Lakhota
Diamond Member
Jon Stewart is a brilliant comedian, but like all entertainers, he needs material in order to create satire and comedy. The Daily Show isn't a standup routine, it's a natural consequence of America's political culture. After all, when Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly represent patriotism and American exceptionalism, the fodder for laughs is endless.
Stewart's brand of humor and political analyses has always been based on an amusing look at conservative media's attempt to shape a national narrative. Insane quotes and odd viewpoints on everything from health care to where Obama was born can be found from conservatives today, and the GOP seems to know exactly what God is thinking and even why the good Lord thinks rape is a "gift." While many conservatives are happy to see him leave the show he created, the truth is that all Stewart's done is dare to look at Michele Bachmann from the vantage point of a sane person. In doing so, we laugh because changing "French fries" to "freedom Fries" is funny. Therefore, let's take a quick look at some of the "material" Stewart and hisDaily Show has turned into comedy, at the expense of Republicans who have assured voters they weren't witches and that God wanted John Boehner to remain Speaker of the House.
According to Pew Research, 30 percent of Republicans in 2012 believed President Obama was Muslim. In 2011, POLITICO stated that 51 percent of Republican primary voters thought Obama was born in a different country. This caused Newt Gingrich to claim that, "Shariah law is a mortal threat to the survival of freedom in the United States and in the world as we know it." Many conservatives still believe the president is a socialist and Herman Cain once stated that Obama was "determined to destroy our capitalistic system."
If conservatives view Jon Stewart as an irresponsible political satirist, it could be because conservative ideology is often times bizarre. The notion of a Muslim president born in Africa, advocating Shariah law and the destruction of our capitalist system, isn't just a perfect storyline for a comedian like Stewart. People around the country take this mentality seriously, which makes it even funnier. The Daily Show pounces upon this irrationality in our political system.
Mike Huckabee has compared being gay to drinking, swearing and classical music, while Rick Santorum believes gay marriage will hurt the economy. Indiana State Republican candidate Richard Mourdock once said that pregnancies from rape are "something that God intends to happen" and Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akinexplained that women's bodies can "shut down" pregnancies from "legitimate rapes." Rush Limbaugh once called a female college student a "slut," less than four years after he stated, "I hope Obama fails." According to Bill O'Reilly, Robert Bergdhal "looks like a Muslim" because of his long beard, but Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson is a darling of Fox News. Phil Robertson, by the way, is always good for some laughs, especially since he's on record as stating, "It seems like, to me, a vagina -- as a man -- would be more desirable than a man's anus."
Conservatives dislike Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, primarily because they've utilized conservative rhetoric from the vantage point of a sane person. For many, it is simply not sane or rational to believe that women's bodies can "shut down" a pregnancy after rape, or that "looking Muslim" is a bad thing, or that America should hear one's thoughts on why a vagina is better than a man's anus. Thus, imagine a Republican Mad Libs where you write in GOP quotes within the blank spaces of a sentence. Funny, right?
Ben Carson recently said that Obamacare was "the worst thing that has happened to this nation since slavery." Speaking of Obamacare, Michele Bachmann advocatedrepealing the ACA before "it literally kills women, kills children, kills senior citizens." Bachman also believed that "God is going to answer our prayers" and repeal Obamacare, and even said that fellow Republicans needed "to slit our wrists" and "be blood brothers" in order to defeat the ACA. Pertaining to immigration, Texas GOP Representative Louie Gohmert stated that Texas had the right to use "troops" and "ships of war" in order to defend against illegal immigrant children he likened to the "D-Day invasion."
So, a health care law is not only worse than slavery, but will kill people with what Sarah Palin coined as "death panels." Illegal immigrant children are invading the country and one Congressman believes Texas has the right to possibly wage war to protect its border. Do you find this bizarre, or does this make perfect sense to you?
If it does, then you've watched a lot of Fox News.
This is the material Jon Stewart has utilized for years in jokes, satire, and political commentary. What conservatives take seriously and what Fox News viewers feel is legitimate commentary is the same thing Stewart has used for years to make us all laugh. This says a lot about American politics.
Then of course, there's Christine O'Donnell's legendary television ad claiming that she isn't a witch. If you can get through the first sentence of this commercial without laughing, or at least smiling, then you might not have a sense of humor. In addition to not being a witch, O'Donnell made a statement many years back on MTV that might ruin the night lives of Newt Gingrich and especially Rush Limbaugh:
"It is not enough to be abstinent with other people, you also have to be, be abstinent alone. The Bible says that lust in your heart is committing adultery, so you can't masturbate without lust."
So, according to a person who could have become Delaware's Senator in 2010, masturbation is the same as cheating on your wife.
How is that not funny?
How did O'Donnell become the GOP candidate for Senate?
More: How Jon Stewart Turned Conservative Lies Into Groundbreaking Comedy and Enlightened a Generation - H. A. Goodman
Thank you, H. A. Goodman, for this enlightening and hilariously true article. I'm a big Jon Stewart fan.
