Dem. Now! Jon Stewart apologizes to Jeremy Scahill:

[babylonsister]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/04/1355211

Daily Show Host Jon Stewart Apologizes to Jeremy Scahill for Hostile Interview on Blackwater Book


Last night on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Jon Stewart apologized to independent journalist and Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill for a critical interview earlier this year on Scahill’s book “Blackwater: The Rise of The World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army.” On The Daily Show last night, Jon Stewart apologized to independent journalist and Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill for the critical interview he did with his book “Blackwater: The Rise of The World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army.” Stewart started by playing an excerpt of his interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews the night before.

* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

RUSH TRANSCRIPT

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AMY GOODMAN: Did you catch The Daily Show last night? Jon Stewart apologized to our own Jeremy Scahill for the critical interview Jon did with Jeremy’s book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. Stewart started by playing an excerpt of his interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews the night before.

JON STEWART: I did take offense to one thing that Matthews said.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: This is a book interview from hell!

JON STEWART: No, it’s good.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: This is the worst interview I have ever had in my life!

JON STEWART: The worst interview? Sir, I'm not even sure you were the worst interview I had done that week. Sir, I say to you this: I took the time to read your book, but you have clearly never seen my show. I do terrible interviews routinely. Let me show you what I mean. This is from, like, a couple of months ago. I had the author of a book on about a certain private security firm in Iraq.
Tell me about Blackwater. What is the issue with -- if somebody is an ex-soldier and looking to make a little money, why is that a terrible thing?

Yes, why?

JIM LEHRER: Blackwater guards fired on civilians.

FOX NEWS: Eleven Iraqis were killed in a shootout with Blackwater contractors.

ALESSIO VINCI: Blackwater basically started shooting without being provoked, without any kind of reason.

RICHARD ENGEL: After the shooting, Blackwater guards simply drove away.

JON STEWART: You see, Mr. Matthews, sometimes I can be unexpectedly confrontational. And other times, it’s almost as though I don’t know what the I’m talking about at all. Yes, apparently, apparently -- and this was news to me -- it turns out having a private security firm subject neither to Iraqi, United States nor international law can create some oversight issues killing-wise.

AMY GOODMAN: That was Jon Stewart on The Daily Show last night. Jon, it takes a man to admit a mistake; it takes a mensch to invite Jeremy Scahill back on the show and do it right.

[redqueen]

1. That's how all journalists should handle their mistakes.

Once again Jon puts the so-called 'real' journalists to shame.

[babylonsister]

2. Agreed. And I hope he invites Jeremy back. nt

[TahitiNut]

3. I saw Jon's interview of Scahill as a weak attempt at parody that fell flat.

"Tell me about Blackwater. What is the issue with -- if somebody is an ex-soldier and looking to make a little money, why is that a terrible thing?"

It was a question that Colbert would pose. :shrug:

[Buzz Clik]

6. No. Stewart intentionally pulled that clip out of context for emphasis.

He wanted to show that nobody gave Scahill enough credit or attention for pointing out potential problems.

See post #5 for the whole interview -- it was not parody.

[peekaloo]

4. Good on him.

He was dismissive and skeptical toward Scahill.

But he was right to poop on Tweety. :evilgrin:

[Buzz Clik]

5. Here's the link to the Daily Show/Scahill interview

http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=85562&ml_collection=&ml_gateway=&ml_gateway_id=&ml_comedian=&ml_runtime=&ml_context=show&ml_origin_url=%2Fmotherload%2Findex.jhtml%3Fml_video%3D85562&ml_playlist=&lnk=&is_large=true

Stewart's interview was not bad. He gave Scahill all the time he wanted to deliver his message. Stewart, in my opinion, was simply criticizing himself for not personally realizing the potential for abuse that existed with Blackwater and other mercenary groups running amok in Iraq.

[Cha]

11. Thanks for the motherload,

Buzz Clik!

[Fleshdancer]

7. Should we email the Daily Show to request a redo?

I know I would love to see Jeremy Scahill back on the show after all the latest Blackwater revelations.

After searching their website, the only feedback form I was able to find is this: http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml

I have no idea if my request will actually get to the producers, but it can't hurt to try I guess.

[babylonsister]

8. Thanks! I'll try, too! nt

[Cha]

12. Thanks, Gloria!

I'll give it go.

[momster]

9. Scahill Was on KO

two nights ago (? We DvR so not sure of the day) and he pointed out very clearly the problems inherent in the whole mercenary idea. I do hope TDS has him on again.

[0007]

13. ...and on quite often with Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now"

I enjoy listening to Scahill.

[Cha]

10. That's our Mensch!

What a perfect way to wrap up tweety's interview the next night with an apology to Jeremy Scahill! Thanks, Jon.

[JNelson6563]

14. Well done Jon.

He is a class act. Imagine if our "real" news people had half of his integrity!

:toast:

Julie