Jon Stewart: “Hurricane Katrina is George Bush's Monica Lewinsky”

After a week off, Jon Stewart opened his Daily Show on Comedy Central Tuesday night with a very serious lecture about the federal government's failures in the hurricane disaster. Without addressing the bias point that the media framework has held Bush and FEMA accountable to the exclusion of local officials, he scolded those who claim the "left-wing media is being too hard" on Bush: "No. Shut up. No. This is inarguably, inarguably a failure of leadership from the top of the federal government." Stewart's presentation culminated with a laugh line, "Hurricane Katrina is George Bush's Monica Lewinsky. One difference, and I'll say this, the only difference is this: That tens of thousands of people weren't stranded in Monica Lewinsky's vagina. That is the only difference."

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The MRC's Brian Boyd transcribed for me a portion of Stewart's opening remarks at the start of his September 6 show:

"The real question is, in the four years since 9/11, you have to ask yourself: Has the government's advancements, procedures, etc. made us safer, given us more comfort that they will have an effective, or more effective, response to catastrophic events? And I think it's very clear that the answer is 'Oh sh[bleep]t, we're in trouble.'

"Now, for people who are saying, 'Well, stop pointing fingers at the President. Left-wing media is being too hard.' No. Shut up. No. This is inarguably, inarguably a failure of leadership from the top of the federal government.

"Now, now, this is [audience applause], remember when Bill Clinton, I don't know if you remember this, when Bill Clinton went out with Monica Lewinsky? That was inarguably a failure of judgment at the top. Democrats had to come out and risk losing credibility if they did not condemn Bill Clinton for this behavior. I believe Republicans are in the same position right now. And I will say this, Hurricane Katrina is George Bush's Monica Lewinsky. One difference, and I'll say this, the only difference is this: That tens of thousands of people weren't stranded in Monica Lewinsky's vagina. That is the only difference."