Jon Stewart Rips ABC Debate

With just about every media critic weighing in on ABC's much derided Democratic debate, it's no surprise that Jon Stewart would take his turn. On Thursday's "Daily Show" he spent a total of 3 segments dissecting and generally ridiculing the inanity of the debate questions. "A 60 minute master class in questions that elevate out of context remarks and trivial, insipid miscues into subjects of national discourse," Stewart said, and then added, "which is my job. Stop doing my job."

Watch Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Comments

[rikkirighteous]

Hello, I'm a liberal snowman and I have a tough question. My balls have melted off, probably due to Global Warming. Is it true I have to change political affiliations and become a Republican to get my balls back? Let me know quick...the water's rising.

Signed,

Melty Meatballs

[leftbehind2000]

Last year they were claiming they had WMDs. This year they claim they have balls.

Will the deceit never end?

[Durango]

See, thats the difference.

Jon Stewart is funny.

You aren't.

[xtremeartist]

First of all Jon Stewart is funny as hell.. anyone who says otherwise is well... a REPUBLICAN. We all know they have no sense of humor whatsoever.
Second Jon was absolutely correct in his report. Step and Gib have lost any amount of respect and dignity they had left. As far as I am concerned ABC rates right up there FOX noise (news). Trying to put Jon Stewart in a class with Rush Slimeball is not even being real. Rush spreads hate, fear and loathing. Rush is a bigot, racist and worst of all.. conservative republican. Only idiot redneck inbred hillbilly folk listen to Rush anyway. (I listened once then stuck icepicks in my ears so stop the pain.)
I cling to one fact about the democratic race.. Many more people without a higher education vote for Hillary.
More college educated people vote for Barack. So what does that tell you? Oh and the fact that Hillary lies like a Persian rug.. oh yeah she does.

[NicoleAnonymous]

I'm not a Republican and with all due respect, I just don't think Jon Stewart is funny. And I really wanted him to be funny because I thought maybe everyone else sees the humor and I don't so I'm just a loser without a sense of humor...but you know what? He just isn't that funny and he has writers working for him so it shouldn't be that hard.

But I like the posts about him here because the people are diverse and interesting and so I usually try to join them. There just aren't that many funny comediens anymore and actually there just aren't that many funny shows anymore either. Everyone acts as though Tina Fey is the best thing to happen to comedy since Lenny Bruce or Steve Martin but I don't think she is that great.

[jeersforfears]

I wrote a story with the same insight and wit as yours when I was in 4th grade and was sent home for being behind in education and the maturity level necessary for one who is still in grade school.

One thing: No one said they felt sorry for me at the time, but I feel sorry for you. You're one up. Who says this isn't a compassionate country?

[IgnatiusJacquesReilly]

Though I agree with a lot of your points, it's this kind of bashing that turns people away the left-wing parties- what makes people label liberal elitists. Your points are already duly noted by anyone who watched the video, and you do more harm than good with that kind of washed-up rhetoric.

[CarlyCorday]

I am so, so lost now.


But! Regarding elitism and regarding um...oh yeah, liberal labeling, I do keep dearly WISHING those of you who do a lot of snotty bashing (of anything, Limbaugh-listeners or each other, doesn't matter) would be more, I dunno, loving and zen-like, so that Republicans in the process of LEAVING their party as fast as their poor little feet'll carry them will feel there is somwhere to go, like a whole other America out there just waiting to embrace them, talk to them, and call them Bro. And then, I wish they would vote Democrat. And then, this hell would end...

And the war criminals might even be punished. But first, it never ever hurts to have some manners (as if I have any, lol). When attacking Limbaugh (and EVERYONE should do that), don't attack his listeners, especially past listeners, unless you're in direct verbal combat with one (an easy, unfair fight, but we have to do it sometimes. OOPS.).

Some present-day antiwar bush haters used to be Limbaugh-listening repugs. It's a fact. And I don't want them thinking we're a pack of snarling haters, too nasty to approach.

We chased off the Ron Paul people. I wish we hadn't. If you couldn't call them Bro, you could at least call them Cuz. They were our cousins, and we ran them off.

Nighty-night.

[RoseBlue]

Stop with the "elitist" label crap. It's tired. It's stupid. And anyone with half a brain has moved beyond it.

[EngineerBill]

In case you were wondering, part 3 is here.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=166409&title=indecision-2008-philadelphia

[TurgidCaterwauling]

On his Sunday morning show, Georgie boy said criticism comes with the terrority. Fair enough, but I thought it was interesting how George Will, Cokie Roberts, and Sam Donaldson all rushed to the defense of Steph & Gibson as issues Americans really are interested in, as they speak to character and what a person is really like. Then they went on to take medi-care and social security to task as being America's biggest entitlement programs. Again, typical rich fat-cats who hate middle class Americans for not being clever enough to be as well off as those three are.

[millions]

Those of you who are incensed at ABC's handling of the PA debate may wish to have a look at Senator Kerry's blog where he discusses the net neutrality debate happening tomorrow. Protecting the neutral flow of expression on the internet is an extremely important way to ensure that there will always be an alternative to the often biased and compromised offerings of broadcast TV.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/the-other-big-event-tomor_b_97796.html

[mero909]

Love it! In part 2, I nearly died laughing about the lady asking about the american flag. Great stuff!

[AZDemocrat500]

Jon Stewart is not funny. Furtermore if this is how one gets their news it is no different than listening to Rush.

[KLRinLA]

Wrong and wrong,. This show is funny and for the most part honest - it actually does great "accountability shorts", wherein you have the statement of the day from the administration and then you get about 5 to 50 conflicting or constrasting statements from same person that make person look stupid/lying/insane, and from what I have seen the show typically doesn't take things out of context to prove their point.
The same cannot be said about Rush, which is based on white male racist emotional blabber (with a hint of drug induced feelings of invincibility and superiority). I am a white male, but not a racist, so I don't see eye to eye with Rush.

[You]

So the other day Rush played part of Obama's response to the "elitist" flap, ending with "But my larger point is...", at which point Rush told us what his larger point REALLY was, Rush-style. If he had let Obama finish, of course, it would have shot his show to hell.

Listen to Rush, and as you listen, notice how he deigns to let his listeners eat up the crap he feeds them - that is, Rush knows what idiots those Dittoheads are and taunts them right on the air. They of course, being idiots, have no clue...

[millions]

Actually, watching The Daily Show is pretty close to being the opposite of listening to Rush Limbaugh, on almost every level. John Stewart is a valuable voice in politics, and I think he's hilarious.

[leftbehind2000]

They are both are artists at buffoonery, but only one tries to be.

[loki]

I would love to see a debate hosted by Stewart and Cobert. Now that would be a great way to get these liars to stumble into some truthful answers.

[mero909]

A debate hosted by Stewart and/or Colbert would be fantastic!

[bmora]

Now that's something all liberalsprogressives can agree on. I cast my vote in the affirmative.

[Erlebnis]

When are the American people going to take their heads out of their asses? As I get older, I think I am getting wiser. But age isn"t the cause. I just keep learning more and more. I make the mistake of thinking everyone else is doing the same thing. They"re not. And it"s time I stopped denying it. Two terms of George W. Bush tells us a lot about at least half of the American people and maybe even people in general. They may get what they deserve after all. If we"re not ready to go beyond asking our presidential candidates about whether they pray to Jesus on a daily basis or looking for leadership based on whether they choose to ruin a good Armani suit with a 10-cent pin made in China, then maybe we"re just not ready to have a leader of substance.

[tandrmcdonald]

Note to Eelebnis;
Speak for yourself, Bub. I do not now and have never had my head up my ass, politically or otherwise, thank you very much.
The people who got what they deserved are the elitist mutts who voted for George W Bush.
I refuse to accept responsibility for the damage this empty suit has done to our country, our military, our economy and our international standing.
I've been ready for a leader of substance since 1999, but a slobbering Chief Justice of the Supreme Court handed the White House to an incompetent booze hound. Second time around the Republican machine and Dieboldt kept him there.
Last point, who is importing American flag lapel pins from China and why aren't the jobs making them being done by Americans? Look to the RNC for your answer.
Gramma Rose

[coolkraft]

right on...great post tandrmcdonald

[loki]

" When are the American people going to take their heads out of their asses? "
Your expecting a lot arent you? I do believe the calculated odds of that happening or less than winning a multi state lottery. Most of the voting public seems to have the genetic trail of head in ass. At least they act like they do.

[MaryOK]

Those questions may have not been the best or most insightful that could have been chosen, but I thought they should have been easy questions for Barack Obama to handle. Most of the so called - irrelevant topics have been alluded to or writen about in the MSM for weeks. I would rather someone ask me about my relationships, views on the American Flag so that I can address it, rather than have others address it for me. I have to say I was shocked at how ill-prepared Baracvk was when he was finally asked directly. He didn't do very well on the few policy related questions either - he was ratlled by the earlier quetions.

Barack won't have credibility as a "new Politics" guy if he uses that phrase too often as an excuse to avoid questions or to berate opponents characters. Clinton may have whined about having the majority of questions directed to her first - but she did answer them .

Barack should have known these questions were going to come. After having had at least 19 debates and having had most analysts suggest that the policy differences were not great , perhaps Barack needed to show he could handle questions about his own remarks and his associations. He doesn't seem to think well on his feet - and the number of debates he has participated in has not improved his performance from what I saw.

[KLRinLA]

See I disagree, Barack may have been agitated because of the ridiculousness of the questions, but he did answer them, and especially the flag lapel pin question he slam dunked it. paraphrasing: "Being raised by a single mom in small Kanas towns working his way up in the world and running for president - no otehr country could've provided him with that opportuntiy, thus he loves America"....how on Earth is that not a slam dunk answer? Not only did he explain how patriotic he was but also took away that "elitist " crap thrown onto him by HRC.

"He doesn't seem to think well on his feet "
-yeah right, he is probably the most nimble and intelligent political speaker this country has seen in years, ask anyone in the industry not being paid for by HRC

[Durango]

Not to mention the most charismatic.

[Bobzmcishl]

Compared to McCain and George W. Bush, Obama is an Einstein.

[ndolomar]

I think Sen. Obama sadly overestimated the maturity and integrity of the media -- after his speech on race. I guess he was wrong: we're NOT ready to move forward as a country and address issues -- something of which Sen. Clinton actually has a strong command. Yet, instead, we had to waddle through an hours' worth of substance-free questions about lapel pins (asked by people not wearing any), associations with former radicals (who also associated with Sen. Clinton's husband) and the Rev. Wright (who, aside from being asked to counsel former President Clinton after his faux pas, was deconstructed ad nauseam in the media and Obama's speech weeks before). I'm paying nearly $45 to fill up my manual-transmission, 4-speed Corolla -- I could give a New York rat's ginormous ass about whether or not someone knows a guy who knows a guy who said some things in his youth and doesn't wear an "American flag" lapel pin. When my friend no longer has to fear that one day she'll hear that her brother was killed in Iraq, when my parents don't have to worry about my dad finding work now that most of the industries in which he's worked have all moved overseas, and when I no longer have to work hard so that oil company executives can retain the lifestyle to which they're accustomed -- then, but most likely later on, will I care about a presidential candidate's wardrobe or 38-year-old non-controversies.

[JonasH]

Part 1 and part 3 are IDENTICAL.

[RedBirdy]

They all hated Jon Stewart last week, when he awarded Obama the dick move award. They only love you when you're nice to Obama, Jon. But most of us love you all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!11