Stewart's Public Service Announcement

I like Jon Stewart. He comes across as funny and partisan to the democrats, but he doesn't hide that. Yesterday, he did what I consider an extremely ballsy move and took on his hosts at Crossfire.

In a nutshell, he ripped down the facade of this 'intelligent' show. A show that reduces complex issues into partisan talking points fed to Carlson and Begala by party operatives, the goal being to convey the correct 'points' of the parties. Democrats will walk away from the show remembering the communications messages parlayed by Begala, which will rationalize their point of view. Republicans, will get the same comforting message from Carlson. It is great for ratings, because both sides can walk away feeling that their points are valid and defendable.

In short, it is an exercise in communications: make sure your target market receives 2 or 3 key messages in the space of 30 minutes. But Stewart ripped down the curtain to expose these two wankers.

STEWART: You know, the interesting thing I have is, you have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.

CARLSON: You need to get a job at a journalism school, I think.

STEWART: You need to go to one.

The thing that I want to say is, when you have people on for just knee-jerk, reactionary talk...

CARLSON: Wait. I thought you were going to be funny. Come on. Be funny.

STEWART: No. No. I'm not going to be your monkey.

(LAUGHTER)
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STEWART: I watch your show every day. And it kills me.

CARLSON: I can tell you love it.

STEWART: It's so -- oh, it's so painful to watch.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: You know, because we need what you do. This is such a great opportunity you have here to actually get politicians off of their marketing and strategy.
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BEGALA: Don't you have a stake in [this election] that way, as not just a citizen, but as a professional comic?

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Right, which I hold to be much more important than as a citizen.

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CARLSON: I do think you're more fun on your show. Just my opinion.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: OK, up next, Jon Stewart goes one on one with his fans...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: You know what's interesting, though? You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show.

He handed them their asses on a plate. Carlson and Begala are partisan hacks clouding the issues with their garbage, and Stewart nailed them on it...