Everyone appreciates when a meddling celebrity with little understanding of governmental operations tells members of Congress how to do their jobs, sarcasm intended. This rings especially true when the member of Congress they are criticizing is a Republican. Nevertheless, Jon Stewart continued his endless attacks on Mitch McConnell during a guest appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Monday night.
Although pursuing a noble goal of securing compensation for the first responders of the 9/11 terrorist attack, it seems it is Stewart who is making the situation as politically charged as possible for no apparent reason by attacking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In responding to a video of McConnell calling Stewart “bent out of shape,” Stewart bemoaned:
No! No! No! No, Mitch McConnell, I'm not bent out of shape… Basically, we're saying, ‘You love the 9/11 community when they serve your political purposes, but when they are in urgent need, you slow walk, you dither, you use it as a political pawn to get other things you want, and you don't get the job done completely.
To suggest a person only cares about the victims of a terrorist attack when it suits their needs politically is a typically vicious claim coming from a liberal comedian. Especially when there is evidence to the contrary, neither McConnell nor any other sitting member of Congress has presented a barrier to passing the Never Forget Our Heroes Act.
Stewart did not end on that point, instead he went on to suggest McConnell does not deserve first responder assistance in the event of an emergency:
Just understand that next time we have a war, or you're being robbed, or your house is on fire, and you make that desperate call for help, don't get bent out of shape if they show up at the last minute, with fewer people than you thought were gonna pay attention, and don't actually put it out, just sort of leave it smoldering for another five years.
The fact of the matter is, the Never Forget Our Heroes Act was never in danger of losing funding. Especially considering it has been renewed many times over in the past.
Read the transcript below:
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
6/17/19
11:56:31 PM
STEPHEN COLBERT: Jon, now that I've got you here may I ask you.. are you bent out of shape, Jon?
JON STEWART: No! No! No! No, Mitch Mcconnell, I'm not bent out of shape. I'm in fine shape. Well, I am out of shape. I'm really more pizza crust than man at this point. But I'm not bent out of shape. I'm fine. I'm bent out of shape for them. These are the first heroes and veterans and victims of the great trillions-of-dollars war on terror. And they're currently still suffering and dying and in terrible need. You would think that would be enough to get Congress' attention. But apparently, it's not.
STEWART: I feel like an a-hole. You know, Stephen, now I feel stupid. This is a huge misunderstanding. I didn't know that they were busy. Oh boy, now I don't even know what to say. I didn't mean to interrupt them with their jobs! Honestly, Mitch McConnell, you really want to go with the "We'll get to it when we get to it" argument for the heroes of 9/11? Listen, Senator, I know your species isn't known for moving quickly.
COLBERT: Would that be a turtle reference, Jon?
STEWART: It's actually just a little red meat for the base. A little red meat for the base. But, damn, Senator, you're not good at this argument thing. Basically, we're saying, you love the 9/11 community when they serve your political purposes, but when they are in urgent need, you slow walk, you dither, you use it as a political pawn to get other things you want, and you don't get the job done completely. And your answer to that charge is "Yeah, duh! We're congress. That's how we do!" But the truth is, that's not how Congress do. That's how the kids would say it.
STEWART: That's how you, Mitch McConnell, do. We've spent a year compiling bipartisan cosponsors and advocates for this bill, all in the hopes that when it finally gets to the great Mitch McConnell's desk, you won't jack us around like you have done in the past. So, if you want to know why the 9/11 community is bent out of shape, over these past, let's call it 18 years? Meet with them tomorrow, as soon as possible and don't make them beg for it. You could pass this thing as a stand-alone bill tomorrow. Meet with them tomorrow, but you know what? Actually, if you're busy, I get it. Just understand that next time we have a war, or you're being robbed, or your house is on fire, and you make that desperate call for help, don't get bent out of shape if they show up at the last minute, with fewer people than you thought were gonna pay attention, and don't actually put it out, just sort of leave it smoldering for another five years. Because that's how s-- is done around here, mister. I'm sure they'll put it out for good when they feel like getting around to it. No offense.
