In an interview in the October 3, 2008 issue of Entertainment Weekly, liberal comedian Stephen Colbert explained what an emerging critique of Barack Obama might be: "He's a hope-ronaut. He's in a rarefied level of hope where the rest of us have to take tanks up with us." Interviewer Josh Wolk skeptically replied, "Is that really a comedic take? Seems more like a compliment."
Not backing down, Colbert's Comedy Central colleague Jon Stewart made clear that this "attack" on the Democratic nominee would be different then that of the harsh jibes at Republicans: "Even if you're satirizing how wonderful they are, that hyperbole is setting them up for an expectation to fail, especially within the American political system now, where authenticity — and apparently mediocrity — are the manna that the populace feeds upon." Earlier in the piece, Stewart derided, "You 'good values people' have had the country for eight years, and done an unbelievably s---ty job. Let's find some bad values people and give them a shot, maybe they'll have a better take on it."
Asked whether things will change if the Democrats control both houses of Congress and the White House, Stewart railed against the party for past examples of not being liberal enough: "And then they [Democrats] got in and were like, ''Really, you want to eavesdrop? Okay, we'll let this one go. But this is the last blank check! Unless you want another.'"
For the interview, Colbert dropped the faux conservative act that he perfects on "The Colbert Report" and railed against the Bush administration. On the subject of change, he complained, "Any change is as good as a vacation at this point...I don't know if you've paid much attention to the past eight years, but it has been a s---burger supreme. If somebody gives me an empty burger, it's better than eating s---."
In a previous example of the difference between the satire Stewart directs at conservatives versus liberals, he famously referred to columnist Bob Novak as a evil "vampire demon" on the September 18, 2006 edition of "The Daily Show."
[Correction: An earlier version of this post misidentified Jon Stewart at the person responsible for the "hope-ronaut" quote. It was Stephen Colbert.]
The entire EW interview can be read here.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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These two are the walking
October 1, 2008 - 09:25 ET by GlitchThese two are the walking talking definition of NO TALENT A@# CLOWNS! I have watched a few minutes of their mindless excuse for comedy and have come to the conclution that I wouldn't trust them to make a fart joke. I guess the only way people like this can keep a job is to suck up to the lowest common denominator. And what kills me is libs think that they are so urbane and enlightened and they think this crap is funny? My Goddaughter poops her diaper and its funnier tahn these guys.
Americans are far more remarkable than we give ourselves credit for. We've been so busy damning ourselves for years. We've done it all, and yet we don't take credit for it.
By bad values people
October 1, 2008 - 09:38 ET by Paul AtreidesI assume that they are referring to the high values of Nancy Pelosi, Charlie Rangel, Obama, Maxine Waters, William Ayers, etc., people who have had their shots and did more damage than Dick Cheney on that hunting trip.
As I've said before....
October 1, 2008 - 09:42 ET by TexndocIf this guy was all he's cracked up to be, his one time stint as Academy Awards host wouldn't have been a one-time stint. And a ratings flop. I mean, those are his PEOPLE.
I don't know that his stint
October 1, 2008 - 12:04 ET by balboaI don't know that his stint could be considered a flop, first of all, and second, hosting the Oscars ain't exactly easy. For all the talented people that could host, the only one that's truly gotten it perfected was Billy Crystal. ONE guy.
I'm amazed that people act like Stewart and Colbert shouldn't express their opinions in a magazine interview.
Bal
October 1, 2008 - 14:36 ET by MrShyBal, Bal, Bal... What are you still doing on this site?
(Kidding! Joke! Calm down... just a joke. You know I love you. :))
Btw, maybe you're too young to remember, um, Johnny Carson?
NOW PLAYING:
Governor Palin Get Your Gun
Well, sure, in the golden
October 1, 2008 - 16:37 ET by balboaWell, sure, in the golden age Johnny did a good job. But in the modern era, Crystal is the only one with the golden touch.
ONE GUY?
October 1, 2008 - 18:09 ET by timzankUhhhhh...ever hear of Bob Hope or Johnny Carson?
Bias?
October 1, 2008 - 09:46 ET by arkansaszippersWhy would anyone care if John Stewart or Stephen Colbert has an issue with the republican party?
They don't really claim to be "fair and balanced," nor are they journalists.
NewsBusters...
October 1, 2008 - 10:01 ET by Karma...“Exposing & Combating Liberal Media Bias”.
M
"Media" is not limited to "journalists". Does this help answer your question, AZ?
I guess
October 1, 2008 - 10:08 ET by arkansaszippersYeah, I guess, but I wouldn't say that their bias necessarily needs to be "exposed." I don't think they're fooling anybody into thinking that they don't have a bias. That would be like saying you have to "expose" Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hannity.
You may be correct on the
October 1, 2008 - 10:31 ET by KarmaYou may be correct on the "exposed" part concerning Stewart but, the occasional "combating" is appropriate in my opinion.
Well
October 1, 2008 - 10:49 ET by arkansaszippersI suppose there's nothing wrong with that.
The shows are funny though.
Zippers
October 1, 2008 - 15:01 ET by MrShyI can't stand Stewart's politics and especially the way he injects his bias into his show so much, but I also still find him pretty funny. Of course, sometimes, it's just laughing AT him.
Colbert, while seemingly as liberal behind his "Report/neocon" schtick, doesn't annoy me as much on his show, politics-wise, since the whole thing is so over the top.
NOW PLAYING:
Governor Palin Get Your Gun
So Just how Is Their Life Worse?
October 1, 2008 - 09:50 ET by ChasvsJust what the hell do these over paid morons have to complain about after the last 8 years?
I guess they figure it would be better to be paying higher taxes and looking over their shoulders for domestic terrorist?
the Democratss funcked up the mortgage financials and are getting a pass on it all. If these pukes think thatr 4 years of the dumb-ass obama will be a "vacation" they need to go back to their cribs and do some better dope!
We are so SCREWED!
it's worse than that
October 1, 2008 - 10:47 ET by theduck6Stewart, Colbert, Maher, Olberman and (God help us) The clowns at The View are trying to color themselves as viable news sources but aren't held to any journalistic standards of accuracy or integrity. They make jokes and completely misrepresent facts and then fall back on "it's a joooooke man, lighten up.
Come to think of it they aren't all that much different from what passes for journalists after all. Doesn't make it right though.
I'm pretty sure Stewart and
October 1, 2008 - 10:51 ET by arkansaszippersI'm pretty sure Stewart and Colbert never tried to paint themselves as viable news sources. They have comedy shows, for laughs. On Comedy Central. That doesn't exactly demand credibility.
Fair enough, AZ.
October 1, 2008 - 11:07 ET by KarmaThen is this credible?
Carlin?
October 1, 2008 - 11:14 ET by arkansaszippersha
No, not as a news source.
I was using that to explain how I felt about the difficulty in trusting government or media, when there are so many business interests involved. Plus, it's funny.
Steward is a hypocrite
October 1, 2008 - 12:47 ET by well99http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11TaDDUVcGQ
Such a lying piece of garbage.He is a partisan hack.Yet he bitches at them for it.What a piece of work.
I still don't understand
October 1, 2008 - 12:55 ET by balboaI still don't understand this argument. Stewart doesn't claim to be non-partisan, and he's not supposed to be.
That doesn't mean he can't criticize others.
Bal
October 1, 2008 - 13:31 ET by well99I didnt say he could not.Just that he is a hypocrite.He criticize those on Crossfire for the same thing he does.That is a hypocrite in my book.
He's a hypocrite because he
October 1, 2008 - 16:38 ET by balboaHe's a hypocrite because he criticized Crossfire for being a pointless back and forth that doesn't help anyone. Is Stewart's show supposed to help anyone? No.
balboa
October 1, 2008 - 18:58 ET by well99"Is Stewart's show supposed to help anyone? No."Are you kidding?I guess when SNL did the Obama/Hilliary skit it had no influence.
"He's a hypocrite because he criticized Crossfire for being a pointless back and forth that doesn't help anyone."
So just giving one view would be better.So he is the comic version of Olbermann?He is using comedy to push his own agenda.
The point is that
October 1, 2008 - 19:03 ET by balboaThe point is that "Crossfire" was supposed to be a useful give and take between the right and left that might help people figure out issues, and it wasn't. So Jon called them on it. The Daily Show isn't supposed to be anything but funny. Its intent is not to get liberals elected.
balboa
October 1, 2008 - 19:19 ET by well99Oh I see.Crossfire which had views from the right and left is bad.The Daily Show which has views from the left(oh comedy titter titter) is ok.Since Jon is suppose to be funny.
" Its intent is not to get liberals elected." Really?Let see humilate all but the left.With the occasion bone tossed to the right so Jon can say he is making fun of the powers to be.Gosh how could I make such a assumption that he is a democratic shill.
The _idea_ behind Crossfire
October 1, 2008 - 19:41 ET by balboaThe _idea_ behind Crossfire was good. The execution of that idea by the on-air talent was bad.
Let see humilate all but the left.With the occasion bone tossed to the right so Jon can say he is making fun of the powers to be.
He makes fun of what he and his staff think is funny. For eight years, that's been mostly the right. He's taken plenty of potshots at the left.
balboa
October 1, 2008 - 20:16 ET by well99"He's taken plenty of potshots at the left."Once a year wheather they need to or not.
"The _idea_ behind Crossfire was good. The execution of that idea by the on-air talent was bad."
Since it was on from 1982-2005 apparently some folks liked it.
Stewart
October 1, 2008 - 22:20 ET by arkansaszippersI don't get it. Why is he a jerk for calling out the guys on Crossfire? That show was pretty lame.
Zip
October 1, 2008 - 23:14 ET by well99He is a hypocrite for doing the same as them.He doesnt have someone that counter him that is all.He nailed them for partisan spin yet he does the same.
Crossfire
October 1, 2008 - 23:26 ET by arkansaszippersIt seemed like a lot of it was about them being on CNN and him on Comedy Central, and that people expect news from CNN. And the fact that instead of debate, they just have people yelling at each other.
Zip
October 1, 2008 - 23:47 ET by well99Well that happened no doubt.Still it was about partisanship and he pushes his agenda so no difference.Does it matter if someone lies to you yelling or quietly.It is still a lie.
Actually, he does claim that
October 1, 2008 - 14:46 ET by Matthew Sheffieldhe's just making fun of those in power.
As you can see from this interview, however, he sees far less to ridicule when it comes to Democrats.
"Too hopeful" is an appropriate criticism of Dem politicians but only in the context of when you look at how so many left-wing programs ('war on poverty,' 'affordable housing,' etc.) have failed enormously.
Stewart wouldn't do that, however, because as cynical as he plays on Tv, he's really just a conventional liberal who does have hope and faith in the Obamamessiah.
Thats it balboa!
October 1, 2008 - 15:01 ET by well99To the hound with you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At3cU20WYIM
relax
October 1, 2008 - 13:08 ET by dark_dsStewart and Colbert are comedians.... I find them both funny although Colbert's wit is far above Stewart ... Political satire is as old as America .... I like to laugh at myself .... sometimes both go over a line and then I just go that wasnt very funny and move on. Now the fact exists that there are some pretty stupid folks who actually get their news from these shows, there are some pretty stupid folks that get their news from Olberman too except he isnt funny. As I have watched Colbert and Stewart over the last couple years I have wondered when Bush is gone and Obama has taken the throne where are they going to get their material.
KUDOS TO THE WRITERS
October 1, 2008 - 14:09 ET by FC DOBBSTHE ONLY REASON THESE TWO HAVE GOTTEN
ANYWHERE ON TV HAS BEEN THEIR WRITERS.
I BET YOU COULD PICK, AT RANDOM,TWO GUYS
AND HAVE THEM MEMORIZE FUNNY LINES WHICH
ARE DEROGATORY ENOUGH TOWARD CONSERVATIVES
AND REPUBLICANS,AND YOU'LL HAVE TWO NEW
STARS ON THE HORIZON.SEND COLBERT AND
ON A SHORT VACATION; WHEN THEY GET BACK,
THEIR JOBS MAY WELL BE GONE. MAYBE THEY
COULD HOOK UP WITH THE SMOTHERS BROS.
"NOBODY PUTS ONE OVER ON FRED C DOBBS."
B.TRAVEN
truth in writing
October 1, 2008 - 14:30 ET by tremwebjunkIt's not really "exposing" bias when Colbert and Stewart openly say they're liberal off camera. Although it does plainly show that either that either Mr. Whitlock didn't bother reading the article, or hasn't seen Stewart's show, or else he might make mention of the fact that Mccain has been on his show more than a dozen times. And except for the second to last one they were all jovial, some would say pandering. Hell, in the EW article Stewart says he still thinks McCain is a good guy, just too managed by consultants these days.
I'm sure a writer for a site "exposing" the truth would obviously mention this, because the truth is more important than making an ideological point.
And, if not ideological,...
October 1, 2008 - 15:14 ET by Karma...what point were you trying to make here?
The vast majority of MSM journalists vote liberal when off camera. Big surprise. They're "exposed"! They also have had McCain on their shows many times. And...where does this go now? Oh yeah. The writers here should "expose" the truth that liberals have had McCain on their shows and did not shoot him because he's a "good guy", despite the fact he's opposing their god. How was that tremwebjunk. Was I close or should the writers here just combat the bias and stop exposing it for awhile to please you.
To Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert
October 1, 2008 - 19:25 ET by JnobleFuck off. Thank you.
Spock doesn't understand
October 1, 2008 - 19:51 ET by balboaSpock doesn't understand this comment.
Well I remember the now unbelievably
October 1, 2008 - 20:32 ET by Teddyinsincere boo-hoos that you pretended to cry about the 'good values people' who were killed on 9/11 upon your return to your shitty little show too, Stewart - or Leibowitz, as The Great One prefers to address you!
Bet you wish that I and others would've forgotten them by now.
Fat Chance.
The time I really figured this douche out
October 1, 2008 - 20:57 ET by Jnoble..was a couple years ago when he went on Crossfire and whined "Waaaaah! You're ruining the country! Waaaahh!!!"
Really, Jon? Were there people sitting around the dinner table saying "oh man, America is in so much trouble if Crossfire isn't taken off the air!"
Idiot. More accuratly, a "useful idiot" to carry the water for the MSM's daily talking points.
Well
October 1, 2008 - 22:26 ET by arkansaszippersI'm pretty sure he was refering to the politicians who try to get elected on a platform of "good values." As in, they swear to everybody that they're all about "good values," but when they get into office they're as corrupt as anybody else.
Nice try though. Bonus points for going all Giuliani and bringing up 9/11...
Yeah, I didn't get that rant
October 1, 2008 - 22:31 ET by balboaYeah, I didn't get that rant either. Takes a really cynical person to think Stewart was being disingenuous at that moment.
Angry rant
October 1, 2008 - 22:42 ET by arkansaszippersWell, apparently the ability to feel sorrow for victims of a terrorist attack doesn't cross party lines. I guess you learn something new everyday.
bal and his zipper surrender-monkeys to the end.
October 1, 2008 - 22:53 ET by R D HelmAnd no, bal, that was not meant as a back-handed compliment.
And if your boy Bill had been even half-way on-the-ball instead of chasing the fat-assed Monica around the desk in the "Oral Office," the "sorrow" you claim to feel for the very camel-scrubbers you both have expressed sympathy for numerous times on this very site, would not be necessarry.
After all, the 7th-Century illiterate barbarians hate America almost as much as you do.
-Dave
Fear makes people do weird things....it makes their brains stop working. - Dave Ramsey
My troll fuse length today: 0.000mm
Wow
October 1, 2008 - 23:01 ET by arkansaszippersI don't even know where to start...
1. My comment was about John Stewart.
2. When have I expressed sorrow for "camel-scrubbers?"
3. What gives you the impression that I hate America?
uh zipper
October 1, 2008 - 23:04 ET by porpoiseboyhe wasn't talking to you. his comment was directed to blaboa...sic
Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
I don't know
October 1, 2008 - 23:10 ET by arkansaszippersI thought he was talking to me too, because I used the word sorrow, and because it said "zipper" in the subject line.
Oh, never mind.
October 1, 2008 - 23:29 ET by R D Helm*
Reply
October 1, 2008 - 23:32 ET by arkansaszippersFirst, what the hell is a "camel-scrubber?"
Are you insinuating that everyone except the ultra-conservative hates America?
Edit: Oh wait, your comment is different now. Well forget it then.