Jon Stewart Takes C-SPAN Host To Task For ‘Appreciating’ Racist Caller

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by Steve Krakauer | 9:06 am, April 1st, 2010

» 12 comments

Jon Stewart and The Daily Show took on the C-SPAN caller last night who was sick of hearing so many black people and wanted the network to change it’s name “from C-SPAN to Black-SPAN.”

But it wasn’t so much the caller that Stewart had a problem with – it was the reaction (or, non-reaction) of the host.

Stewart began with the prospect the caller could have an actual, productive suggestion. Maybe “I’d like to see a cooking show where you make different Senator’s favorite pastas” – anything to “make this channel more interesting than staring at a shampoo bottle.”

Well as we know, that’s not how it played out. And the C-SPAN host, Bill Scanlan said, “Well Bill I understand your frustration. We appreciate your input.”

This infuriated Stewart. “You don’t have to appreciate all input! If someone pisses in your iced tea, that is input that really should go unappreciated,” he said. Then he proceeded to show how he would deal with the caller, drawing from his past experience with hecklers in clubs. His version would be Blue-SPAN.

He makes some valid points – when does politeness become the wrong decision in favor of calling out a person who is saying something particularly offensive? There has to be a line – and maybe next time C-SPAN will be ready to take a stand (or at least screen calls better). Also, this isn’t the first time Scanlan has let some offensive comments play out in their entirety.

Here’s Stewart’s take:

C-Span, Comedy Central, CSPAN, Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

Sean68

At least he didn’t say, “Bababooey!”
Grammie

I somewhat disagree with this “when does politeness become the wrong decision in favor of calling out a person who is saying something particularly offensive”.

Before the internet, or at least my very late foray into the net, I watched a lot of C-span. First, that amazing control in the face of offensive combative assaults never wavers no matter what the provocation from whatever point on the political spectrum and that includes a thanks for the caller contributing that really doesn’t include any comment or nuance on the content.

C-span’s policy of being editorial free really doesn’t allow for cutting unpopular views off solely for the content. I have seen people cut off for only a few things, and that rarely. A blatantly obvious breaking of C-span’s rules, profanity and/or threatening language.

In short, C-span is the last bastion of truly “free Speech” irregardless of the speech. They apply that even handedly so, eventually, absolutely everyone has the chance to be outraged/offended at any time.
The Real Royal King

Good call. I thought the pass C-Span gave the Cracker was out-of-line.
The Real Royal King

Now, Janet, really! Given the sorry state of political and civil discourse in our nation, you have no problem with this? Even if your heart and mind are on with the caller, how can this possibly be appropriate? I think you are engaging in some dangerous relativism here. If this were someone criticizing the Drop Out Governor of Alaska and had used any of a number of far less offensive speech, I think you’d be incensed. The only positive I can see in allowing the use of such it term is that it renders the caller/speaker ridiculous in the eyes and ears of most Americans.
Jon Bershad

Note that Stewart doesn’t ever call Scanlan anything except “the host”. I’m gonna guess he didn’t know his name. When I wrote that original article Steve links to, it took me forever to clarify that it was indeed Bill Scanlan because C-SPAN doesn’t have any images or bios on their site.
It looks like the Daily Show writers ran into the same issue.
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

Real Royal King:

Didn’t you already get temporarily banned once for using the “c” word? Isn’t this strike 2?
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

Stewart is pretty funny here, but jokes aside THANK GOD FOR C-SPAN. That is what true objectivity is about.

Yes, 99.99% of us agree that that caller was out of line. But where do you draw the line? What if only 99% of agree that a caller is out line? How about 75%? What about 51%?

I have been a regular C-SPAN viewer for better than 20 years. I never, ever, even once seen any of their hosts give the slightest hint of their personal political opinions–not even a raised eye lid, not even a facial twitch. I’m all for opinion journalism (in fact, I love it), but you also need more of what C-SPAN does.
The Real Royal King

AnonymousFinch AnonymousFinch says:
April 1, 2010 at 11:28 am

Real Royal King:

Didn’t you already get temporarily banned once for using the “c” word? Isn’t this strike 2?

***Not to my knowledge. Isn’t “Cracker” simply someone from Georgia?***
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

RRK

Then what were you temporarily banned for?
The Real Royal King

Sorry, I didn’t know I was banned. I didn’t notice any interruption in posting. Perhaps, it was a ruse. Sounds like something Jeff Merrill might do.
timzank

The post I saw on TRRK & somebody else was something to the effect of “banned but they may email me to discuss” so I guess his higness must have electronically fellated his way back into posting.
The Real Royal King

As I said, all news to me, and not much news, it would appear. But, thanks for remembering me.