during the straw poll event, even though she is not on the ballot nor is she a declared candidate in the 2012 election. Watch the second segment below to see how Jon Stewart's "Best F***in' News Team" gets sucked into each of the candidates' tents and, ultimately, into Palin's attention-seeking vortex.

WATCH:

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Comments

[SOS4USA]

10:25 AM on 08/16/2011

RON PAUL was the number one candidate that was discussed by several people my friend vacationed with. Only 2 clueless guys (very anti-political fishermen) didn't know about him or why their friends and associates all were RP leaders and followers in the state of MO and KS. At the place my friend's sister works, they are almost all RP fans. Its official. Ron Paul IS. People don't care if you're a "top tier" candidate by msm terms or not.

[Nelson Montana]

08:36 AM on 08/16/2011

Once again, kudos to Stewart and staff for some of the best reporting on TV.

Like him or not, Ron Paul is the most progressive candidates to date and he's completely ignored. Oddly enough, in the heartland where those "wacky progressive" ideas are thought to be poison, Paul does quite well. More proof that the media is clueless to what the public wants and just keeps shoving their own agenda down the viewers throats.

[saundeesay]

08:28 AM on 08/16/2011

I am completely disgusted with the coverage provided regarding Ron Paul. Everyone I know is voting for him, so I am not surprised he came in second (well, actually, I thought he would be #1). I was glad to hear Donald Trump state that Ron Paul is basically correct on his position.
Policitians are scared that they may not be able to continue to rip this country off for much longer... I no longer believe that news coverage is neutral and covering the news as it should. They are no longer doing their job.
I hope the country realizes what is really going on here....

[psmarc93]

02:56 AM on 08/16/2011

I appreciate his bit on Ron Paul. It's true, the press is actively ignoring him I think it's because it does not matter how many votes the guy gets, the GOP will not adopt him. He's disloyal and he's toxic. He'll betray the party in a heartbeat, and he'll start blurbing about how states have the right to have slaves if they want to and drive the whole clown car off the cliff with him.

[Nelson Montana]

08:37 AM on 08/16/2011

Well, that's not really true .

[psmarc93]

05:31 PM on 08/16/2011

???


Well, thanks for the well-reasoned rebuttal. Hard to refute an argument... that's not been stated.... yet?

[SOS4USA]

10:30 AM on 08/16/2011

What is disloyal and toxic is how Ron Paul brought new membership into the Republican Party that was falling off the radar after Bush II nearly killed it. Check your facts, he started the Tea Party movement which was co-opted by Republicans to resussitate them. The RepublicratParty is betraying America, Ron Paul is bringing the correction we seek. And slves? Thats what he wants to keep US from being - debt slaves.

[psmarc93]

05:34 PM on 08/16/2011

Perhaps he does want wonderful debt-free things for Americans, that's not my argument. I'm saying the reason why he's not getting any attention from the news media (ESPECIALLY FROM FOX -- they just laugh when they mention his name) is because the GOP is out to make him vanish. He won't do what the GOP tells him to, so they are not supporting him.

[Wade Ammon]

03:46 AM on 08/15/2011

Is it just me (Rhetorical, from what I read many see it) but how is it that the candidate that basically tied for first place at Ames is not being mentioned, ANYWHERE?

I have heard it all, "not electable", "too old and feeble", "too extreme". I have to say, Ron Paul seems to have an extraordinary grasp of the issues at hand AND gives original solutions to them (I say original because now some of the candidates are starting to mimic what he's said many times before).

What reason besides some crack-pot conspiracy about puppet masters of the mainstream media fearing a pseudo-revolutionary like Paul is there? I really would like to know because I hate being a crack-pot.

[deacon220]

01:44 AM on 08/16/2011

It's not just you.

[SOS4USA]

10:34 AM on 08/16/2011

The Revolution is ON. Don't worry about being called a crack pot. The ones they call nutjobs, are the same ones who recommended Americans buy gold and silver to hedge their savings against dollar devaluation, and the last time I looked, mutual funds took a big hit while gold and silver are worth 10 times what they sold for since 1985.

[Genius]

03:19 AM on 08/15/2011

The mods are worse than the trolls tonight!

[MiamiRob]

06:01 AM on 08/16/2011

They have been for some time. Since the takeover, only half of my posts make it through. My first two years on the site only 4 posts were modded, total! I had more than that today alone!.

[Ken Bradshaw]

02:43 AM on 08/15/2011

I want to be careful that what I write does not come out as a sound bite. Jon Stuart appears to be bright and intelligent and funny. I worry when comedians become commentators that the desire for a laugh overcomes deep and thoughtful analysis - no matter what are the leanings of the person. The sound bite that I am trying to avoid is that he/we are in danger of substituting wit for wisdom. In the case of this straw vote, so what if its a bit of a circus. In the long run most Americans are careful, thoughtful people. And if we need to talk about buy votes, I suspect petty zoos are not strong competition for pork barrel projects or entitlements. Ken

[magnusalpha]

06:31 AM on 08/15/2011

Americans are careful, thoughtful people....well sure, some of them are. All of them? In the infamous words of Brian Griffin, "Noooo no no no."

[Ken Bradshaw]

09:48 AM on 08/15/2011

Genius,

I look at my friends and neighbors. Hopefully, you do to. I suspect you know many good people, too.

[magnusalpha]

06:33 AM on 08/15/2011

They're demented and poorly reasoned because they think differently than you? Okay. Terrible logic on your part, but okay.

[whatchamean]

11:50 PM on 08/14/2011

everyone but republicans see how rediculous these candidates are.

[Flynnstone73]

10:18 PM on 08/14/2011

I am a Democrat so I hope against hope that Michele Bachmann wins the nomination. If she wins the election I am leafing the country because I don't know where we will be headed at that point.
Having said that Ron is on the money with the Ron Paul storyline. These guys are not being journalist and covering the story that's there. They are covering the story they want to be there.
I'd also add that of all the Republican candidates he is the smartest and has some very unique but well thought out positions on policy and the role of government. I amy not agree with them all but he is sincere and I respect him.

[Eagle Haslanded]

10:00 PM on 08/14/2011

Stewart is a bolshevik. I can't recall his bolshevik name but his surname is not English but one of those funny bolshevik names. I don't know if he is related Yagoda or Kaganovich but one must assume that one of his relatives surely must be.

[Mario Orizabal]

10:15 PM on 08/14/2011

Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz

[tpk]

11:01 PM on 08/14/2011

Neither Yagoda nor Kaganovitch had a sense of humor. Jon does.

[Ron Arnold]

09:48 PM on 08/14/2011

Comedy aside - what I find very telling is that every media outlet is vitually ignoring Ron Paul's strong second place finish (which was essentially within the statistical margin of error) and barely mentioning him in any articles. Question is - why? Perry is a Bush clone. Bachmann a neo-CON in sheeps clothing and Romney . . . forget it. The Oligarchs are in charge - and the enemy of the Oligarchy is the one they're virtually ignoring . . . ,

[deacon220]

01:47 AM on 08/16/2011

What do vittles have to do with it? I'm not even hungry. They're actually ignoring him. A shame.

[SOS4USA]

10:41 AM on 08/16/2011

Sometimes, as when people are lying and scuring the facts, it's what they do not say, or talk about, that you need to look for. Ron Paul is the granddaddy of the revolution that is going on whether they like it or not. A boulder is just as big and heavy if it is buried or if it is above ground. They want to control public opinion, and that is through sleight of hand, isn't it? I am tired of their elitist snob attitude snubbing the good doctor and making fun of his appearance, calling him names. One friend is posting bad stuff about him now on Facebook, and called him a fruitcake, etc...resembling a yapping chihuahua dog that doesn't know he is tiny. At least he's yapping at the criminal system, and not it's lapdog. RP2012

[Davenport Dave]

09:32 PM on 08/14/2011

Ames voted 2 to 1 for Obama. But they will gladly take the bagger's money . . .

[Kaphen DePriest]

09:05 PM on 08/14/2011

Bachmann, Romney, & Perry are NOT serious candidates. They are too fringe and will never be accepted by the people. It is fine to listen to their kooky ideas, but everyone knows they are only in the race to drum up airtime for their extreme ideologies. They will never be accepted by the mainstream.

If we are going to win this election, we need to support a mainstream candidate like RON PAUL!

[kevinc5a]

10:27 PM on 08/14/2011

Sure.

[Drogo]

12:50 PM on 08/15/2011

Ron Paul is MAINSTREAM????? And Santorum is a safe-for-work Google term....

[Kaphen DePriest]

01:16 PM on 08/15/2011

Absolutely, Ron Paul wants to:

1. Stop the wars.

2. Increase personal liberty.

What could be more mainstrean than taht?

[hiitthedirtboys]

08:26 PM on 08/14/2011

Wow,..... Lured into tents to watch "freak shows"...... PT Barnum was right "Sucker born every minute!!!" Fried Butter surprised Paula Dean was'nt first in line (Shes a butter-holic). WOW I'm really scared, Sarah Palin Bus tour to crash such Hallowed events ,....No one is safe from that woman-LOL "Be afraid....Beee very afraid !!!!"