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[Dan]

I love how Carlson kept trying to hold Stewart to a journalistic standard on his Kerry interview. "Dude, our lead in show is puppets making prank phone calls."

What was pathetic was that he wasn't even saying that he did a better job with his interviews/debates. He was just trying to make his wrong okay by demonstrating a supposed wrong by Jon Stewart. That's like, one of the dumbest things you can and one of the biggest problems in modern politics.

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Why was Stewart off the past week you think they would have been on for the debates.

 

[boredJonathan]

Such a shame if more people don't get to see this... it was classic

 

[BigJonsson]

Why was Stewart off the past week you think they would have been on for the debates.

Book tour?

 

[lachesis]

It was a good watch. I cannot stand that bow-tie guy, and personally would have smacked him, and Jon just did that.

lachesis

 

[Banjo Tango]

I can't believe I missed this! Do they repeat the show later on in the day?

Edit - Slow post, missed the first time this was answered. /cry

 

[Dan]

I can't believe I missed this! Do they repeat the show later on in the day?

Not according to the TV schedule on CNN's site.

 

[Cloudy]

OMG I need a vid of this NOW!!!!!!!!!

 

[boredJonathan]

Another question, anyone think this is going to catch on a bit? Maybe make some lesser news? (i.e. In other news, John Stewart owned the guys on Crossfire today...)

If it does it might be a way for some people to see what they missed

 

[samus4ever]

man, I wished I could have seen it. I still dont know how bad/good the O'Reilly one went. Did he blow up? Or was it a good disscussion?

 

[Dan]

I would love it if it made some news, but let's face it, Jon Stewart intelligently owning not just the Crossfire guys but a very large portion of television news programming... I'm not sure anyone's really going to want to highlight what he said.

 

[GG-Duo]

Anybody tape this?
I've always wanted to hear Jon Stewart being serious. He seems like he has a lot of frustration towards the media and dirty politics.


EDIT

I EAGERLY AWAIT FOR THIS PAGE TO BE UPDATED...

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2004.10.15.html

 

[Mugen]

The OReilly interview is on Comedy Central's website in its intirety.

 

[Jak140]

Al Franken's on CNN now, he mentioned John Stewart's appearance on Crossfire.

 

[N Coward Parody]

Al Franken just cited the Jon Stewart Crossfire interview in an interview with Wolf Blitzer. In regards to the "terrorism is a nuisance" stuff, Franken told Blitzer that it was his job, "as Jon Stewart just said to Tucker Carlson" to tell people what's plain-faced distortion of the truth.



*Noel Coward Parody

 

[boredJonathan]

And of course Blitzer just plowed on...

 

[Dan]

Meh, Al Franken annoys the hell out of me nowadays. He's just out there bashing one side and promoting the other. Outside of an official affiliation, he's no different than a normal Kerry advisor or representative. Just watching him shake his head as Bob Barr said both sides take things out of context... ugh.

I'm sure Jon Stewart would have a few bones to pick with Al Franken's methods just like the Crossfire folks.

 

[Hitokage]

I'll agree that Al Franken's a bit of a sell-out.

 

[Belfast]

I wonder if Tucker Carlson and the other regular panelists were even remotely aware of how incredibly smart Jon Stewart is. Anyone ever seen him on Celebrity Jeopardy? He ripped that shit up! There's no mistaking that he's a brain, but at least he has the comic sense to use his smarts in a funny and informative way.

 

[Jason]

here you go guys

CNN CROSSFIRE

Jon Stewart's America

Aired October 15, 2004 - 16:30 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: CROSSFIRE. On the left, James Carville and Paul Begala; on the right, Robert Novak and Tucker Carlson.

In the CROSSFIRE:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART")

JON STEWART, HOST: To their credit, once they found out Cat Stevens, who is of Islam, was on the plane, they immediately called out the Air Force and had the plane followed by a (INAUDIBLE)

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Are world events really a laughing matter? They are if you're Jon Stewart. "The Daily Show" host comes out from behind the desk of comedy's favorite news show for our full half-hour today on CROSSFIRE.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Live from the George Washington University, Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson.

(APPLAUSE)

TUCKER CARLSON, CO-HOST: Welcome to CROSSFIRE.

Less than three weeks before the election, we're going to take a break from campaign politics, sort of. Joining us will be Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central and co-author of a new best-seller entitled "America (The Book)."

PAUL BEGALA, CO-HOST: We will spend the next half-hour with the most trusted man in fake news. And he has got pictures of all nine Supreme Court justices naked.

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: Worth staying tuned for.

First, though, we will begin, as we always do, with the best little political briefing in television, the CROSSFIRE "Political Alert."

When he wants to look moderate, Dick Cheney invokes his lesbian daughter, Mary, on the campaign trail. When Republican Senate candidate Alan Keyes viciously attacked their daughter, Dick and Lynne Cheney said nothing. When John Edwards praised their evident love for their daughter, Vice President Cheney said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Let me simply thank the senator for the kind words he said about my family and our daughter. I appreciate that very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BEGALA: But now, suddenly, after four debate losses and 18 days until the election, the Cheneys are shocked, shocked, that John Kerry mentioned their daughter in a debate.

There is an important lesson here. If you're gay and you want your rights protected by the Republicans, it helps to have a daddy who wants to distract the country from the millions he made from Halliburton, the billions he ran up in debt, and the war he lied us into.

(CROSSTALK)

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CARLSON: I have to say, it takes -- it takes -- I admire your stones for defending the indefensible. Even you know that it's wrong, at the very least it's unseemly, to bring up this guy's daughter in two separate debates. And the fact they didn't get into an argument with lunatic Alan Keyes when he attacked their daughter proves nothing, other than they have good manners.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: And the fact -- I'm serious.

BEGALA: No, they have very good manners, Dick Cheney, sure. Really?

CARLSON: What is he supposed to say when John Edwards says, hey, how's your lesbian daughter?

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: He said thank you very much.

(BELL RINGING)

BEGALA: Cheney has raised the issue in the context of campaign appearances.

CARLSON: He has never a single time volunteered anything about his daughter's sexuality.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: And you know that that is true.

BEGALA: August 24, 2004.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: In response to a question. He never a single time...

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: He brought her up on the campaign trail.

CARLSON: Yes, I'm sure he did.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: That's just the one that I -- yes, he did. Check it out on Google.

CARLSON: Yes, my lesbian daughter.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: August 24, 2001.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: All right.

Well, there are legitimate, even powerful arguments, to be made against the Bush administration's foreign policy. But those arguments are complicated, hard to explain, and, in the end, not all that sensational.

It's a lot easier just to make things up. And so John Kerry has decided to do just that. In an interview with "The Des Moines Register" yesterday, Kerry warned that there is -- quote -- "a great potential that Americans will be drafted into the armed forces if Bush is reelected president." This is a total crock, as Kerry himself knows well. Virtually no one favors returning to the draft.

Bush is against it. Congress is against it. The Pentagon is completely against it. It is not happening now or anywhere in the near future. Again, John Kerry knows this very well, and yet he pretends otherwise in order to scare college students into voting for him. And they probably will vote for him, but it's still pretty dishonorable.

BEGALA: Well, first off, what is Bush's plan for helping out the Guard and Reserve?

CARLSON: That's a separate...

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: Kerry has a proposal to add 40,000 troops to the Army...

CARLSON: You're making a separate argument.

BEGALA: ... Bush stretched past the limit. What is Bush going to do? What's he going to do?

CARLSON: Well, you're making a separate argument. You're attacking Bush's policy towards the National Guard and Reserves, which I think is completely fair and deserves to be attacked, frankly. But there are no plans to reinstate draft because the Pentagon says that an all-volunteer Army is more effective. It's not going to happen, as you know.

BEGALA: Help me out, though. The guy who says we're not going to have a draft is the same guy who said there were weapons of mass destruction and there was a huge threat from Saddam Hussein.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CARLSON: You know what?

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: Bush has no credibility, Tucker.

CARLSON: It's not simply the decision of one man, OK?

(BELL RINGING)

CARLSON: It's a decision that, in the end, Congress will make. And there is no possibility it will make that decision, as you know.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: Be see.

BEGALA: We'll see.

Terrorists exploded two bombs in the heart of heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad yesterday. Another bombing killed another American soldier in eastern Baghdad. Meanwhile, on the home front, the price of oil is hovering around $55 a barrel. The Bush administration has hit the debt limit of $7.4 trillion. They are using accounting tricks to keep the United States of America from going into default like a degenerate gambler with a bookie named Knuckles.

We are critically short of the flu vaccine. Health and Human Services says not to expect any vaccine from Canada, despite what President Bush said in the debate. And yet our president thinks he deserves reelection. In fact, he told reporters -- and I'm quoting here -- "I feel great about where we are."

Well, Newt Gingrich has a different take. "If you don't have some anxiety," the former speaker said, "you're not in touch with reality." Well, Newt, I couldn't have said it better myself.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CARLSON: Well, of course, everyone has some anxiety, but that's not the point Bush is making, as you know.

I found it actually really interesting. There was a poll released today. I'm not exactly sure what it proves, but it does say something interesting; 69 percent of members of the armed services right now support Bush, as compared to less than 30 for Kerry, and that overall they were far more hopeful about the direction the country is moving than the average person. These are people, as you know, who are risking their lives in Iraq. It's not a defense of the Iraq policy, but it does say...

(BELL RINGING)

CARLSON: It says something interesting about perspectives.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: It says that people in military are overwhelmingly Republican.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: Which is an interesting question. Why? Why is that?

BEGALA: Because the military has always attracted a disproportionate number of Republicans.

CARLSON: I wonder why, though.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: Well, first off, because they tend to poll the officer corps a lot more than the enlisted corps.

Look at Michael Moore's new book, "Letters From the Front: Will They Ever Trust Us Again?" Those are enlisted people who have a very different view than the elite officer corps do.

CARLSON: I'll get right on Michael Moore's new book.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Yes, definitely. I'll take it out of my local library.

BEGALA: You should.

CARLSON: Well, Winona LaDuke, remember that name? Even to students of presidential politics, it might not immediately ring a bell, so here is a refresher. LaDuke is the two-time Green Party candidate for vice president.

Four years ago, she ran with Ralph Nader on the party's stridently pro-hemp ticket. A longtime Indian rights activist, LaDuke rarely joined Nader on the campaign trail, owing in part to legal difficulties she had with her common law husband. He was head of the police at the time.

On one of the few occasions LaDuke did speak to the national press, she offered at least one policy proposal. If elected, LaDuke promised to remove pictures of white people from the White House and replace them with portraits of famous minorities. Down with George Washington. Up with Grover Washington.

This year, LaDuke is working on a wind power project and will not be running for office again. But in statement released this week, she declared that she's no longer supporting Ralph Nader. She's supporting John Kerry. Keep that in mind Election Day. John Kerry, if he's good enough for Winona LaDuke, he's good enough for you.

(LAUGHTER)

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BEGALA: Come on. I mean, that's...

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: Someone has got to keep track of the celebrity endorsements here, OK?

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: That would be like me saying David Duke endorses George W. Bush.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: You're missing it. You're missing it. You're missing it, Paul.

BEGALA: The Duke family is all over the...

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: Day after day, you make the argument, look, Barbra Streisand is voting for John Kerry. You should, too. And I'm just saying, there are other people who are voting for John Kerry. It's not just Barbra Streisand. It's also Winona LaDuke.

BEGALA: You know, David Lesar, the CEO of Halliburton, I believe is for George W. Bush.

CARLSON: I hope so.

BEGALA: So, you can go to Halliburton or you can go with David and Winona LaDuke, whoever they are.

CARLSON: Winona LaDuke.

BEGALA: I suspect they're not related, actually.

(BELL RINGING)

CARLSON: Well, he's been called the most trusted name in fake news.

Next, we're joined by Jon Stewart for his one-of-a-kind take on politics, the press and America.

We'll be right back.

(APPLAUSE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART")

STEWART: Meanwhile, the president's challenger was also in New York, also facing some difficult questions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How to you stay in shape?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you eat something?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have a routine? Do you...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: It's like Nerf CROSSFIRE.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(APPLAUSE)

BEGALA: Welcome back to CROSSFIRE.

As both of our loyal viewers, of course, know, our show is about all left vs. white, black vs. white, paper vs. plastic, Red Sox against the Yankees. That's why every day, we have two guests with their own unique perspective on the news. But today, CROSSFIRE is very difficult. We have just one guest.

He's either the funniest smart guy on TV or the smartest funnyman. We'll find out which in a minute. But he's certainly an Emmy Award winner, the host of Comedy Central's "Daily Show" and the co-author of the new mega best-seller "America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction," at your bookstores everywhere.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the CROSSFIRE Jon Stewart.

STEWART: Thank you.

CARLSON: Thank you for joining us.

STEWART: Thank you very much. That was very kind of you to say.

Can I say something very quickly? Why do we have to fight?

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: The two of you? Can't we just -- say something nice about John Kerry right now.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: I like John. I care about John Kerry.

STEWART: And something about President Bush.

BEGALA: He'll be unemployed soon?

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: I failed the test. I'm sorry.

CARLSON: See, I made the effort anyway.

BEGALA: No, actually, I knew Bush in Texas a little bit. And the truth is, he's actually a great guy. He's not a very good president. But he's actually a very good person. I don't think you should have to hate to oppose somebody, but it makes it easier.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Why do you argue, the two of you?

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: I hate to see it.

CARLSON: We enjoy it.

STEWART: Let me ask you a question.

CARLSON: Well, let me ask you a question first.

STEWART: All right.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Is John Kerry -- is John Kerry really the best? I mean, John Kerry has...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Is he the best? I thought Lincoln was good.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Is he the best the Democrats can do?

STEWART: Is he the best the Democrats can do?

CARLSON: Yes, this year of the whole field.

STEWART: I had always thought, in a democracy -- and, again, I don't know -- I've only lived in this country -- that there's a process. They call them primaries.

CARLSON: Right.

STEWART: And they don't always go with the best, but they go with whoever won. So is he the best? According to the process.

CARLSON: Right. But of the nine guys running, who do you think was best. Do you think he was the best, the most impressive?

STEWART: The most impressive?

CARLSON: Yes.

STEWART: I thought Al Sharpton was very impressive.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: I enjoyed his way of speaking.

I think, oftentimes, the person that knows they can't win is allowed to speak the most freely, because, otherwise, shows with titles, such as CROSSFIRE.

BEGALA: CROSSFIRE.

STEWART: Or "HARDBALL" or "I'm Going to Kick Your Ass" or...

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Will jump on it.

In many ways, it's funny. And I made a special effort to come on the show today, because I have privately, amongst my friends and also in occasional newspapers and television shows, mentioned this show as being bad.

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: We have noticed.

STEWART: And I wanted to -- I felt that that wasn't fair and I should come here and tell you that I don't -- it's not so much that it's bad, as it's hurting America.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: But in its defense...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: So I wanted to come here today and say...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Here's just what I wanted to tell you guys.

CARLSON: Yes.

STEWART: Stop.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Stop, stop, stop, stop hurting America.

BEGALA: OK. Now

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: And come work for us, because we, as the people...

CARLSON: How do you pay?

STEWART: The people -- not well.

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: Better than CNN, I'm sure.

STEWART: But you can sleep at night.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: See, the thing is, we need your help. Right now, you're helping the politicians and the corporations. And we're left out there to mow our lawns.

BEGALA: By beating up on them? You just said we're too rough on them when they make mistakes.

STEWART: No, no, no, you're not too rough on them. You're part of their strategies. You are partisan, what do you call it, hacks.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Wait, Jon, let me tell you something valuable that I think we do that I'd like to see you...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Something valuable?

CARLSON: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: I would like to hear it.

CARLSON: And I'll tell you.

When politicians come on...

STEWART: Yes.

CARLSON: It's nice to get them to try and answer the question. And in order to do that, we try and ask them pointed questions. I want to contrast our questions with some questions you asked John Kerry recently.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: ... up on the screen.

STEWART: If you want to compare your show to a comedy show, you're more than welcome to.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: No, no, no, here's the point.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: If that's your goal.

CARLSON: It's not.

STEWART: I wouldn't aim for us. I'd aim for "Seinfeld." That's a very good show.

CARLSON: Kerry won't come on this show. He will come on your show.

STEWART: Right.

CARLSON: Let me suggest why he wants to come on your show.

STEWART: Well, we have civilized discourse.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Well, here's an example of the civilized discourse.

Here are three of the questions you asked John Kerry.

STEWART: Yes.

CARLSON: You have a chance to interview the Democratic nominee. You asked him questions such as -- quote -- "How are you holding up? Is it hard not to take the attacks personally?"

STEWART: Yes.

CARLSON: "Have you ever flip-flopped?" et cetera, et cetera.

STEWART: Yes.

CARLSON: Didn't you feel like -- you got the chance to interview the guy. Why not ask him a real question, instead of just suck up to him?

STEWART: Yes. "How are you holding up?" is a real suck-up. And I actually giving him a hot stone massage as we were doing it.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: It sounded that way. It did.

STEWART: You know, it's interesting to hear you talk about my responsibility.

CARLSON: I felt the sparks between you.

STEWART: I didn't realize that -- and maybe this explains quite a bit.

CARLSON: No, the opportunity to...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: ... is that the news organizations look to Comedy Central for their cues on integrity.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: So what I would suggest is, when you talk about you're holding politicians' feet to fire, I think that's disingenuous. I think you're...

CARLSON: "How are you holding up?" I mean, come on.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: No, no, no. But my role isn't, I don't think...

CARLSON: But you can ask him a real question, don't you think, instead of saying...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: I don't think I have to. By the way, I also asked him, "Were you in Cambodia?" But I didn't really care.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Because I don't care, because I think it's stupid.

CARLSON: I can tell.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: But my point is this. If your idea of confronting me is that I don't ask hard-hitting enough news questions, we're in bad shape, fellows. (LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: We're here to love you, not confront you.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: We're here to be nice.

STEWART: No, no, no, but what I'm saying is this. I'm not. I'm here to confront you, because we need help from the media and they're hurting us. And it's -- the idea is...

(APPLAUSE)

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: Let me get this straight. If the indictment is -- if the indictment is -- and I have seen you say this -- that...

STEWART: Yes.

BEGALA: And that CROSSFIRE reduces everything, as I said in the intro, to left, right, black, white.

STEWART: Yes.

BEGALA: Well, it's because, see, we're a debate show.

STEWART: No, no, no, no, that would be great.

BEGALA: It's like saying The Weather Channel reduces everything to a storm front.

STEWART: I would love to see a debate show.

BEGALA: We're 30 minutes in a 24-hour day where we have each side on, as best we can get them, and have them fight it out.

STEWART: No, no, no, no, that would be great. To do a debate would be great. But that's like saying pro wrestling is a show about athletic competition.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Jon, Jon, Jon, I'm sorry. I think you're a good comedian. I think your lectures are boring.

STEWART: Yes.

CARLSON: Let me ask you a question on the news.

STEWART: Now, this is theater. It's obvious. How old are you?

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: Thirty-five. STEWART: And you wear a bow tie.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

CARLSON: Yes, I do. I do.

STEWART: So this is...

CARLSON: I know. I know. I know. You're a...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: So this is theater.

CARLSON: Now, let me just...

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: Now, come on.

STEWART: Now, listen, I'm not suggesting that you're not a smart guy, because those are not easy to tie.

CARLSON: They're difficult.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: But the thing is that this -- you're doing theater, when you should be doing debate, which would be great.

BEGALA: We do, do...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: It's not honest. What you do is not honest. What you do is partisan hackery. And I will tell you why I know it.

CARLSON: You had John Kerry on your show and you sniff his throne and you're accusing us of partisan hackery?

STEWART: Absolutely.

CARLSON: You've got to be kidding me. He comes on and you...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: You're on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: What is wrong with you?

(APPLAUSE) CARLSON: Well, I'm just saying, there's no reason for you -- when you have this marvelous opportunity not to be the guy's butt boy, to go ahead and be his butt boy. Come on. It's embarrassing.

STEWART: I was absolutely his butt boy. I was so far -- you would not believe what he ate two weeks ago.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: You know, the interesting thing I have is, you have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.

CARLSON: You need to get a job at a journalism school, I think.

STEWART: You need to go to one.

The thing that I want to say is, when you have people on for just knee-jerk, reactionary talk...

CARLSON: Wait. I thought you were going to be funny. Come on. Be funny.

STEWART: No. No. I'm not going to be your monkey.

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: Go ahead. Go ahead.

STEWART: I watch your show every day. And it kills me.

CARLSON: I can tell you love it.

STEWART: It's so -- oh, it's so painful to watch.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: You know, because we need what you do. This is such a great opportunity you have here to actually get politicians off of their marketing and strategy.

CARLSON: Is this really Jon Stewart? What is this, anyway?

STEWART: Yes, it's someone who watches your show and cannot take it anymore.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: I just can't.

CARLSON: What's it like to have dinner with you? It must be excruciating. Do you like lecture people like this or do you come over to their house and sit and lecture them; they're not doing the right thing, that they're missing their opportunities, evading their responsibilities? STEWART: If I think they are.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: I wouldn't want to eat with you, man. That's horrible.

STEWART: I know. And you won't. But the thing I want to get to...

BEGALA: We did promise naked pictures of the Supreme Court justices.

CARLSON: Yes, we did. Let's get to those.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: They're in this book, which is a very funny book.

STEWART: Why can't we just talk -- please, I beg of you guys, please.

CARLSON: I think you watch too much CROSSFIRE.

We're going to take a quick break.

STEWART: No, no, no, please.

CARLSON: No, no, hold on. We've got commercials.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Please. Please stop.

CARLSON: Next, Jon Stewart in the "Rapid Fire."

STEWART: Please stop.

CARLSON: Hopefully, he'll be here, we hope, we think.

(APPLAUSE)

CARLSON: And then, did U.S. soldiers refuse an order in Iraq. Wolf Blitzer has the latest on this investigation right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

Coming up at the top of the hour, the Pentagon investigator a report that U.S. soldiers refused to go on a dangerous mission in Iraq. We'll have details. In medical news, the FDA prescribes a strongly worded label on antidepressant drugs. And why some experts think the flu vaccine shortage is a grim warning about U.S. vulnerability to bioterrorism.

All those stories, much more, only minutes away on "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS."

Now back to CROSSFIRE.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CARLSON: Welcome back to CROSSFIRE.

We're talking to Jon Stewart, who was just lecturing us on our moral inferiority.

Jon, you're bumming us out. Tell us, what do you think about the Bill O'Reilly vibrator story?

STEWART: I'm sorry. I don't.

CARLSON: Oh, OK.

STEWART: What do you think?

BEGALA: Let me change the subject.

STEWART: Where's your moral outrage on this?

CARLSON: I don't have any.

STEWART: I know.

BEGALA: Which candidate do you suppose would provide you better material?

STEWART: I'm sorry?

BEGALA: Which candidate do you suppose would provide you better material if he won?

STEWART: Mr. T. I think he'd be the funniest. I don't...

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: Don't you have a stake in it that way, as not just a citizen, but as a professional comic?

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: Right, which I hold to be much more important than as a citizen.

BEGALA: Well, there you go.

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: But who would you provide you better material, do you suppose?

STEWART: I don't really know. That's kind of not how we look at it. We look at, the absurdity of the system provides us the most material. And that is best served by sort of the theater of it all, you know, which, by the way, thank you both, because it's been helpful.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: But, if Kerry gets elected, is it going to -- you have said you're voting for him. You obviously support him. It's clear. Will it be harder for you to mock his administration if he becomes president?

STEWART: No. Why would it be harder?

CARLSON: Because you support...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: The only way it would be harder is if his administration is less absurd than this one. So, in that case, if it's less absurd, then, yes, I think it would be harder.

But, I mean, it would be hard to top this group, quite frankly.

(LAUGHTER)

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

STEWART: In terms of absurdity and their world matching up to the one that -- you know, it was interesting. President Bush was saying, John Kerry's rhetoric doesn't match his record.

But I've heard President Bush describe his record. His record doesn't match his record.

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: So I don't worry about it in that respect.

But let me ask you guys, again, a question, because we talked a little bit about, you're actually doing honest debate and all that. But, after the debates, where do you guys head to right afterwards?

CARLSON: The men's room.

STEWART: Right after that?

BEGALA: Home.

STEWART: Spin alley.

BEGALA: Home.

STEWART: No, spin alley.

BEGALA: What are you talking about? You mean at these debates?

STEWART: Yes. You go to spin alley, the place called spin alley. Now, don't you think that, for people watching at home, that's kind of a drag, that you're literally walking to a place called deception lane?

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Like, it's spin alley. It's -- don't you see, that's the issue I'm trying to talk to you guys...

BEGALA: No, I actually believe -- I have a lot of friends who work for President Bush. I went to college with some of them.

CARLSON: Neither of us was ever in the spin room, actually.

(BELL RINGING)

BEGALA: No, I did -- I went to do the Larry King show.

They actually believe what they're saying. They want to persuade you. That's what they're trying to do by spinning. But I don't doubt for a minute these people who work for President Bush, who I disagree with on everything, they believe that stuff, Jon. This is not a lie or a deception at all. They believe in him, just like I believe in my guy.

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: I think they believe President Bush would do a better job.

And I believe the Kerry guys believe President Kerry would do a better job. But what I believe is, they're not making honest arguments. So what they're doing is, in their mind, the ends justify the means.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: I don't think so at all.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: I do think you're more fun on your show. Just my opinion.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: OK, up next, Jon Stewart goes one on one with his fans...

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: You know what's interesting, though? You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: Now, you're getting into it. I like that.

STEWART: Yes.

CARLSON: OK. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BEGALA: Welcome back to CROSSFIRE. We are joined by Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show" and author of No. 1 bestseller, "America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction."

CARLSON: And a ton of fun, I like that too.

BEGALA: Some questions from our audience. Yes sir, what's your name, what's your name?

QUESTION: Hi, my name's David. I'm from Boston.

STEWART: Hi, David.

QUESTION: My question is, what do you think the hump on G.W.'s back during the debate was?

STEWART: Say it again?

QUESTION: What do you think the hump on George's back during the debate was?

STEWART: The hump on his back?

BEGALA: Oh, you're familiar? This is (INAUDIBLE) conspiracy theory. Can I take this one?

STEWART: Yes, please.

BEGALA: It was nothing, his suit was puckering. A lot of people believe he had one of these in his ear. If he was being fed lines by Karl Rove, he would not have been so inarticulate, guys. It's a myth.

(LAUGHTER)

BEGALA: It's not true. There's this huge myth out on the left.

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: Renee (ph) from Texas. Why do you think it's hard or difficult or impossible for politicians to answer a straight, simple question?

STEWART: I don't think it's hard. I just think that nobody holds their feet to the fire to do it. So they don't have to. They get to come on shows that don't...

BEGALA: They're too easy on them.

CARLSON: Yes. Ask them how you hold...

STEWART: Not easy on them...

(CROSSTALK)

BEGALA: ... saying we were too hard on people and too (INAUDIBLE).

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: I think you're - yes.

CARLSON: All right. Jon Stewart, come back soon.

BEGALA: Jon Stewart, good of you to join us. Thank you very much. The book is "America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction."

From the left I am Paul Begala, that's it for CROSSFIRE.

CARLSON: And from the right I'm Tucker Carlson, have a great weekend. See you Monday.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/cf.01.html

 

[Sergenth]

Jon Stewart allowed Al to call him a "clown" back in April... he didn't have much of a barb as a return to that. But then again, Al was being fake mean. Tucker Carlson was just being a dick, implying things that Jon could respond to so as to only make himself look bad. They call those loaded questions.

So no, Jon Stewart wouldn't have much to say about Al supporting Kerry because Al's methods; name calling, insults, caricatures, and self-denigrating pantomime, are exactly the same as Jon's and the rest of the Daily Show people's mode of thought.

When Al Franken shakes his head at Bob Barr, it's because a spun lie response isn't on the side opposite of an accusation of lying... here's what Bob Barr sees as fair in the media:

Party A - "You have lied to the American public. (Liar! Liars! Get out of office!)

Party B - "We don't lie, and you are bringing down morale!" (So what! You're stinky)

Party C - "Thank you for your equal time on the podium gentlemen." (Wow, I'm so fair and balanced!)

 

[GG-Duo]

God bless you, Jon Stewart.

 

[Socreges]

For anyone: PLEASE post a link here when you find a video/audio download.

Sucks that Crossfire doesn't repeat. Well, for today it sucks.

 

[skip]

STEWART: But the thing is that this -- you're doing theater, when you should be doing debate, which would be great.

his best line, out of many good lines.

 

[Error Macro]

Goddamn, Stewart came across as one of the biggest assholes ever.

 

[Triumph]

Goddamn, Stewart came across as one of the biggest assholes ever.

How so? In what way? By speaking the truth about these goddamn, stupid shows? He spoke for more Americans there than either Bush or Kerry have in their entire campaigns.

 

[Fifty]

Even though I watched half the episode (yes, of this entertainment show), I read that full transcript. Amazing stuff.

 

[Error Macro]

Not what he said, but rather, the way he said it. He came unhinged so many times, it was ridiculous. He was obnoxious, rude, and downright embarassing to watch. I don't root for people like that, regardless of their political stance.

 

[Banjo Tango]

Goddamn, Stewart came across as one of the biggest assholes ever.

You're right - the nerve of him, saying that two people parroting their respective sides' talking-points isn't helping America in the least.

He was obnoxious, rude, and downright embarassing to watch. I don't root for people like that, regardless of their political stance.

Edit - Not a fan of O'Rielly, I take it?

 

[Triumph]

Not what he said, but rather, the way he said it. He came unhinged so many times, it was ridiculous. He was obnoxious, rude, and downright embarassing to watch. I don't root for people like that, regardless of their political stance.

You and I must have watched a different show. The one I saw had an exasperated, weary looking Stewart trying to explain to supposed journalists that they are failing in their duty to the public. And he's right.

 

[Xellos]

How so? In what way? By speaking the truth about these goddamn, stupid shows? He spoke for more Americans there than either Bush or Kerry have in their entire campaigns.

Exactly. John isn't an asshole for pointing out how little intelligent debate goes on in these horrible "debate" programs and "spin alleys", he's a freaking hero. I'm glad he did it on the air, during their own stupid program.

 

[Loki]

Seriously...I never realized that he was so abrasive. Any reason for that? Is there a history between him and the hosts of Crossfire or something? I mean, I actually somewhat agree with his point about such shows being counterproductive and useless in a sense, but the way he was acting was just...crude. I've said it about O'Reilly and I'll say it about Stewart, unless he was giving a big wink to the audience with each of his caustic remarks. Man, that was very forward, and very harsh. I guess I just prefer more even-tempered, mannerly exchanges. It's odd, because Stewart comes off as the nicest guy on his show; if he was honestly worried about being "taken advantage of" or played for some kind of patsy on a "serious" political show, then there are better ways to go about ensuring that that doesn't happen than by being such a boor. Was it really necessary to call people dicks and belittle their professional conduct so?

My $.02


EDIT: Note: I didn't see the show, only read the transcipt, so any non-verbal cues such as Raoul Duke alluded to are lost on me. Going strictly by the words, however, that sort of conduct is just something that I personally don't condone on either side of the political spectrum. He's intelligent enough to have gotten his point across in a more reasonable, civil manner than he did; he could have just explained that he feels that those sorts of shows are supposed to serve a particular function and that many times he feels that they are remiss in their duties in that regard. That would have been more productive than what he did imo.

 

[Error Macro]

You're right - the nerve of him, saying that two people parroting their respective sides' talking-points isn't helping America in the least.

The point was made that Crossfire is an entertainment show. It's not a platform for terse, intellectual analysis of politics. I would assume that the audience of the show watches it for it's entertainment value. A change in the structure of it doesn't seem feasible. They are not providing a public service? So what. It's place is to stroke the egos of their respective party followers.

Edit - Not a fan of O'Rielly, I take it?

Not particulary, no. Though I watch his show on occasion, what I have seen of it, 99% of the time O'Reilly does not insult his guests, and pander to the proverbial "every man" by getting angry with the "establishment."



Triumph, I assure you, we both watched the same show. I just don't believe that people are receptive to change, much less listening to the thoughts of someone who is constantly insulting them.

 

[Fifty]

Triumph, I assure you, we both watched the same show. I just don't believe that people are receptive to changeinsulting them.

So you're basically saying that you've lost all hope?

 

[Error Macro]

So you're basically saying that you've lost all hope?

I mean change, as in the context of changing the format of Crossfire.

 

[Ristamar]

Man, that was very forward, and very harsh. I guess I just prefer more even-tempered, mannerly exchanges.

To be fair, I've seen people try to be even tempered and mannered on Crossfire and similar shows. The result? They barely manage to get a word in while sandwiched between those two squawking fucktards, their voices hopelessly lost in a sea of spin and white noise.

 

[Dan]

You and I must have watched a different show. The one I saw had an exasperated, weary looking Stewart trying to explain to supposed journalists that they are failing in their duty to the public. And he's right.

*ding ding ding*

If anyone was rude it was Carlson for trying to keep Stewart from finishing his points and for manipulating everything he said.

Jon Stewart allowed Al to call him a "clown" back in April... he didn't have much of a barb as a return to that. But then again, Al was being fake mean. Tucker Carlson was just being a dick, implying things that Jon could respond to so as to only make himself look bad. They call those loaded questions.

So no, Jon Stewart wouldn't have much to say about Al supporting Kerry because Al's methods; name calling, insults, caricatures, and self-denigrating pantomime, are exactly the same as Jon's and the rest of the Daily Show people's mode of thought.

I don't think you saw my point. Jon Stewart clearly has a distaste for the lack of intelligent discourse and debate. As he indicated in the interview, Crossfire fails to provide this in that it's a bunch of "partisan hacks" saying stupid soundbytes that don't serve to help anyone but the parties. I think Al Franken falls dangerously close to just being another partisan hack that recites party lines and fights for an agenda. I'm certainly not talking about jokes or namecalling or any of that. I think you may have missed Stewart's point in saying that shows like Crossfire hurt America, and the way they do that. He's talking about unofficial party figureheads that figure directly into the strategies of the candidates. I kinda doubt Stewart would ever say anything, but I think he'd probably agree that Franken has been transformed into just another party representative spouting his views with rather little interest in significant and intelligent discourse.

The simple fact that Al Franken will appear on CNN representing the left/Democratic viewpoint in a 'debate' against a former Republican congressman shows that Franken isn't anything like Stewart. They have very different views on how they should interact with the political environment.

 

[Loki]

For what it's worth (and I mentioned this briefly above), I have said the same exact thing about Bill O'Reilly, whose show I just physically cannot watch due to my antipathy for that sort of crude, loud-mouthed behavior in general. That's just the way I am-- I honestly get physically repulsed (as in, "I can feel it inside and have to turn the channel") by that kind of conduct by anyone, regardless of affiliation. I prefer civilized, good-natured debate and argument. There's no need to cut people down like that in general, unless a compelling reason has been shown; I don't believe his personal opinions as to the Crossfire cast's supposed dereliction of their civic duty constitutes a "compelling reason" (it's a debatable point, though I agree with Stewart somewhat; still, if one is going to act that way, it has to be a situation of CLEAR breach of conduct imo)-- particularly not when he could have went about it differently and made the same exact points in a more courteous manner.

 

[Banjo Tango]

The point was made that Crossfire is an entertainment show. It's not a platform for terse, intellectual analysis of politics. I would assume that the audience of the show watches it for it's entertainment value. A change in the structure of it doesn't seem feasible. They are not providing a public service? So what. It's place is to stroke the egos of their respective party followers.

The point is that they're not billing themselves as a comedy show. They repeatedly claimed they were a debate show. Which, as Jon rightly pointed out, they're not.

People have this idea that objective journalism is allowing each side ot have its say. That's being even-handed, that's not being objective. And that's a large part of why the media (including shows like this) are an unintentional joke.

Not particulary, no. Though I watch his show on occasion, what I have seen of it, 99% of the time O'Reilly does not insult his guests, and pander to the proverbial "every man" by getting angry with the "establishment."

99% of the time, Jon Stewart is as gentle as a lamb. I'd also find it difficult to argue that Stewart's anger at the media was just pandering.

 

[Loki]

To be fair, I've seen people try to be even tempered and mannered on Crossfire and similar shows. The result? They barely manage to get a word in while sandwiched between those two squawking fucktards, their voices hopelessly lost in a sea of spin and white noise.

Perhaps; I wouldn't know-- I don't watch the show. Still, that's a weak justification for such behavior imo (if that's what he was thinking). Hell, he has his own show-- he could have just made whatever point he wanted about their show and others like it from his own podium if he ended up being "drowned out" by the usual back-and-forth on Crossfire. It's just not something I agree with, as a person.


Note: I don't believe he was necessarily "pandering" to anyone, as Error does; all I'm saying is that I disagree with that style of discourse in general, as a human being. There are better ways to go about things, usually.

 

[Fifty]

tI prefer civilized, good-natured debate and argument. There's no need to cut people down like that in general, unless a compelling reason has been shown.

Most people do, but the "loudmouth" shows are the highest rated, and judging by the reactions it has gathered, Stewart's way of handling things today was the correct way. He did a much better job of articulating his points than Michael Moore, I believe. It's not pretty, but nothing is.

 

[Banjo Tango]

Note: I don't believe he was necessarily "pandering" to anyone, as Error does; all I'm saying is that I disagree with that style of discourse in general, as a human being. There are better ways to go about things, usually.

True, but:

1 - He was justifiably frustrated
2 - He's a comedian
3 - Tucker Carlson is a dick

 

[Dan]

But the point is that there's no possible way Jon Stewart was going to get his point across on Crossfire without being "rude" and "abrasive" as the hosts always are. And where else does someone get free airtime to rightfully criticize the manner in which most of the media operates? He can't do it on his own show. Doing it on Crossfire directs his comments to the very people who probably need to hear it the most. Besides, it's a political show and it's not like he hijacked it and took the conversation somewhere that was inappropriate for the forum. It's not like he said this when he won his Emmys.

I don't see what the problem is. Jon Stewart has a very clear and intelligent grasp of the political media environment and he criticized it in intelligent ways. The only times he could be interpreted as being "rude" or "abrasive" was when he was just fighting to finish his points while Carlson is being a dick and interrupting him every 5 seconds and trying to attack The Daily Show and when the hosts offered their own rude comments towards Stewart. I see nothing wrong in being equally forceful in getting a chance to speak and for retorting to rude comments made in his own direction.

It's pretty clear that the two hosts underestimated him considering they were caught backpedaling and desperately trying to undermine Stewart's points by attacking a comedy show and Stewart's lack of humor on their own show. That's the very kind of unintelligent 'discourse' that Stewart was complaining about, and I'd say he did a pretty good job at not getting equally as dirty as Carlson.

 

[Incognito]

For what it's worth (and I mentioned this briefly above), I have said the same exact thing about Bill O'Reilly, whose show I just physically cannot watch due to my antipathy for that sort of crude, loud-mouthed behavior in general. That's just the way I am-- I honestly get physically repulsed (as in, "I can feel it inside and have to turn the channel")

heh... i feel exactly the same about sean hannity. fucker gets me so riled up i want to hit something... ive stopped watching of course..

anyway, about stewart, in no way to me did he come off as abrasive or rude; in fact, if carlson would have let the man finish his sentences and thoughts, part of the problem wouldn't have even existed.

stewart, to me, seemed genuinely upset over the state of these political talk shows, and the roles they play in determing a "choice" for people.

he is IN NO WAY comparable to bill o reilly. it's simply not a comparsion.

 

[Hitokage]

Jon Stewart had every right to call them out. The behavior of the mainstream press corps has hurt our very democracy, and while the responsibility of the media is to be an investigative watchdog on government, they have made themselves a conduit of unchallenged talking points. Political discourse today is a farce, and it's the very idea that infotainment like Crossfire should be done instead of actual journalism that's helping make it that way.

 

[Bob White]

Heh. Right now Ron and Fez are talking about the show.

 

[Incognito]

loki --

also, u have to remeber that stewart was endlessly attacked by o'reilly about his audience, viewership, and for pandering to john kerry and bill clinton on the factor...he remained calm, cool, and collected. not until his show a week later did he bring out the ownage statistics and had o'reilly on his show to basically admit his mistake in calling stewart's viewership "stoned-slackers".

then, these assholes on crossfire have the gall to criticize his questions on a COMEDY SHOW?? what the fuck are they thinking? they're blaming him for the problem? it doesn't surprise me at all that he finally just had it and decided to clear up some misconceptions.

edit for loki -. ....uh, dude, didn't see your topic that was locked before i replied to you. get a grip, man. i'm not lactating boob -- that IP traces back to cassidy/futami.

 

[Loki]

But the point is that there's no possible way Jon Stewart was going to get his point across on Crossfire without being "rude" and "abrasive" as the hosts always are.

Like I said, I don't watch the show, so if the hosts actually have a history of being THAT obnoxious, then that would be a mitigating circumstance, obviously.

The only times he could be interpreted as being "rude" or "abrasive" was when he was just fighting to finish his points while Carlson is being a dick and interrupting him every 5 seconds and trying to attack The Daily Show and when the hosts offered their own rude comments towards Stewart.

Like I said, I only read the posted transcript, so it's much harder for me to tell whether he was being "cut off" or pounced on than it would be for somebody who watched the show; again, if this was the case, that would be another extenuating circumstance that would color my views on the matter. Like I said earlier, any non-verbal or more subtle verbal cues are lost on me, having only read the transcript-- I was only commenting on the words spoken; obviously I'd have to see the entire proceedings in order to make a full judgment either way, but it struck me as overly quarrelsome and abrasive on paper, and so I said so.

I see nothing wrong in being equally forceful in getting a chance to speak and for retorting to rude comments made in his own direction.

You and I differ in that regard, then. Besides which, if there was such a notoriously hostile environment on the show, why even agree to appear anyway if you know you're going to have to debase yourself in such a manner? I'm not saying that what Stewart did was the Worst Thing Ever® or something, but like I said, he's always seemed like an affable guy, and this sullied my opinion of him a bit-- though I'll take into consideration what you and others have said about the climate of the show, how he was being cut-off, and the non-verbal cues being given off etc.

 

[Banjo Tango]

...while the responsibility of the media is to be an investigative watchdog on government, they have made themselves a conduit of unchallenged talking points.

Or any time they do offer a challenge, it only comes in the form of a talking point from the opposing side.

On "To the Point" this morning they were discussing this very issue, the media's failure to filter out the bullshit from the truth. And a professor of media studies (I believe that was her title) was saying, "Well, it was hard for the press to go after the White House's WMD claims before the war, because the Democrats at the time weren't challenging them." Like if the Democrats don't provide them with their talking points, they can't criticise the administration becaues they're terrified of being called partisan.

So. Fucking. Sad.

 

[Loki]

Jon Stewart had every right to call them out. The behavior of the mainstream press corps has hurt our very democracy, and while the responsibility of the media is to be an investigative watchdog on government, they have made themselves a conduit of unchallenged talking points. Political discourse today is a farce, and it's the very idea that infotainment like Crossfire should be done instead of actual journalism that's helping make it that way.

You'll get no argument from me that he had a legitimate point that deserved to be heard, as you note; what I take issue with is how he went about making it. He's certainly intelligent and influential enough to have gotten his point across and his opinion on these matters heard somehow, whether it was on Crossfire or elsewhere. That's just how I see it.


Lonestar:

Yeah, it was pretty absurd of them to call him out for the content of his show, which is obviously satire, while their own show (apparently, according to many here) exhibits not a modicum of trenchant analysis or spirited debate, as Hito alluded to. Still, I don't think that excuses anything necessarily. I can see how their repeated (spectacularly misguided) attempts at deriding him and his show might have just set him off, though, and made him feel as if he had to point out the hypocrisy inherent in a supposedly "legitimate" news show taking a comedy show to task for its lack of substantial political inquiry when it typically presents none of its own. Understandable; I just wouldn't have went about it that way myself. That's all I'm saying.