Jon Stewart: Bill O'Reilly Is 'Voice of Sanity' on FOX

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Feb 4th 2010 06:24AM

Jon Stewart told Bill O'Reilly that the "no spin zone" ringleader had become the voice of sanity on Fox News Channel, although "that's like being the thinnest kid at fat camp." The host of 'The Daily Show' and Fox's kingpin exchanged some good-natured shots Wednesday during Stewart's appearance on a network he relishes mocking. Stewart tossed off jokes but also criticized Fox for being a "cyclonic perpetual motion machine" opposing President Barack Obama. "They have taken reasonable concerns about this president and this economy and turned it into a full-fledged panic attack about the next coming of Chairman Mao," Stewart said.

O'Reilly said the Obama attacks were primarily coming from Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, who have two of the highest-rated programs on Fox. O'Reilly called Beck an "everyman."

"He just spouts," O'Reilly said. "He spouts for what he believes. If you think Beck spouts for the Republican Party, you're out of your mind." O'Reilly pointed out that Fox is like a newspaper with news and opinion pages, an idea Stewart poked fun at.

"Fox in and of itself doesn't say you're a news network all day," he said. "What is it, you're news from 9 to 11, then you're opinion, then you're news again from 1 to 2:30 except for the Jewish holidays? And then on alternate parking days you're news, but Christmas, you're not?"

Fox cut off the taped interview at that point, saying more would be shown Thursday.

Both men have appeared on each other's show before, but it was Stewart's first time back since 2004. O'Reilly annoyed Comedy Central by calling Stewart's audience primarily "stoned slackers"; on Wednesday, he amended it to "stoned slackers who love Obama."

According to reports, there was a dispute over who initiated the return visit. O'Reilly said on Fox earlier Wednesday that Stewart's representatives had asked for him to come on the show. Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said an O'Reilly producer requested the appearance.

Of course, this was no 'Crossfire' take down. But Stewart has been know to critize the state of the media. During the 2004 interview with CNN personality Tucker Carlson, Stewart criticized the state of television journalism and pleaded with the show's hosts to "stop hurting America." Stewart even went as far as asserting that 'Crossfire' had failed in its responsibility to inform and educate viewers about politics. By January 2005, CNN announced that it was canceling 'Crossfire.'

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Comments

(309)

Thursday 04 February

By Diane

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Ok John,
We hear this all the time about Fox News so please tell us the lies you saw and can prove they are lies??????

By Pete

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Hey John, if you have something, let's have it. I didn't think so. I doubt seriously if you came to this conclusion after any careful consideration, in fact, I doubt you have ever had an original thought.

By Kate61767

It's easy to find FOX lies but they are most guilty of misleading their viewers in a manner that goes unchecked. On four different occasions, they identified Republicans who were involved in different levels of scandal as Democrats. It was Foley, Sanford, Stevens and Toomey. Once is a mistake, four is intentional. They have done the same thing with footage associated with rallies. It's happened four times, again, not once. A videographer and producer said it is virtually impossible for this to happen especially when it is intertwined with audio as these events were.

FOX news went to court to protect and defend their right to lie. Nobody, with any intelligence, can call that a defendable action. Roger Ailes said it best, "we're all about ratings, not news", when confronted with their wrongdoings.

You can defend them all you like, it just reveals a disturbing number of people who don't care about the truth.

By Ruth

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And One of those "lies" would be ???

By Hidlins

I'm with "Liz" and "Mel"...Well stated!

By paul

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LOL! Its amazing the people think Fox ( i still cant call it news0 is more "balanced?
The daily show is more balance & they dont have to be!LOL!First oreilly is a sex pervert who got caught but because he is rich paid to keep out jail were he belongs!second he lies saying he not for ether party U have to be blind & deaf to miss that!OH & retarted! Ya ill say it1 cause Limpy on his radio show can say it1 fox uses it! But palin the retart maker wont go after them! cause she's in bed with them!evry time u try to make fox seem real people LOL! you FOOLS!

By Patriot

Jon Stewart should use his real name,or is he afraid of it ?? Just another liberal bagel , Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz.

By J Whitton

And his "real" name has what to do with who he is?

By Karen Yocom

And your real name is "Patriot"?

By Barbara

The reason FOX junkies (AKA right-wing conservatives)LOVE FOX is because FOX regurgitates their own right-wing beliefs...Proof that FOX is bias. When a network represents everything YOU agree with, you should realize that you need to check alternate views to get at the truth. Truth lies somewhere between what YOU believe and what OTHERS believe.

I, for one, a college graduate, do check all sides. Fox provides a lot of info that puts a poor light on themselves, so believing in their news gives it a little more credit than others.
Why else ban them from White house?

By Rogs65

The reason MSNBC junkies (AKA left-wing radicals)LOVE MSNBC is because NBC regurgitates their own left-wing beliefs...Proof that MSNBC is bias. When a network represents everything YOU agree with, you should realize that you need to check alternate views to get at the truth. Truth lies somewhere between what YOU believe and what OTHERS believe...
Works both ways doesn't it Barb?

By DaytonaGary

Any one that gives Stewart a sec of their time is as dumb as he is.Stewart's merely another Zionist Jew concerned only with Money.He cares about nothing or no one else.

His religious beliefs have nothing to do with his ability to do his job. Your arguments lose points for straying from the subject with name calling, showing you have no real argument.

By Leo Dial

It is truly a low point when we have to treat John Stewart as a credible entity. He may believe what he says but so did many of the misguided followers of Maio, Lenin, Hitler, Mussolini, Chavez and so on.

By S Garey

You people are unbelievable! You know that Fox News is only hurting America with its one-sided views and lame used car salesmen like Beck and Hannity spouting their hatred every night. Yet, you continue to listen to these evil snobs. Think for yourself for a change.

By Jerry

Then don't watch it!

By cutwagman

The problem with people that don't like Beck is they discredit him entirely. Beck makes a LOT of great arguements but liberals don't want that arguement.

By Bob

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"Beck makes a lot of great arguments" NO Beck spews half truths and lies and like minded dim bulbs believe everything he says. Believe a guy that couldn't make it through ONE college course! I think not. He is a loud mouthed blowhard right wing nut like his pea pod buddy Rush. Neither one had the drive or intelligence to actually finish a 4 year degree program. Both have/had serious chenical abuse problems and both are ADD ADHD.
I know you don't know the history of these clowns and what those letters mean, and I'm sure you are too lazy to look them up. Stuck on Stupid....

By stevebakerguitar

I agree with O'Reilly. Stewart's Croud is."stoned slackers who love Obama."

Even Obama watches Stewart after he's had a few..... his quote.

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