"The Daily Show" to feature Hillary Clinton tonightHilldog is set to appear tonight, via satellite from Austin, Texas, on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," the night before the big Democratic primaries. The appearance will mark the first time Clinton has been on the program since she declared her bid for the White House. Source: Broadcasting & Cable
Remember when being Presidential meant NOT going on comedy shows? Nixon did it on Laugh In and Hee Haw... Bill Clinton blew a sax on Arsenio Hall, and since then everyone's doing it. Fred Thompson on Leno, Huckabee is a staple just about anywhere there's a studio audience now... Let me just ask, should the future leader of the free world really be going on a comedy show? I mean, at all? It's just kind of, I don't know... silly.
And in The Hill's case, it smells of desperation.
I mean, what is she going to talk about? Her appearance on Saturday Night Live? How she thinks she's being hip, but instead has become the butt of all those jokes? How about that laugh, again? Are we going to examine the deep divide of policy implementation that she has planned over Obama's? Or how about that stupid bumblebee yellow jacket she keeps wearing?
I, for one, will be setting my TiVo.
I'm a bit disappointed that both of these shows would help push a candidate right before what could be the most important primary in the campaign.
ReplyDeleteSNL was blatant about it with the Tina Fey rant, the Clinton appearance and the Obama animated short.
Hopefully the Daily Show stays more neutral than that, but to even have her the day before the primary is "questionable" as to their impartiality.
O.K. people please try to remember, The Daily Show is a comedy show, not the news. Jon Stewart has no reason to be impartial, fair, or even consistant, just funny.
ReplyDeleteHillary is looking for the Daily Show Bump. Probably would have gone for Steven Colbert, but he's already committed.
I don't see anything wrong with politicians going on comedy shows. It gives them a chance to loosen up a little, and has the potential to provide valuable insight in to their character.
ReplyDeleteI think what's more telling is the list of candidates who aren't willing to go on the Daily Show. A list that until now included Hilary. Now she goes on... right before her last stand... via satellite. It does strike me as desperation. I think it'll strike the Daily Show staff as desperation, since they've no doubt invited her on to the show long before now and she's refused.
I'd caution against making the assumption that she'll get a bump out of this. I'd say it's just as likely that Stewart will ask her some questions she doesn't want to answer... and she'll come out the worst for it. Most likely of all... he'll take it easy on her and she won't say anything important or funny and it'll be a wash.
It's less about the coverage itself, and more about the timing of it.
ReplyDeleteIf the intent isn't an expected bump, just "showing their fun side", then why schedule it for the day before the primary?
Her campaign had been dusting the show off since she announced her bid, the show would have shown more integrity or backbone by replying "How's March 5th for you?"...