http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/20/j...not-tea-party-on-summer-debt-ceiling-debacle/
Jon Stewart bashes Democrats, not tea party, on summer debt ceiling debacle
Published: 12:03 PM 09/20/2011 | Updated: 5:02 PM 09/20/2011
Liberal Comedy Central host Jon Stewart told Rolling Stone magazine that he has trouble blaming tea partiers for the summer debt ceiling debacle.
âOn the whole debt-ceiling thing, you can blame the intransigence of Tea Party Republicans all you want, but Democrats had a chance to pass a budget before they lost in the midterm election,â the Daily Show host said in an extensive interview. âThey didnât do it because they were afraid that those votes would cost them the House. Well, howâd that work out? They had the ability to avoid the entire fucking thing. And they didnât do it out of cowardice. So I have a hard time mustering sympathy for the argument that a couple of Tea Partiers took Congress hostage. â
Stewart also said President Obama shouldnât get a free pass simply because he faces a difficult Congress.
âWas it a factor? Maybe,â Stewart said of the difficulty presented by tea party-linked members of Congress. âBut conditions are what they are, and Obama is president. You are judged by how well you negotiate those conditions, not by how excusable the shitty end result is based on that itâs difficult.â
Overall, Stewart is disappointed with the Obama presidency.
âObama ran on this idea that the system and the methodology are corrupt. It felt like the country was upset enough that he had the momentum needed to re-evaluate how business is done,â he said. âInstead, when he got elected, he acted as though the system is so entrenched that it has to be managed rather than â I donât want to say decimated, because Iâm not an anarchist or a nihilist. But Iâm surprised at how much he deferred to the legislative process.â
Stewart added that he recognizes his criticisms might be somewhat unfair considering the challenges Obama faces.
âI recognize my own impatience, and I understand I am incredibly unfair. As someone who does what I do, itâs very easy to say what I say. Itâs tougher when youâre actually in it, like he is,â he said.
Asked about the Republican Primary field, Stewart expressed bewilderment that Texas Rep. Ron Paul wasnât getting more attention given his consistent standing in the polls.
âI love the fact that none of them talk about Ron Paul,â he said. âI donât understand how a guy with consistent grass-roots support at the level he has is not a part of the conversation. I saw on the news networks, âRick Perry enters the race and immediately jumps in at second place, bumping Michele Bachman down to fourth.â But they donât mention, âHey, guess whoâs in third place? Ron Paul!â
Email Jamie Weinstein and follow him on Twitter
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/20/j...on-summer-debt-ceiling-debacle/#ixzz1YbqXDx6B
Jon Stewart bashes Democrats, not tea party, on summer debt ceiling debacle
Published: 12:03 PM 09/20/2011 | Updated: 5:02 PM 09/20/2011
Liberal Comedy Central host Jon Stewart told Rolling Stone magazine that he has trouble blaming tea partiers for the summer debt ceiling debacle.
âOn the whole debt-ceiling thing, you can blame the intransigence of Tea Party Republicans all you want, but Democrats had a chance to pass a budget before they lost in the midterm election,â the Daily Show host said in an extensive interview. âThey didnât do it because they were afraid that those votes would cost them the House. Well, howâd that work out? They had the ability to avoid the entire fucking thing. And they didnât do it out of cowardice. So I have a hard time mustering sympathy for the argument that a couple of Tea Partiers took Congress hostage. â
Stewart also said President Obama shouldnât get a free pass simply because he faces a difficult Congress.
âWas it a factor? Maybe,â Stewart said of the difficulty presented by tea party-linked members of Congress. âBut conditions are what they are, and Obama is president. You are judged by how well you negotiate those conditions, not by how excusable the shitty end result is based on that itâs difficult.â
Overall, Stewart is disappointed with the Obama presidency.
âObama ran on this idea that the system and the methodology are corrupt. It felt like the country was upset enough that he had the momentum needed to re-evaluate how business is done,â he said. âInstead, when he got elected, he acted as though the system is so entrenched that it has to be managed rather than â I donât want to say decimated, because Iâm not an anarchist or a nihilist. But Iâm surprised at how much he deferred to the legislative process.â
Stewart added that he recognizes his criticisms might be somewhat unfair considering the challenges Obama faces.
âI recognize my own impatience, and I understand I am incredibly unfair. As someone who does what I do, itâs very easy to say what I say. Itâs tougher when youâre actually in it, like he is,â he said.
Asked about the Republican Primary field, Stewart expressed bewilderment that Texas Rep. Ron Paul wasnât getting more attention given his consistent standing in the polls.
âI love the fact that none of them talk about Ron Paul,â he said. âI donât understand how a guy with consistent grass-roots support at the level he has is not a part of the conversation. I saw on the news networks, âRick Perry enters the race and immediately jumps in at second place, bumping Michele Bachman down to fourth.â But they donât mention, âHey, guess whoâs in third place? Ron Paul!â
Email Jamie Weinstein and follow him on Twitter
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/20/j...on-summer-debt-ceiling-debacle/#ixzz1YbqXDx6B
