Jon Stewart launched a rant against the news media on Wednesday's Daily Show for their mad dash after Hillary Clinton's "Scooby Van" as it arrived at a recent campaign stop in Iowa. Stewart mocked the running journalists, and likened them to five-year-olds chasing after an ice cream truck. [video below]
The Comedy Central host contended that "one reason not worth chasing Hillary Clinton's van – your reason – because let's say you catch the Clinton-mobile. Best case: you're getting a few seconds of footage of Clinton leaving the car, and going into a building – which is really not relevant."
Stewart zeroed in on the now-infamous footage of MSNBC correspondent Alex Seitz-Wald's exchange with anchor Thomas Roberts, as the media ran after Mrs. Clinton in real time:
JON STEWART: Tonight, we thought we'd check in with our old pals, the television new media – in a brand, new segment that we call, 'Seriously, Guys, What Are We Doing Here?' (audience laughs) The presidential campaign of one Hillary 'Dennis Rodman' Clinton (audience laughs) is but two days old – two days old! And already, the reporters assigned to her have repeatedly covered themselves in – let's call it glory. (audience laughs) From Monday's Chipotle Tex-Mex erection (audience laughs), to Tuesday's, oh, my God – oh, my God – oh, my God – that's her car! (audience laughs)
ALEX SEITZ-WALD (voice-over, from MSNBC's "MSNBC Live With Thomas Roberts): You can see the media running behind me here to chase the Scooby van. (audience laughs)
STEWART: You can't blame them for chasing the Scooby van, because it might have Scooby Snacks. (audience laughs) (Stewart imitating the character Shaggy from "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?") Like, wow! (audience laughs) But go on.
THOMAS ROBERTS (voice-over, from MSNBC's "MSNBC Live With Thomas Roberts): Wow!
SEITZ-WALD: And she's going around to the back-
ROBERTS: Wow, they're-
SEITZ-WALD: All right – and we'll see her – we'll see her very soon.
ROBERTS: Guy in the orange pants is pretty quick. (audience laughs) Alex, I mean, I'm looking at these people – wow! All right. 'Orange Pants' – he's really outnumbered now by all of the people (Seitz-Wald laughs) that are racing around the back.
STEWART: Hey! 'Orange Pants' has a name. (audience laughs) He's a person. His name is – oh, this is interesting – Phil Orangopong. (audience laughs) I don't know if I'm pronouncing that correctly. (audience laughs)
Holy (expletive deleted)! What – they're racing to her car? Last time anyone in Iowa was this excited about a wheeled vehicle, the Wells Fargo wagon was bringing musical instruments (audience laughs) they'd ordered from a charismatic stranger. Whatever happened to that guy? What are we doing here, people!? There are a lot of good reasons for you to be chasing a van – if the van was, perhaps, the Good Humor truck, and you were five! (audience laughs) If Zane was in the van – and you were five! (audience laughs) Or if you're not so much running towards the van, as away from Godzilla (audience laughs) – who, more than likely, would be chasing you saying, it's day two, people! (audience laughs) Slow down!
But I'll tell you one reason not worth chasing Hillary Clinton's van – your reason – because let's say you catch the Clinton-mobile. Best case: you're getting a few seconds of footage of Clinton leaving the car, and going into a building – which is really not relevant – unless you're reporting for 'Entrance and Exits Channel.' (audience laughs) 'The Entrance and Exits Channel' – you'll find us – here, here (imitates a flight attendant). (audience laughs and applauds)
