Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Jon Stewart- The Filet Mignon of Bulls**t?

So clearly Jon Stewart continues the tradition began by Will Rogers and carried by the legends like Bruce, Carlin, Hicks, et al. The jester who cites that the emperor is nude whilst he carries on as though he were wearing fancy duds.

Mr. Stewart went to the den of thieves and actually got one to admit that yes they were thieves. Stewart wasn't even callous about it. He called it effective and that they have a niche. Granted it is a disgusting niche. It's Goebbelesque in its deception, but it is a niche that speaks to it's viewer. He gave the host Chris Wallace a credit that must make his father cringe but still he gave him that credit. Mr. Wallace came out and admitted that Fox News does indeed cater to the right.  Stewart even admitted to Wallace that BHO was a disappointment to him. He even clearly stated that there is no left wing bias in the media. It IS more a bias toward laziness and sensationalism. Jon Stewart carried himself well in the interview. He made the point that he IS a comedian and when Wallace brought up "proof" that Stewart uses it as a shield Stewart in essence told him "Yeah, and...?"

No here's where Mr Stewart "proves" himself to be a liar. He told Wallace that Fox Viewers are constantly rating last in every poll in information received. They constantly misinform their viewer and that they are not above a lie to further their agenda.

Politifact.com. A watchdog for pundits I generally agree with, claimed that his statement was false. They even went so far as to show that Fox viewers were given better information than "The Daily Show". Of course it's not meant to be news!. It's not as slapsticky as it was when Lizz Winstead created it and Craig Kilbourne was the host. It has more (and it's hard to believe that this is the right word) gravitas than it did then, but at it's core it is a satire of news shows. If you get something out of it, good for you, but by no means is the daily show a true comprehensive "news" show. Though Jon Stewart has some earned journalistic credibility by showing all sides and even addressed the politifact "scandal".

Look all Jon Stewart is not the "news". Blue here isn't even news. I am clearly partisan. But what he has done shows more journalistic integrity than all the talking heads combined and perhaps that can be lesson if it is wanted to be applied by all the wanna be "news" shows.

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