Jon Stewart Talks Fox News, Obama With Bill O'Reilly
It wasn't exactly the "Thrilla in Manila."
For all the hype, "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart's Wednesday night foray into enemy territory to spar with Bill O'Reilly on the conservative pundit's ow show, "The O'Reilly Factor," didn't turn into the heavyweight brawl many were expecting.
In the first of first of a two-part interview, O'Reilly charged that Stewart wasn't exactly a fan of President Obama, something the Comedy Central funnyman denied.
"I'm torn," he said. "For me I can't tell if he's a Jedi Master, playing chess on a three-leveled board way ahead of us, or this is kicking his ass."
Stewart said he believed the President has managed to achieve certain goals, such as with regulatory matters, but has failed to push his agendas effectively.
"He has decided that Congress is an equal branch of government," the 47-year-old comedian said. "Huge mistake."
O'Reilly, 50, suggested Stewart risks alienating his audience by criticizing the Obama administration.
"Are you cognizant of the fact that the majority of your fans are stoned slackers who love Obama?" the Fox News host asked.
"We don't think about who is receiving [the jokes]," Stewart said. "We think about how it feels for us... Whatever you say, somebody's not going to like it."
O'Reilly offered some tough words for the GOP.
"What about these evil Republicans blocking everything he does?" he said. "Those Republicans, they don't want anything, they want nothing, why do we put up with these people?"
The "Factor" host suggested the party was more concerned about embarrassing Obama than actually passing legislation.
"I don't know what their motivation is," Stewart said. "But it seems pretty clear that they would prefer not to do anything unless it's the thing they want to do."
O'Reilly also jumped on Stewart for famously lampooning Fox News.
"Are you shocked that a Democratic poll operation shows that Fox News is the most trusted news operation in the country," O'Reilly asked.
"Are you shocked that an Internet poll suggested I was the most trusted news caster?" Stewart replied, then turned serious to suggest that Fox News is mostly opinion and not really news.
"[Fox News has] taken reasonable concern about this president... and turned it into a full-fledged panic attack," he said.
O'Reilly was quick to defend his show, and network, calling their hard news department fair and balanced and its opinion shows clearly labeled as such.
"Do you think people don't know that the 'O'Reilly Factor' is an opinion show?" O'Reilly said. "That's like saying people who watch your show don't know it's a comedy show."
The Comedy Central star did offer some kind words for the Fox host.
"You have become the most reasonable voice of Fox," Stewart said, adding: "Which is like being the thinnest kid at fat camp."
This isn't the first time the pair have sat across from one another. O'Reilly visited "The Daily Show" back in November to promote his book, "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity." Stewart last visited the "Factor" in 2004.
The second round of the O'Reilly/Stewart bout airs Thursday at 8 p.m
Sources: Fox News, NY Daily News, Youtube
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment