Recently America lost one of the last truth tellers, a man who came into our homes every night at 6 p.m. to tell us exactly what was happening in the world: Walter Cronkite. He was “the most trusted man in America.”
Since the 1980s the country has been looking for a replacement, and the people have spoken. The most trusted man in America is … Jon Stewart? The smartass, sophomoric host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central? That Jon Stewart? Yep, that’s him. And here are three reasons he assumed the title.
One. He doesn’t deliver the “News.” This is News 2.0, a version a lot like Fox “news.” Very few facts, but an abundance of opinion. The difference is the Daily Show knows it’s a farce and instead of giving “spin” to a story, they give it humor, giving us the ability to laugh at our policies. This is desperately needed in times like these, to ensure our leaders know we are watching and will not put up with their bull.
Two. The Daily show may be a farce about news, but it does take itself seriously when politicians get called on the carpet to explain themselves. This is one of the few shows on television that can accomplish making you laugh and at the same time educating you about something you may not know. Kind of like a young child at the doctor, waiting for a shot. Give the kid a lollipop, then the shot.
A little bit of humor is a wonderful introduction to learning. And the Daily Show gives us the laughter in spades.
Three. Jon Stewart has a way of talking to the masses that other news anchors don’t. He sits hunched forward, as if talking to each of us individually. Katie Couric, and her other ilk appear to be behind some throne telling us peasants what we should know, when we should know it. They want us to think they are one of us, but in reality they are another talking head, interchangeable with any other channel.
Mr. Stewart has an everyman appeal, giving us the wink that this isn’t serious, just fun. He knows he isn’t qualified to be a “Real” newsman, but he doesn’t care, and that makes him the “most trusted man in America”
Please keep on telling it like it is, Jon. Or telling it like it isn’t. Either way I’ll keep watching the news. And when I want real news, I’ll do what I’ve done for years now: read a paper.
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