I couldn’t enjoy Jon Stewart’s work more if I tried. I take him for what he is, a talented comedian who specializes in media criticism and social commentary. He’s not a journalist—doesn’t claim to be and seems to be dismayed whenever someone calls him one—and he’s not a news source.
News is on Channel 7 at 5 p.m. News is not 9 p.m. on Fox News or 11 p.m. on Comedy Central.
Are we clear? Good.
I am, as I explained back in the summer edition of the Clarion, a libertarian. Stewart is, by most accounts, a moderate liberal. He openly supported Barack Obama, and seemed to support both Al Gore and John Kerry on his show during their respective elections. So how in the world can I–as far right as you can be–appreciate the work of someone so far apart from me on the political spectrum?
Because of what he brings to the table. Journalists are meant to be the eyes and ears for the public. But, who watches the journalists? Media criticism is important too, and Stewart seems to be the best media critic in the business today.
No, we do not agree on a number of issues–namely Stewart’s assertion that because the government runs the army and maintains the roads, why can’t they run health care?–but he seems to appreciate liberty and understands that a free society is a great society, even if some of what he supports constricts freedom.
Stewart seems to be cognizant of the failures of the Obama administration too. Stewart wanted change—who didn’t?—but like me, is far from pleased from what we’ve received. In Obama, Stewart saw a chance to truly break from the Washington tide. Instead, Obama is simply more of the same. Stewart hasn’t hesitated to mention this, either.
In particular Stewart has hammered the President on the issues of civil liberties. If George W. Bush was a cancer to liberties, then Obama is like a flaming chainsaw.
Concerning Obama’s record on civil liberties—including a Washington Post story on the President’s secret military programs—Stewart succinctly said, “you didn’t think we’d find out?”
But enough about Stewart’s commentary.
Let’s change gears and talk about this rally he’s holding. Called “The Rally to Restore Sanity,” it seems to be in direct mockery of Fox commentator Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally held in Washington D.C. last month.
The rally is October 30th, in Washington D.C, from noon to 3 p.m., because as Stewart put it, the sitter can’t stay past 3, so we have to get home.
Stewart’s mission? As the official website for the rally reads, the Daily Show sponsored event is “for the people who’ve been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives [sic]–not so much the silent majority as the busy majority” and seems to stand opposed to the idea of bringing a sign that declares either (that’s key for Stewart) of our last two presidents to be the next Adolf Hitler.
Stewart’s protégé of sorts, Stephen Colbert, is also having an event, but his is a march. I would assume that the two comedians would be working together on the event, but with allegedly different motives. Colbert—whose entire show and character is in mockery of cable news pundits—is holding a “March to Keep Fear Alive.” As the website for the march reads, Colbert believes America was based on three principles: “Freedom, Liberty and Fear.”
Colbert’s march is supposed to be funny and over the top compared to Stewart’s.
I understand what Stewart and Colbert are not, and I appreciate them for what they are. But all of what I said aside, it really helps that they’re funny. With politics being what they are, who doesn’t want to laugh sometimes?