Jon Stewart Returns From Break; Chides Obama’s Photo Ops During BP Oil Spill

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by Colby Hall | 7:58 am, June 2nd, 2010

» 20 comments

Retuning from a two-week break last night, Jon Stewart spent the better part of his opening segment waxing comedic about the many failed attempts to solve the BP oil spill. And while Stewart made with the funny in his typically smart fashion, cultural commentators are likely to notice that he had also targeted the seeming disconnect between President Obama‘s urgent rhetoric over stemming the spill and the numerous photo ops in which he participated during the same time.

Defenders of the President are sure to claim (correctly) that White House business can’t completely stop because of the oil spill, and that the pedestrian tasks of congratulating the winners of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament were likely scheduled long before the spill even occurred. And in truth, its not like Obama can don his own wet suit and dive down and fix the leak himself. But that’s the exact sort of defense that supporters of the Bush administration were often ridiculed for during the last 8 or so years (though one might make the claim that the issues facing the Bush White House were of an all together different scale than this oil spill.)

While Stewart’s criticism of Obama’s disconnected rhetoric was sharp, it seemed to be a kinder and gentler sort of dig, focusing more on the absurdities of his position, not the man. So, no, this segment doesn’t demonstrate that Obama has somehow lost the support of The Daily Show crowd (or Jon Stewart.) That seems unlikely to happen anytime soon, but we’ll know it as soon as Stewart starts mocking Obama’s speech patterns in the same way he did with George W. Bush

barack obama, BP Gulf Oil Spill, BP Oil Spill, Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

http://www.facebook.com/people/Tommy-Christopher/1054638341 Tommy Christopher

Doesn’t Jon realize that if the President skips out on the Duke Blue Devils, the oil spill wins?
Liberty – Not Redistribution

“And in truth, its not like Obama can don his own wet suit and dive down and fix the leak himself. But that’s the exact sort of defense that supporters of the Bush administration were often ridiculed for during the last 8 or so years (though one might make the claim that the issues facing the Bush White House were of an all together different scale than this oil spill.)”

One particular glaring difference between Katrina and BPs Oil Spill is that the has happened in federally controlled waters. The various states have no control of those waters, although they must deal with the oil that washes up on their shores. In the Katrina debacle, there were multiple layers of government that were responsible for assistance, at different levels. It is the local and states government which are responsible for the more immediate concerns. Technically, the federal government can’t do anything until the governors declare a state of emergency and request federal help. All were guilty, although at various levels.

Right now, Gov Jindal is being hamstrung because of the federal governments road blocks, such as the fact that he can’t create the berms/ sand bars until the Corps of Engineers do their little study. Additionally, Jindal is not asking for Barry McBu$h to clean up the beaches and marshes. He’s simply asking that the federal government ensure that BP pays for the berms, and all of the clean up. Of course Barry McBu$h spends more time on a golf course than he spends on the gulf coast.
http://thedailybarb.com Burnnotice

Love Jon! Glad he’s back. i don’t think Obama is though..he he
Puter Boi

Of course the president can’t don his wet suit and check it out himself, but he could send this guy to investigate and send back daily briefings….

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Kerry-Windsurfing-R.jpg
notsofast

Be careful, Jon. Sarah Silverfish will accuse you of racism.
Jackie_Treehorn

BUT BUT BUT STEWART IS A LEFT WING SHILL WHO HATES RIGHTIES!!!! STUPID LEFT WING STEWART!!!
notsofast

Jon is obviously a racist. Anyone who criticizes BHO is, right , libs?
writer

Now I guess Jon will be appearing on Olbermann’s worst persons list.
ImNotBlue

Jackie_Treehorn says:
June 2, 2010 at 9:39 am

Great point, Jackie. Boy, do I have egg on my face.

I mean, Jon said something unkind about a Democrat… well, that must mean he’s fair and unbiased, right! Sure, the ratio is still 99:1 on attacking Republicans… but I guess, all it takes is that one.

Of course, if that was true… you’d probably have a lot fewer problems with FNC, being that on any given day, they’re more fair to both sides than Jon Stewart. But that’s the double standard, I suppose.
AmericanCowboy

Hey Commie – Clean up the spill. You big dope!!!!
cindylei96

Who cares!!! My boyfriend thinks the same with me. He- is eight years older than me, lol. We met online at an age gap dating site[_www. A G E R O M A N C E com_]—a nice and free place for Younger- Women and Older Men, or Older Women and Younger Men, to interact with each other. Maybe you wanna check out or- tell your friends
The_Reasonable_Lib

OMG, Jon Stewart said something against Obama, that must mean Obama is losing all his support!!!!!!
writer

No. But according to Olbermann, it does mean Jon is a racist.
http://thedailybarb.com Burnnotice

Now Jons a Racist. This hate from white elitist just has to stop. Can’t we all just get along….
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Callan/100000200979966 Joe Callan

Well, it took him over a year, but it looks like Stewart–like much of the rest of the country–is finally realizing that repeating “HOPE” and “CHANGE” isn’t an effective mantra without some action to back it up.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Jackie/100000824834645 Jeff Jackie

I think Stewart saw this…

http://politipage.com/2010/05/28/obamas-days/
drex94

WHEN I VOTED FOR OBAMA I “HOPED” THAT BUSH AND THE REST OF THE REPUBICANS WOULD BE THROWN OUT OF OFFICE……AND WHEN THE PRESIDENCY “CHANGED” TO A DEMOCRATIC STATE….I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE HOPE AND CHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE.
ImNotBlue

drex94 says:
June 2, 2010 at 3:09 pm

Your understanding of the American system of government is impressive. You graduated 3rd grade with that?
Integr8d

INB, be nice now. Even simpletons need access to the Caps Lock key.
AmericanCowboy

I blame Obama for the slow clean up. I want to see the commie out there with a mop and bucket. Now there is a job he might be qualified for