aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Salon & TNR wrong on Stewart & Santorum
There is no nice way to describe Santorum; he’s a homophobe, he’s a demagogue, he’s a legislative extremist, and he’s got bad hair. Consequently Santorum is the most vulnerable incumbent in the Senate, trailing his Democratic opponent, Bob Casey Jr., in current polls. Yet in Stewart’s soft hands Santorum came out looking reasonable, just a normal conservative guy who, even if you disagree with him, will respect your point of view.
TNR:
The truth, as Stewart knows, is that “The Daily Show” isn’t just comedy. What gives his show heft--what makes it true satire--is that the program brings actual conviction to the stories it covers. Sure, it’s willing to digress into sheer silliness, but it just as often finds an ingenious way to make a serious point. The mystery, then, is why the sharpness vanishes as soon as a guest arrives on the set… With most political guests, Stewart sticks to harmless questions and gentle quips, and he seems unable to pursue an argument. Rarely have such flaws been more pronounced than last night, when Senator Rick Santorum appeared on the set.
I gather all of us would have preferred had Santorum experienced something similar to what Ed Klein went through on the Al Franken Show last month. But would it have changed any minds? Or just made partisans on both sides happy to post transcripts?
I wasn’t critical of Stewart. I tend to think he was living up to the ideal he espoused on the infamous Crossfire appearance. We celebrated him then. I thought we liked his message.
Apparently what we liked was the fight. Because last night, with Santorum, he was true to the message he espoused then. I went back and read the transcript. It’s worth another look. This is how it starts:
TUCKER CARLSON: Well, he’s been called the most trusted name in fake news. Next, we’re joined by Jon Stewart for his one-of-a-kind take on politics, the press and America.
PAUL BEGALA: Welcome back to CROSSFIRE.
STEWART: Thank you very much. That was very kind of you to say. Can I say something very quickly? Why do we have to fight?
(LAUGHTER)
STEWART: The two of you? Can’t we just—say something nice about John Kerry right now.
CARLSON: I like John. I care about John Kerry.
STEWART: And something about President Bush.
BEGALA: He’ll be unemployed soon?
(LAUGHTER)[...]
STEWART: Why do you argue, the two of you?
(LAUGHTER)
STEWART: I hate to see it.
I stand by my post, and Jon Stewart, for a better America.
