Jon Steward isn't a politician and definitely not a leftist. He's basically a political cartoonist (as he has said) with all the implications of that term. Political cartoonists often contradict themselves, just because the cartoons are cute. (Some, like the late Paul Conrad of the L.A. TIMES are more consistent.) He's also more interested in criticizing the media (CNN, Fox) for their foibles than he is in political positions.
On the other hand, sometimes the news he puts in between the gags is better than what the official news-readers (Katie Couric, etc.) spout. On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 10:07 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > November 3, 2010 > > The Anti-Empire Report > > Jon Stewart and the Left > > By WILLIAM BLUM > The left in America is desperate; desperate for someone who can inspire > them, if not lead them to a better world; or at least make them laugh. TV > star Jon Stewart is sometimes funny, especially when he doesn't try too hard > to be funny, which is not often enough. But as a political leader, or simply > political educator for the left, forget it. He's not even what I would call > a genuine, committed leftist. What does he have to teach the left? He > himself would certainly not want you to entertain the thought that Jon > Stewart is in any way a man of the left. > > He billed his October 30 rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC, as > the Million Moderate March. Would a person with a real desire for important > progressive social and political change, i.e, a "leftist", so ostentatiously > brand himself a "moderate"? Even if by "moderate" he refers mainly to tone > of voice or choice of words, why is that so important? If a politician > strongly supports things which you are passionate about, why should it > bother you if the politician is vehement in his arguments, even angry? And > if the politician is strongly against what you're passionate about does it > make you feel any better about the guy if he never raises his voice or > sharply criticizes those on the other side? What kind of cause is that to > commit yourself to? > Stewart in fact appears to dislike the left, perhaps strongly. In the > lead-up to the rally he criticized the left for various things, including > calling George W. Bush a "war criminal". Wow! How immoderate of us. Do I > have to list here the 500 war crimes committed by George W. Bush? If I did > so, would that make me one of what Stewart calls the "crazies"? In his talk > at the rally, Stewart spoke of our "real fears" — "of terrorists, racists, > Stalinists, and theocrats". Stalinists? Where did that come from, Glenn > Beck? What decade is Stewart living in? What about capitalists or the > corporations? Is there no reason to fear them? Is it Stalinists who are > responsible for the collapse of our jobs and homes, our economy? > > Stewart also grouped together "Marxists actively subverting our > constitution, racists and homophobes". Welcome to the Jon Stewart Tea Party. > In his long interview last week of President Obama on his TV show, Stewart > did not mention any of America's wars. That would have been impolite and > divisive; maybe even not nice. > full: http://www.counterpunch.org/blum11032010.html -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
