Ron Paul has found an unlikely champion in Jon Stewart.
While the two may never be ideologically aligned, Stewart’s campaign to treat Paul as a serious presidential candidate continued with an extended interview on “The Daily Show” Monday night.
Stewart already lambasted the media over the summer for its insufficient coverage of the Texas Congressman.
Then he gave the ardent libertarian a treatment reserved for special guests, as the interview with Paul took up about half of his program – not including the extra bits that went up on the web.
In doing so, Stewart not only revealed a level of admiration that he shows few politicians, but he continued to critique the media for its sensationalism as well.
Stewart opened the interview with a question that struck right at the heart of the matter, asking Paul “What is it about your candidacy that they so easily dismiss, and are they right when they say ‘Ron Paul is not an electable figure?’”
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive – Ron Paul Extended Interview Pt. 1 | ||||
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Stewart continued in the same vein of questioning, asking Paul whether he can broaden out his support base, which is “an enthusiastic group.”
In initially focusing on that issue, Stewart gave the candidate a real opportunity to assert his legitimacy – rather than have to force his real point into a debate response about someone else’s talking point. He also established the interview as a substantive one.
Comedy or not, this did not start with an extended gag like his colleague Stephen Colbert’s interviews often do.
That changed temporarily with Stewart offering Paul campaign advice, including the need for all successful candidates to “flip flop.” Perhaps most disturbing of all was the possibility of Paul donning a Sarah Palin wig and taking a bus on the road.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive – Ron Paul Extended Interview Pt. 2 | ||||
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However, to take advantage of the extra time, Stewart spent his second segment with Paul discussing economic policy and responsible governance, driving at the core of the libertarian's beliefs.
In doing so, Stewart continued to toe the line between comedian and serious journalist. He may veil a question with comedy or laugh to break the tension, but these interviews expose a host who takes the subject matter very seriously, producing some of the better interviews one can find on television.
Who else has engaged Ron Paul in a serious debate of his limited government, free market, and isolationist views without in some way denigrating them?
While Stewart made it clear he disagrees with Paul, he also did not talk over him, as those on other networks are prone to doing. Comedy sprung from Stewart’s timing and pacing, but the focus remained on the issues and on honest discussion.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive – Ron Paul Extended Interview Pt. 3 | ||||
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Paul may not be a “top-tier” presidential candidate, as was debated fleetingly back in August. However, he is a candidate with a devoted following, a politician who has been elected in four different decades and a man who is making an earnest run for the presidency.
None of that has earned him the media attention he deserved. That is one reason that Stewart, who already nudged the media towards giving Paul more airtime before, gave Paul such an extensive opportunity to make his case.
Now maybe more shows will take note – not just of the time Paul got, but for how he was treated.
