"I think Jon Stewart is as good an interviewer as there is in the public domain right now."

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/10/28/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html


"I think Jon Stewart is as good an interviewer as there is in the public domain right now."

-- White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, at a briefing, on President Obama's appearance on the Daily Show last night.

[BeyondGeography]

1. Even better than David Gregory?

:silly:

I hope that quote produces much gnashing of teeth among the overpaid mediocrities of the MSM.

[boppers]

2. Hey, MSM... comedians are more respected than most of you.

Stewart isn't "trying to play journalist", which is what makes him authentic.

[ampad]

3. Stewart went hard

At the president but he did so with respect. IMO the MSM could learn a thing or two from Stewart. I find it funny that some would even suggest that it was low brow for the president to appear on the show. I think it is fair to say that the president talked to an aspect of his base last night. I don't know many republicans that are fans of the Stewart show. If anything they would be fans of the Colbert show. Reason being that they are too stupid to realize that Colbert is making fun of them.

[CakeGrrl]

4. Nice little dig at the MSM

How dare Gibbs elevate a comedian to their status, they wonder?

:rofl:

[ThomCat]

5. That's a damned good clue that the questions were softballs.

If Gibbs liked the interview then there were no tough questions.

But, having seen the interview, I already knew that. Steward let Obama get off far too easily with his answers.

For example, he actually let Obama get away with claiming that he has done everything within his legal authority to end DADT even though that's just a ridiculous flat out lie.

No use of executive privilege to temporarily end the purge of military personnel.

Never used any presidential influence, bully pulpit, not even a single known phone call to try to swing votes when DADT actually came up for a congressional vote. Stayed out of that vote entirely, and then "expressed regret" when it failed.

Now, hasn't asked the DoJ to accept lower court ruling that DADT is unconstitutional. Instead, he has his DoJ choosing unnecessarily to fight that ruling, even though this is fighting for DADT instead of against it, and that means Obama is more likely to hurt our efforts than help.

How could any of this mean that he did everything within his legal authority? :(

This is just one example. One of many. On every issue, Jon Stewart let Obama give a nice pretty answer and move on without any kind of a challenge to that answer. Of course Gibbs is happy!

[immoderate]

8. You're talking about a comedian.

And Stewart is always nice (except to Chris Matthews.)

Still, who has "grilled" Obama harder than Stewart? I don't recall anyone.

--imm

[ThomCat]

9. That's true. Nobody has grilled him at all.

None of the talking-heads that give interviews for a living seems to know how to do an interview that really probes. They keep their interviews entertaining and within the bounds of spin and public relations. If any answer starts to touch something uncomfortable they immediately move on to something else. Of course, that is what all the networks today demand.

I can't imagine that a real thorough interview, the type a real journalist from decades ago would do, would ever be allowed on the air today. :(

[AtomicKitten]

6. Love Jon but I think Rachel is the best. She is prepared and tenacious. nt

[Clio the Leo]

7. He sure is. nt

[Renew Deal]

10. And I agree

He's not afraid to ask tough questions unlike most of the insiders.