First off, I’m a big fan of your show. Until you came on the scene, nobody thought politics could be funny. Yet you not only made it that, you made it hysterical. Mazel Tov to you, Mr. Stewart. You are an innovator in your field and I have the utmost respect for your accomplishments. Hell, I even bought a copy of Naked Pictures of Famous People. However, I do have one small bone to pick you. (This formally concludes the ass-kissing paragraph.)
I remember when you went on CNN’s Crossfire and berated Tucker Carlson for being a Republican shill. I remember thinking, “Wow, this guy's got big grapes.” But not only that. You passionately expressed your distress over the blatant partisanship and ineffectiveness of the current crop of cable news shows like Crossfire. Obviously, I couldn’t agree more. Tucker Carlson represented the absolute worst in close-minded party pandering. You pointed this out on his own show. Three months later, the long-running show (22 years) was cancelled, and CNN’s CEO Jonathan Klein publicly announced that he sided with you, Mr. Stewart. "I guess I come down more firmly in the Jon Stewart camp," said Klein. Now that’s clout.
I think you would agree that it is important that people in a position of power use their influence to better society. Airing (pun) your grievances about Crossfire led to its cancellation. This subtraction indeed bettered the quality of political news shows. However, judging by your most recent shows, I think you have gotten away from the non-partisan ideals which made you a champion of the lay person who is wholly unmoved by Washington politics. Back then, the show used to skewer everyone. Democrat, Republican, Independent, and of course Pat Buchanan.
Now it seems, your main topics of ridicule are President Bush, Condoleeza Rice, “Big Oil” and other flavor-of-the-moment liberal talking points. I get it, Mr. Stewart, President Bush is, “fucking insane.” So what do you propose we do? I understand your show is in the business of entertainment and its focus is on humor, but isn’t it at least a small bit reckless to criticize so fervently yet offer no viable solutions yourself? Unlike Stephen Colbert in the Colbert Report, the airs which you put on are not in jest. Some may say that your attitude of being decidedly more intelligent than the pols in which you caricature is unfounded because you have not provided any reasonable alternatives to the actions being taken in Washington. While I do not necessary agree with this argument completely, it is certainly valid.
Mr. Stewart, as much as it pains me to say this, you are beginning to fall into the same trap as Tucker Carlson. By continuing to disproportionately criticize one party, you are passively embracing the other. Consequently, this weakens your stance as an objective political observer who should be able to lampoon any fallacies or hypocrisies you uncover in the political arena. If your current path continues, you will be no better than Tucker Carlson . A “hack,” as you put it.
I know you are smarter than that, though. I say if you really truly want to be different, different from all of the political bloggers, cable news outlets, newspapers, and the like, then do something radical. Poke fun at all forms of unnecessarily partisan politics, not just instances that are in line with your particular political ideology. Make an entire episode of the Daily Show without mentioning President Bush once. Now that would be different. Show the world that you have the ability to lampoon not only Washington politics, but yourself. It has been proven that you have the ability to influence and sway public opinion. Despite your protests that you are only a ‘comedy show’, your responsibility is much greater. Please continue to be someone who helps the political system recognize their errors, regardless of political affiliation.
