The Daily Show on Obama’s “Wisdom” in the “Ground Zero Mosque” Media Circus

By on August 17, 2010 in News 5

Jon Stewart is a Stormtrooper

“Yes we can … but should we?” — Jon Stewart

Politics is often defined as the “art of the possible.” However it should also be defined as “you can’t please all the people all the time.” Especially the ones being idiots on the “ground zero mosque” media shitstorm.

Thankfully The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart (who recently George Lucas made a Stormtrooper) is on the money again about President Obama’s mixed public comments regarding this non-story.

I could not complete this post without mentioning the great Jon Oliver‘s commentary:

“There is a difference, Jon, between what you can do and what you should do. You can build a Catholic Church next to a playground. Should you?”

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • 5by5

    What's hilarious is that a goober like Newt Gingrich can make the analogy that “Nazis shouldn't be allowed to put a sign next to a Holocaust Memorial,” and call himself a lawyer.

    Anyone who knows about even rudimentary history knows that in the Skokie case, Nazis were allowed to march through the community of Skokie which was predominantly populated by Holocaust survivors, and the Supreme Court ruled with the Nazis, because in this country, we're not afraid of opposing views. We're big enough to withstand that stress, because we know that sunshine is the best medicine. Let a Nazi spew their stupidity, so that everyone can see precisely ow retarded they are.

    Arthur Garfield Hays offers instruction on this point.

    Arthur Garfield Hays, was the General Counsel for the ACLU, and is the premiere example of what it means to be a pro bono defense attorney guarding our most basic freedom of speech. Among his many historically significant cases:

    – He risked his life (Hays was Jewish) to go to Nazi Germany to defend Georgi Dimitrov, the mentally challenged man falsely accused of starting the Reichstag Fire.
    – He ALSO represented the members of the German-American Bund who were sympathizers with the Nazis during the 1930′s.
    – Along with Clarence Darrow, he defended the educator who dared teach the scientific truth of evolution in the Scopes Monkey trial.
    – He defended H.L. Menken who was accused of pornography because his magazine dared to write honestly about the life of a prostitute.
    – He represented the Italian anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti when they were accused of murder.
    – He defended coal miners in Harlan County in their efforts to secure better working conditions.

    This was a man for whom freedom of speech was simply NOT negotiable.

    Back in the day, the great journalist Edward R. Murrow had a series called “This I Believe” in which famous intellectuals, artists, and other luminaries were asked to write, and then read aloud a statement of personal principles that governed their lives.

    This was Arthur Garfield Hays’ essay:

    __________________________
    This I believe: that progress comes from struggle, conflict, and a competition of ideas. That freedom is an end in itself, almost as important to the individual as the food he eats, or the air he breathes.

    I believe that the best expression of freedom is in our Bill of Rights and that not only our welfare, but our safety as a nation depends upon our observance of the principles expressed in the Bill of Rights. ‘Freedom is a social luxury,’ say some. History proves that freedom is a social necessity.

    All this is regarded as platitudinous by most Americans yet there are differences in interpretation. Take freedom of speech for example. Most people believe not in ‘freedom of speech’, they believe in ‘freedom of speech, but…’

    I believe in the right of anyone to express any opinion, no matter how wild, radical, blasphemous, or loathsome such opinion might be. And no matter how unpopular, vicious, or discredited the speaker may be. Mark you, I’m not talking of incitements to violence or violations of law. Those are not opinions.

    Thought must be free. Men cannot think unless they can express themselves.

    Is this an absolute? Yes, just as the right to think is an absolute.

    Are there no exceptions? None whatever.

    Has not society the right to protect itself against noxious ideas? No.

    Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, ‘Noxious ideas are like champagne. Expose them to the air, and they fall flat.’ Who can be certain of what is the truth, unless all views are heard.

    In my practice of law, particularly in those cases where the liberties of people are at issue, I have learned that the course of justice is not always straight and swift. But what I have seen has convinced me that men are progressive. I believe that it is our time-tested democratic institutions that makes that progress possible.

    For this reason I’m against anything that serves to weaken those institutions. I’m against congressional investigations into men’s opinions. I’m against loyalty oaths. I’m against guilt by association. I believe that no man should lose his reputation, his liberty, or his property except by judgment of court, after fair trial, under Anglo-Saxon procedure.

    Freedom has practical as well as ideological values. As long as men have the right freely to persuade, and secretly to vote, we have a method of bringing about changes in our society no matter how radical, without force, or violence. Nor is it a matter of chance that the most prosperous and progressive countries in the world are likewise the freest.

    Because I am unswervingly determined to help keep America free and secure, I derive the deepest satisfaction in doing everything I can to preserve and enlarge those liberties which have made our country great. If my efforts meet with any success, I think I will have reasoned appeal that I have been privileged to serve what I believe, in the way that I know best.
    __________________________

    It should be noted as well that he didn’t make this statement when it was safe or convenient. He made it during the height of the McCarthy Era.

    Even if you don’t agree with Hays 100%, his shear commitment and the unwavering courage of his convictions he possessed, is to be admired.

    Something Obama could learn from, as could his opponents. That is, if we're all still pretending to be Americans who actually believe in the Constitution.

  • 5by5

    Oh, I forgot to add, on the subject of the Imam himself, there's this little tidbit:

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/685071

    Oops. He helped the FBI with COUNTER-terrorism.

    I'm sure we'll hear Newt Gingrinch and all the rest of the hysteria-mongers on the Wrongwing apologize immediately for implying the guy was a terrorist. Yup, I'm sure that apology is coming….. anytime… should hear it soon….. after all, Republicans are so good at admitting when they've been horribly, horribly wrong….

  • gg
  • Ajsilver42

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/weve-got-to-stop-the-mosque-at-ground-zero-music

    This is a strange music video about stopping the ‘mosque at ground zero’. It is Over-The-Top chicanery.

  • Ajsilver42

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/weve-got-to-st…

    This is a strange music video about stopping the 'mosque at ground zero'. It is Over-The-Top chicanery.