As NewsBusters reported, Vice President Joe Biden made a stupendously stupid comment on Sunday's Meet the Press about the NBC sitcom Will and Grace doing "more to educate the American public [about homosexuality] than almost anything anybody’s ever done."
The Daily Show marvelously lampooned this issue as well as the President's "evolving" position on same-sex marriage Tuesday with John Oliver making the accurate media comment, "TV has never been gayer" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
JON STEWART, HOST: For more I’m joined by John Oliver live at the White House. John, the president says his views on marriage equality are evolving. President’s 50 years old. What is he waiting for? Will and Grace not able to work their magic on the president?
JOHN OLIVER: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Jon, don’t be so glib. You and I both know that views on these issues can be very deeply rooted and extremely personal. It's up to each and every individual which sitcom will inform their world view.
Hilarious, and sadly true. But it got better:
STEWART: I understand.
OLIVER: During the Will and Grace years, President Obama was less concerned about gay marriage and more concerned about Raymond and how many people loved him, and how exhausting that must have been for Raymond.
STEWART: Yes, it was exhausting.
OLIVER: It was.
STEWART: But has the president seen Modern Family?
OLIVER: He has, Jon. I'm not saying he is all the way there, but yes, even he has to admit Cam and Mitchell are just meant to be.
STEWART: They are. There is an undeniable chemistry there.
OLIVER: And ultimately they are both great parents.
STEWART: It's the writing and the acting.
OLIVER: It is.
STEWART: But the point is this: Is the president's entire view of gay marriage shaped by television?
OLIVER: No, no Jon, of course. If that were true he’d be a huge fan of gay marriage. Let's face it - TV has never been gayer.
STEWART: That’s true.
OLIVER: You’ve got Smash, you’ve got Glee, and you’ve got that sport where guys roll around and punch each other in the [bleep].
STEWART: I actually don't think that last one is considered gay.
OLIVER: What? What is not gay about that Jon? I think that might be the gayest thing I've ever seen. That's ancient Greek gay.
STEWART: Fine, fine.
OLIVER: I'm not going to argue about this. That’s a fact!
I'm sorry, but that's a little below the belt. I'm a HUGE fan of UFC. Just saying.
STEWART: According to your reporting, we're still a long way from the president actually supporting gay marriage.
OLIVER: Well, for the time being. But let's face it - evolution is unknowable, Jon. I mean, look at how far Barack Obama has come on this issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRET BAIER, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Chicago’s Windy City Times has posted a copy of a 1996 questionnaire on its website that was filled out and signed by Mr. Obama when he was running for the Illinois state senate. He wrote, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.”
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: Wow. I mean that's full on support. He supported it back then.
OLIVER: Absolutely. Unequivocally supported it, Jon. Then he evolved.
STEWART: Into what?
OLIVER: A candidate, Jon
STEWART: I get it.
And so do we: even the Obama-loving Stewart is seeing through the president's "evolving" position on this issue.
The only question is will it become easy material for other late night comedians that have since Inauguration Day had a difficult time bringing themselves to mock the president they adore?
Stay tuned.
(H/T Mediaite)
