Who's Using Whom?

I know it's a kooky personal opinion, but I think if you're going to be making fun of politicians, you don't hang out with them. Exhibit A, from today's Washington Post, in a story about three presidential candidates guesting on The Daily Show:

Comedy Central General Manager Michele Ganeless says the channel has an open invitation out to all the candidates.

"Jon makes these guys feel comfortable. He provides them with an opportunity to reach an audience they don't always reach, which is young men," Ganeless told the Associated Press.

If satire is comforting the comfortable, what's it doing to the afflicted?