White House press secretary Dana Perino appeared on The Daily Show Thursday night, and host Jon Stewart disparaged former spokesman Ari Fleischer as looking like a caveman. When Perino protested that Fleischer had a female following, Stewart cracked "Is that like the women who visit murderers in prison? Like the serial killer kind of a thing?" Perino said most questions don’t fluster her, except when Helen Thomas will "ask a question that is not based on fact." Stewart asked:
"Now do you find, now that the mood has shifted, I mean, you went through a period where, I mean, they were going through press secretaries, Ari Fleischer, McClellan, Tony Snow, and then we always used to make a little attractiveness chart because it seemed like the evolution of man in terms of --
Perino: They wouldn’t wear pink.
Stewart: Because Fleischer was, let's face facts, tough to look at. (Laughter)
Story Continues Below Ad ↓Perino: But a huge following.
Stewart, skeptical: Fleischer had a following.
Perino: Absolutely, women who love Fleischer like a web site, like a whole thing. (Laughter) There was.
Stewart: Is that like the women who visit murderers in prison? Like the serial killer kind of a thing?
Making fun of other men’s looks might not be the best move for a man who’s almost short enough to represent the Lollipop Guild. The other exchange came shortly after:
Perino: It does throw me when like, Helen will ask a question that --
Stewart: Helen Thomas.
Perino: – That is not based on fact.
Stewart: You say ‘Helen’ like the way people say she has – ‘cancer’ -- like when Helen -- The monster under my bed.
Perino: In the front row.
Perino insisted she has a good relationship with Thomas, and "was her date" at the Gridiron dinner recently. But it can get rough at the podium when the battle ax comes out.
The liberals like Stewart’s anti-Bush jab: "The president has said that he's going to sprint to the finish...can you get him to run faster?"
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
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fleischer was hard to look at? wow what is wrong with their tvs
March 18, 2008 - 00:15 ET by lunaticcringeradiohelen thomas with her shriveled crabapple head and hair that only james trafficant would envy, you couldn't put a plate of dog vomit on camera and put off more people.
helen was resposible for more viagra misfires whenever the late evening news popped up her jeepers creepers face.
sorry i just felt like being extra nasty today, i'm in a bad mood as that so many of liberal policies that are coming back to roost as our economy is suffering the effects of their class warfare wealth redistribution.
bring on mad max times, i'm ready.
lunaticcringeradio
Stewart
March 18, 2008 - 00:16 ET by ScrapironWomen would get what they see with Stewart, A pompus ass that thinks his s*** don't stink. I'll wager women can't stand him more than a few minutes before barfing up their last meal.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
Perino
March 18, 2008 - 05:32 ET by UnsaneMaybe I'm just incredibly shallow, or maybe this is just an observation being made from the perspective of a single guy...
But am I a bad person for thinking that Dana Perino's obvious advantage over the previous press secretaries is her being easy on the eyes???
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Shame on you! You're not
March 18, 2008 - 06:48 ET by motherbeltShame on you! You're not even supposed to notice what she looks like!! LOL
I don't think you're a bad person, and I'm a woman. Let's face it...TV is a visual medium. Being easy on the eyes doesn't hurt.
One of the "gentlemen" here, early in her tenure, posted that he thought she was "smokin' hot!"
Was that you??? LOL
No doubt about....
March 18, 2008 - 11:02 ET by SyriusMB,
...she is smokin' hot. She'll be on Fox News as soon as her tenure at the Admin. is over. Sweet!
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
More on Perino
March 20, 2008 - 04:20 ET by UnsaneWell, why shouldn't she? If Pierre Salinger and George Stephanopoulos can land gigs at ABC after their work in their respective administrations, why couldn't Perino get hired at Fox?
And, if she did, it would only be an affirmation that she is pretty damn hot. Fox does indeed know how to pick 'em. :-)
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Typical Lib
March 18, 2008 - 07:21 ET by Fargin BastigesTypical liberal: Jon Stewart judges conservatives by appearance and liberals by "merit".
Haven't you heard "LIBS take back their SWAGGER!"
March 18, 2008 - 07:33 ET by PawpawNSeems someone in MSM thinks DIMS/LIBS lost their mojo and now have gotten back their SWAGGER! http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9094.html Who took it away and why? What's making them take it back as their candidates and leaders in every state seem to be imploding/exploding!
"Typical liberal"? Give me
March 18, 2008 - 10:15 ET by balboa"Typical liberal"? Give me a big, fat, break. Read ANY post about Helen Thomas, or a photo caption post with Hillary in it.
Second, the concept of humor still alludes you guys, doesn't it.
But somehow, the concept of unintentionally-funny
March 18, 2008 - 10:19 ET by sarcasmoHasn't eluded all of us. The left AND the right just give me too-much material on a silver platter... ;)
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
Hold on,
March 18, 2008 - 10:27 ET by JerHold on, bal...Stewart called Fleisher an "ugly caveman" and a "serial murderer". Apparently...metaphors, similes, and analogies are impermissable when engaging in politcal humor. Somebody better tell Rush.
Jer
"Stewart called Fleisher
March 18, 2008 - 13:50 ET by stratman"Stewart called Fleisher an "ugly caveman" and a "serial murderer"."
Phew!
For a moment there I thought he/you were refering to Janet Reno.
Thanks for setting the record straight.
(No, I don't think either one is as described.)
RRAM Tough!
Yes, as Ann Coulter has
March 18, 2008 - 14:28 ET by balboaYes, as Ann Coulter has taught us, it's only with the use of the word "faggot" that one truly attains comedy genius.
Making fun of other men’s
March 18, 2008 - 08:54 ET by dmntd1Making fun of other men’s looks might not be the best move for a man who’s almost short enough to represent the Lollipop Guild.
I might have to put that as my .sig here from now on....
I really think that questioning others' masculinity is a game probably better left to people who haven't had more cock in and out of them than a Tyson Chicken regional distribution center. AceOfSpades 06162007
Though I don't typically
March 18, 2008 - 09:25 ET by Hero SquadThough I don't typically watch The Daily Show, I did catch this segment. I thought Dana did well, and that Stewart wasn't disrespectful. He didn't soften his persona too much while interviewing her, which I think is good.
As for the Ari Fletcher comment... if one has never poked fun at the appearance of the likes of Janet Reno, Madeline Albright, James Carville, Helen Thomas, etc., then I think one is free to be put off by what Stewart said.
*****
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will
"As for the Ari Fletcher
March 18, 2008 - 14:22 ET by stratman"As for the Ari Fletcher comment... if one has never poked fun at the appearance of the likes of Janet Reno, Madeline Albright, James Carville, Helen Thomas, etc., then I think one is free to be put off by what Stewart said."
I disagree. Everyone has said a callous comment at least once in their life. We're all human.
A demonstration of human endeavour is the desire and attempt to become better as individuals. Sometimes we all need to be reminded when we cross a line and shown a better way. Most people can see the utility of self-improvement and improved social skills.
We should not be deluded into thinking that we should never speak out against an injustice, for this will dilute our society further into crude and debased relationships.
Obama talks of 'we' as our brother's keepers. Ignoring the Socialist/Communist potential, he speaks to a righteous goal of helping each other, watching out for each other to prevent suffering. If only Obama was watching a little more closely he wouldn't be in the jackpot he is today concerning the words/deeds of his Pastor, his wife, his friends (eg Rezko), etc. It is right, even imperative that we investigate and speak out now about candidate Obama before we're all in the jackpot for the next four years.
As for comedians, Stewart considered as one, humor is in the eye of the beholder. Court jesters as they may be, comedians are given great leeway in their speech, and rightly so in our country, until judged as pure commentators without an attempt to be funny. Lenny Bruce, Dick Gregory, that idiot Munch from Law and Order and others crossed over into social commentary devoid of humor as the goal. Their speech was then correctly up for interpretation and criticism. The best thing to do with undesirable entertainers is to change the channel, though a little complaining is fine too.
Free speech isn't for comedian's only!
RRAM Tough!