Objective? Not in Our Media
The Simpsons creator Matt Groening was once asked if he targeted the lefties or the rights in his satire. He said something to the effect that he doesn’t single out any side in particular, that his goal is just to point out hypocrisy wherever he sees it. That, my friends, is the most genius approach to satire I’ve ever heard.
But some of the political satirist can’t seem to get that point. I’m a big John Stewart and Steven Colbert fan. Up until recently, they were my main source for news. But I’ve become so sick of their agendas. I’m no republican by any means. Nor am I a democrat. But it sickens me to see successful and talented people turned into tools for any side.
John Stewart hates republicans so much that he can’t even mention ANYthing a democrat does on his show without comparing it to something “stupid” the other side did. I think this is dishonest and dirty journalism. Of course CNN, Fox News, and other major media outlets have biases. They’re commercial entities run by large corporations with money and greed. There is no objective main stream media.
But I would expect from people who, in my opinion, seem to rise above all that commercialism and cynicism to be able to, just for once, see hypocrisy where it lies and for what it is. I don’t care if you make fun of Sarah Palin. But you can’t over look the fact that Joe Biden recently told a voter, “Sir, I have a higher IQ than you.” Isn’t that kind of statement mock-able as well?
Colbert and Stewart have so let their own biases and opinions taint their content that I can barely watch them any more. And I LOVE these guys. But until they’re able to take Matt Groening’s advice and expose hypocrisy wherever it’s found, I can’t stand watching them any more. Its sad because I viewed these men as sort of political watch-dogs. But their only watching what they want to see. Its the same immature partisanship that is plaguing the political system in Washington. I remember when we used to hate people purely for a pre-determined label. Yeah, it was call Pre-Civil Rights Movement. And I thought we were over that.
I know we all have opinions. In this crappy race where we have NO real credible candidate I personally wish we could just revert to marshal law like in Battlestar Gallactica. All hail President Adama. Now that’s objectivity.
But until them I think we need to be more careful of who we demonize and canonize. Everyone, republican, democrat, independent, pirate, hooker, what-have-you, is and should be subject to mockery. So shape up, satirists. It would give you guys a whole other realm of material to work with.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Hello Im back from the great north after a fine summer feeding on bugs and media free. Now I flew south alittle early to catch the final days of our election game.I see everyone is whipped up to a steamy froth, rawrawraw go team go!
sO I can feel your pain in not having a team so close to the finish. But i sense you to have a bias.Its hard to shake that republican cloak.
Since when did jon stewart ever say he was nonbiased just look at his history and listen to his talk hes has and always been left of center no mystery there. His whole deal is playing with hypocrisy and stupidity in our political system. And the republicans give him much more to work with. He has been ripping on Biden alot but more for his “Gaffes” and than his brains. put your own bias aside and you just gotta see the wealth of material pallin and her apologist supporters spew.an examplehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbSI64A3lhM (FUNNY STUFF!)
People are so tired of the Biased language these types wield, the simpleton talk, only real americans are in the small towns and there all god fearing funamentalist bible firsters country second and its there interpretation of the bible not anyone else’s because its just common sense and you better be afraid,fear fear fear. Its the language bush has used that has so isolated so many americans. Jon and colberrt are born to expose these frauds who idea of america is so vastly different from so many main stream even mcains.These are the Huckabee types who vowed to fight against romney simply because of his religion. Many people believe that intelligence trumps good ole country know how when it comes to running complex social systems.Even if that country folk can get my car running in a storm that same person can’t fix my economy.Have you paying attention to all the endorsement around the country for obama from the right left and center.People want some intelligence in our leadership not agenda driven ideologues.who can only communicate with there own. Iv’e been listening to the smearing from the hard right (mark levin,the worst, rush,culter hanity,the nra big lies here)of obama and its shameless there is nothing comparing on the mainstream dem side (private blogs aside).(remember the mainstream media has to create the illusion that there is always great divide in the people and there is now unfortunately, so they play it up to a tee)So i think people like jon are taking a stand.jon has a good record of taking on the media elite.which is pro system not people. jon is getting me through this election, i can get clips while on the fly on my new iwatch.
I know the dems have problems but to me obama could at least be a symbol for equality that whole worlds needs right now i think its a good thing not bad that he is so liked abroad.im tired of our imperialist mentality and he represents a slight departure from it.(plus hopefully many of his supporters will hold him to task)let the world see another side of america for a change the side that i think better reflects Christian values. tolerance and compassion for example ,(iv’e heard people say we have to much compassion, i say jesus would say impossible). he speaks with as much sincerity as any in the league. And he represents more unity than any republican is capable of. so yes i geuss i have a team so raw raw raw go team obama. (since my main duck ron paul dropped out ) And start laughing at jon and colbert again and all will fine in the universe
October 27th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Wo, Ducky! You angry man. Very good points though. I just got really fed up with all the one-sidedness of this election. And I probably do have a bias somewhere. But it sure isn’t with John McCain or Sarah Palin. But I’m not on prime-time TV. Thank heavens.
December 28th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Certainly got us thinking here are work, expect a few replies later.