Jon Stewart Also ‘Most Trusted’ By the NeoCons

Where do the neo-conservatives go to get fair discussion of the issues? To find “genuine intellectual curiosity”? The Daily Show, of course. Jon Stewart, “America’s Most Trusted Newsman,” appears to be enjoying the similar acclaim from the Right these days. Neo-con Cliff May tells New York‘s Daily Intel, that while initially hesitant to do a Daily Show interview, he had one of the best discussions of his life with Stewart when he appeared on the show back in May.

Stewart’s interview of May — a crackling, lengthy debate about where to draw the line between freedom and security — produced one of the most clarifying discussions about torture on television. “Literally, this is the best conversation I’ve had on this subject anywhere,” May told Stewart. [Video below].

“There is genuine intellectual curiosity,” May told New York. “He’s a staunch liberal, but he’s a thoughtful liberal, and I respect that.”

This may not come as a shock to regular Daily Show viewers — we noted after Bill Kristol‘s appearance last month that the interview made for great TV watching, and that Stewart appeared to very much enjoy the foil Kristol provided. Kristol, it turns out is the one who convinced May to go on the show, saying that Stewart was smart and didn’t take cheap shots.

Former UN Ambassador John Bolton tells NYMag,

In general, a lot of the media, especially on the left, has lost interest in debate and analysis. It has been much more ad hominem. Stewart fundamentally wants to talk about the issues.

Meaning, we suppose, that Keith Olbermann is no Jon Stewart! Now if only NeoCon fan club would devote some time to convincing Sarah Palin of the same. That would definitely be a crackling, if not necessarily lengthy, debate!