I hate to write two
Daily Show posts in a row but this story has been impossible to ignore. At current count, Google news has 1,400+ stories under the "Jon Stewart/Jim Cramer" heading. And it's still going.
Arianna Huffington, herself, made a
post today where she wondered aloud about how CNN's John King
interview of Dick Cheney would have gone differently if it would have been Jon Stewart asking the questions instead of John King.
Stewart's interview with the
Mad Money host has been labeled at scathing attack on a honest and well intentioned man. But these critics missed the point of the interview. Stewart made it very clear that his attacks weren't aimed specifically at Cramer. Cramer just happened to be the one who stepped into the crosshairs.
This whole
argument boils down to what role you think the news media should play in our lives.
Watchdog or Jester?
Information or Entertainment?
Bill Buckley or
Billy Bush?
During the interview, Stewart challenged Cramer's network, "CNBC could be an incredibly powerful tool of illumination."
But instead of commending CNBC, Jon repeatedly rebuked the financial network. Even accusing of Cramer and others at CNBC of knowing that the "real" stock market is traded in a "backroom" and that these deals are "fast," "dangerous," "ethically dubious," and ultimately this secretive trading "hurts (the) long term market."
Heavy accusations but Cramer only answered with shrugged shoulders and meek apologies. Which was a recurring theme of the interview.
Too often today,
intelligent conversation and insight are being traded for gimmicks and pandering. That's why we get journalists like
Jim Cramer and
Sean Hannity, and have to look to comedians for our news.
Personally, I hope the mass media wakes up and joins the emerging new-media companies that are bringing real journalism back to the table. Current TV's
Vanguard series and
The Real News Network are two that spring to mind. I believe, an informed and empowered American public is key to turning our country's fortunes around. If it takes dick and fart jokes to get people interested in politics again, so be it.
Here's the uncut interview. Salty language and everything.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
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