Leave it to Jon Stewart, and the writers of the Daily Show, to put the Rush Limbaugh 3-week national brouhaha into its proper perspective. While he starts with “Radio shock blob Rush Limbaugh” and his “daily noon to 3 afternoon mouth dump,” it’s not very long before he’s onto one of his (and our) favorite topics: Fox “News” Channel. Stewart was clearly having fun with this segment until one point where it appeared he allowed some real life anger to show through.
Stewart made the point that Fox “News” was heavily invested into making the Limbaugh issue go away by reporting ad infinitum about the false equivalency of what Bill Maher said. “Fox is saying, ‘Huh? So we’re even, right? Offsetting penalties. Let’s just say we all get back on what really matters to Americans: whether Obama is a Sunni or a Shiite.’”
However, it’s when Stewart mentions how, despite the Fox “News” Talking Points, there are still consequences for comedians who go too far, and referenced Michael Richards, Tracy Jordon, and himself as examples of people who have felt the consequences of their words, do we see his anger. After making fun of how he was called a racist when he mocked the oh-so-mockable Herman Cain, a dark moment appeared to intrude:
“And it’s not just news networks calling you racist that are the repercussions that comedians face at times. It’s the letters that they get, many of them handwritten…some of them containing white powder in the envelopes.”
Watch Jon’s face. It doesn’t take Tonya Reiman, Bill O’Reilly’s body language expert, to see he’s not joking. Anger, regret, and sadness seemed to cross his face in a flash before he recovers and gets off two mild cocaine jokes. He’s clearly referring to the recent incident when anonymous threats of biological attacks were issued against senators, media organizations, and some tee vee shows, including his and The Colbert Report.
Despite this slight pulling back of the curtain, this might be one of Stewart’s best—and funniest—and most justified—attacks on Fox “News.” The segment ended with Stewart looking deep inside himself, and then into Camera 1, and expressing his most heartfelt and carefully thought-out opinion on the entire matter:
“And, by the way, I’m not saying speech should be policed and censored, and boycotted, or that people don’t have the right to say crazy things, or to boycott things. I don’t believe that’s true. I think speech should be much freer. But here’s one thing I do believe: Fox, shut the fuck up ABOUT HOW VICTIMIZED YOU AND YOU ALONE ARE!!! NOBODY CARES!!!” [Emphasis in original; Video below the fold.]
NationBuilder.com (the host) also has a page where you can submit suggestions. I’m sure that the more they get the more likely it is the changes will be made.
And I didn’t miss quote him, well technically I did cause I don’t speak that way (thanks for racist comment about being dumb) “Queen. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” -hamlet act 3 scene 2
…now go back in your anger caves.
Too easy.
And is that a proverb? I thought it was what is known as a “transparent idiom.” But I’m not about to waste my time trying to explain the difference to you.
Ya gotta admit, Fox News having six minutes of bias for every one minute CNN and MSNBC show combined does get a little old.
Oh, and if you want some hateful, angry people… we have the folks at Johnny Dollar, Newsbusters, Fox Nation, Free Republic and Drudge report. Those people (including the majority of writers) want to kill anything that disagrees with them on more than two points. But I guess IOKIYAR is in play there.
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I find that, after a hard run of media stupidity, “The Big Bang Theory” is what does it for me. Mostly because Sheldon never fails to be a fictional face for whatever they did. Anyhow…
About the article itself- is it just me, or does Stewart look like he’s genuinely sick of Fox News’ crap? I know they’re a meal ticket for him, but the last few videos I’ve seen, he’s looked like he’s hoping for a day when someone else is the stupid one.
Aunty Em
LOL, Aunty! I just can’t watch The Five very often (as it’s rather stomach churning) but, when I do happen to catch the show, I make sure to watch a couple of 30 Rocks afterwards too. Then, if that doesn’t quite do the trick, I’ll immediately watch a couple of Seinfeld reruns also. That usually does the trick. Gotta do something to get that nasty Five taste out of my mouth. ;-]
Merri Jill’s sorry hubby is the biggest joke on Fox “News” Channel.
NOTE TO JON STEWART
A stockpile of News Corporation jokes will be coming your way this year. Have fun!
I watch a triple dose of 30 Rock starting at 6:30 weekdays. It’s how I depressurize after The Five.
I do know better, but at 5:30 in the morning with Fox and Friends First on in the background…feces happens. Thanks again for keeping me honest.
With all my love,
Aunty Em
Not a peep about what Stewart said on this morning’s F&F. I wonder if they are going to ignore it or perhaps they are just waiting for FOX’s so-called “brain room” to figure out a way to spin it for them. Or maybe F&F will just wait until next Monday and let the very unfunny Stine try and tackle it. Ugh! That Stine is painful to watch. BOR is on vacation so he’ll have plenty of time to figure out a way to go after Stewart. Too bad for BOR that Stewart spoke the truth and, as per his own rules, BOR can’t allow anyone on his show to justify the bad behavior by pointing to other examples of bad behavior, right? LOL!
Btw, I know BOR defended the theory (factually inaccurate) of what Rush said but did BOR ever actually condemn Rush’s use of slut, prostitute or his asking Fluke to post sex videos, etc.?
And, regarding what FOX’s Greta did to Louis C.K., check this out – especially what comedian Michael Ian Black says at the end.
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/louis-ck-drops-correspondents-dinner-
