TV Review: The Daily Show (March 14)

Jon Stewart had a great show, during which he covered a variety of interesting topics.

He was off with some riffs from the start, noting that the show was going to feature an interview with Bert Ehrman, author of the book Misquoting Jesus : The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why.

Stewart made up two discovered misquotes: "The meek shall inherit the Earth" was supposed to read "The Greeks will inherit the Earth."

And "Turn the other cheek" was supposed to read "Thank you, sir. May I have another?"

With less than 1,000 days until the 2008 presidential election, he also reported on a straw poll in Memphis.

President Bush received 10 percent of the vote, despite the fact the constitution prohibits presidents from serving more than two terms.

Then Stewart adds, "of course he probably really does not care about the constitution."

Stewart went on to introduce a brilliant segment by correspondent Ed Helms about a Democratic candidate in Ohio who was asked to drop out of a congressional race.

Blogcritics writer Dave Nalle has written about what a good job the show did in pointing out how the candidate, Paul Hackett, got screwed by the Democratic Party.

Democratic leaders not only urged him to drop out of a congressional race but also asked donors not to give money to his campaign. He did eventually drop out.

Funny? Ha ha? Not at first but then it got good as Helms talks to a political consultant who said Hackett shouldn't run because he does not fit the party's matrix.

The Democrats, Helms, said, clearly know how to win elections. His comments were followed by footage of election losers Al Gore and John Kerry and others.

Helms suggested he help Hackett learn how to better run as a good Democratic candidate.

As Hackett speaks for mock campaign ads, Helms repeatedly interrupts him in ways that make him less compelling. A sign behind Hackett to remind voters he was a U.S. Marine? That has to go, Helms said.

After Hackett states his views, Helms tells him: "Try it again, but without emotion." He does and it makes Al Gore look charismatic.

Article Author: Scott Butki

Scott Butki was a newspaper reporter for more than 10 years before making a career change into education... then into special education.

He reads at least 50 books a year and has about the same number of author interviews each year and, …

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