Jon Stewart, a well-known Democrat and former host of "The Daily Show," has never shied away from criticizing conservatives.
Yet, he is also one of the few left-leaning figures who can still elicit laughter while occasionally poking fun at his own side. His recent comments about President Joe Biden's "resting 25th Amendment face" following a debate with former President Donald Trump in June are a case in point.
According to RedState, Stewart's recent critique of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was so sharp that it seemed he might have been reading from their site. The points he made about the Democrats' hypocritical actions were so glaring that even liberals were getting the message. His critique was hailed as brilliant, not because it was particularly witty, but because it was honest and acknowledged what most people were thinking.
Stewart's critique included a tweet that read, "You got a guy on CNN making some sense, and now Stewart?" This was followed by a clip of Stewart saying, "They had a guy [Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)] yelling, 'Screw the billionaires' followed immediately by a very happy billionaire [Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker]." The audience responded with loud cheers to Stewart's mockery of the Democrats' double standards.
Stewart continued his critique by highlighting the Democrats' hypocrisy, saying, "They had guys making fun of people going to Yale," while showing a picture of Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' running mate, "And...a bunch of people who went to Yale." He also pointed out the contradiction of the Democrats having people who prosecuted sexual predators, showing a picture of Kamala Harris, "And...," then showing a picture of Bill Clinton.
Stewart's critique was so sharp that he couldn't contain his laughter, saying, "There goes that booking." His audience, too, seemed to appreciate his honesty, roaring in agreement with his mockery. This willingness to break away from the narrative, even momentarily, led some to wonder if this might signal a change in the political winds.
Stewart also took aim at the Democrats' identity politics, noting their omission of "Palestinian-Americans" and their theme of "joy." His critique was well-received by the "Uncommitted folks" -- those on the left who are frustrated with the Democratic establishment's stance on Gaza.
The DNC, according to Stewart, provided ample material for mockery due to its disorganized nature and the intra-party upset over Biden being sidelined. The convention even attempted to deceive its own audience by promising a special guest, hinting it was Beyonce, only to reveal it was Kamala Harris. This bait and switch left those looking forward to Beyonce feeling disappointed.
Stewart's critique of the DNC highlights the importance of honesty and consistency in politics. His willingness to call out hypocrisy, even within his own party, is a reminder that political allegiance should not blind us to the truth. His critique also underscores the need for political parties to be transparent and accountable to their constituents, rather than resorting to deception and double standards.
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