Was Jon Stewart doing ‘Amos n Andy’ imitation of Herman Cain?
Jon Stewart and Fox News have been going back and forth the past few days ever since Stewart appeared on Chris Wallace’s show. How liberal is Jon Stewart? How conservative is Fox News?
Then Georgia presidential candidate Herman Cain took offense at a recent Stewart imitation of Cain. After Cain jokingly said he’d like bills to be only three pages long, Stewart mocked him via a voice somewhat like Cain’s and implied Cain does not like to read. Here’s the exact joke:
JON STEWART, HOST, “THE DAILY SHOW”: While Pawlenty attempts to get us to face the problem inside us, candidate Herman Cain offers real solutions to fictional issues.
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Don’t try to pass a 2,700-page bill. You and I didn’t have time to read it. We are too busy trying to live, send our kids to school. That’s why I’m going to only allow small bills, three pages. You will have time to read that one over the dinner table.
STEWART: Bills will be three pages. If I am president, treaties will have to fit on the back of a cereal box. From now on, the State of the Union address will be delivered in the form of a fortune cookie. I am Herman Cain, and I do not like to read.
And here is what Cain has to say with Juan Williams on Fox News:
WILLIAMS: Tell me what’s your beef with Jon Stewart.
CAIN: First of all, Jon Stewart is a comedian. I understand that. But when he starts to mock the three-page joke, him being a comedian, he ought to have known that that was a joke. But he took it seriously and then he started to stretch it out with all of the other stuff. Now, when he mocked me in the dialogue of the old “Amos and Andy”…
WILLIAMS: Dialect.
CAIN: Dialect of the old “Amos and Andy.” I think that was a bit much. But, you know, he is a comedian. I’m running for office. I’m a problem-solver.
WILLIAMS: You know, one of the things that drives conservatives crazy, Mr. Cain, is when liberals respond to any criticism by playing the race card.
CAIN: Right.
WILLIAMS: Are people going to say, “Hey, Herman Cain is now playing the race card on Jon Stewart”?
CAIN: I’m not playing the race card. Some people in the media are playing the race card. I didn’t complain. Look, the list of names that I have been called and the many times that people have tried to pull me into the race card game, I just have refused. I have got a long list of names in my radio studio where every name in the book they have called me. So I really am not overly — I’m not offended by what he was trying to do. He’s a comedian. I’m a problem-solver. So I wasn’t — I’m not the one playing that card. Some other people are playing that card. It’s not about color. I keep saying that. It’s about content of ideas and it is about character.
And here is Stewart defending himself on his own show last night by pulling the “I’m just a comedian who makes fun of everybody’s dialect” argument. It is actually funny to watch Stewart do mock accents of everyone from Dick Cheney to Pres. Obama:
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191 comments Add your comment
HENRY
June 29th, 2011
3:39 pm
JON STEWART IS AN ASS………….PERIOD
winston smith
June 29th, 2011
3:39 pm
radiowxman… nobody said it was botched. It wasn’t botched at all. Did you even watch the video of Stewart doing all his voices? Connies whine and moan about political correctness as long as it suits their needs. Stewart wasn’t even being mean spirited at all. There’s a difference between satire and a rant, and a lot of people miss that fine line.
And FREEDOM OF SPEECH means we can say whatever we want, you can respond however you want, and as long as the government doesn’t arrest anyone, it’s all fair game. But connies love to moan and whine… moan and whine… moan and whine…
Racist?no..
June 29th, 2011
3:43 pm
The issue isn’t whether the dialect is racist. It’s that Stewart – a comedian who takes serious issues and lampoons them – took a joke and lampooned it, as if it was a serious statement.
So his audience is laughing at Mr. Cain for being oh, so stupid, rather than laughing with Mr. Cain for making a joke in the first place. I like Jon Stewart, but lampoon comedy shouldn’t fake facts to make someone look silly. There are enough real, silly facts/subjects to lampoon, without stooping to this.
It makes me wonder why Jon Stewart chose to allow his audience to think Mr. Cain was making a serious statement, just so he could make him look silly. I admit that, for me, it appears Stewart was more interested in making a republican candidate look bad, than creating good comedy. But that can’t be true – Jon Stewart makes it clear he’s far superior to that kind of low-brow stunt.
Harris
June 29th, 2011
3:43 pm
Um Billy, it is news from 9 am until 8 pm. Then they have opinionated programs that discuss various things ranging from the economy to politics to entertainment events. Your comment is really dumb. What shows focus on Stewart? I’ve seen him mentioned on 3 shows over the past 10 days for about 5 minutes? Yes that is really focusing. Bernie, since you are a complete idiot, said he DOESN”T think stewart is racist but he decided he would ACT like a liberal does and just say yes he’s racist. It doesn’t surprise me you missed that part, being the typical dumb liberal idiot stereotype that is evident everywhere from Obuma getting elected in the first place. Nice change you voted for moron!!
TG
June 29th, 2011
3:43 pm
Sorry, fail. I didn’t see anything racist about his skit. (See the way Bill Maher ALWAYS pulls the “brotha” card when a Black is on his show. To me that’s borderline. But this Stewart thing is not even close.)
Folks, this is a non-story being hyped by FoxNews for one reason–Stewart continues to EMBARRAS S them! He EVISCERATED Bill O’Reilly on the whole Common non-story, and he played Chris Wallace a couple weeks ago like an old piano. They, being the juevinile, faux news organization they are, are known for doing tit-for-tat, so this is their M.O. They try to bury “enemies” whether a story has merit or not. This story, as Stewart shows in his montage, has no merit. I’m surprised so many folks continue to fall for Fox’s okeydoke.
TruthBe
June 29th, 2011
3:44 pm
Jon Stewart and the rest of the corrupt media only make fun of the republicans and never do the make fun of Obama and company. What if Stewart mocked obama the liberal media would attack Stwart. Obama is a stupid educated fool with NO idea in what he’s doing. Obama looks like a black version of a howdie dudie puppet. Soros being his puppet master.
Obama Bin Lyin
June 29th, 2011
3:46 pm
Godfather’s Pizza? I prefer deep dish Chicago style !
I look forward to my next appearance with Jon Stewart to discuss a little stimulus to stimulate the economy.
Dave in Marietta
June 29th, 2011
3:46 pm
And to think that the election is still 16 months away. Since I can’t hibernate until then, I am going to impose a personal news blackout and resurface on election day. I’m already tired of the bipartisan BS. And none of it ever changes my opinion.
Jon Stu Art Flushing
June 29th, 2011
3:46 pm
Hi! This is Jon Stewart. Aren’t I hilarious! I’m too smart to run for office, when I can poke fun of people who do. I fact, unlike Mr. Herman Cain, I don’t take anything seriously! Why’s he so upset, anyway? We have a black president. Ha, ha! Hey!
TG
June 29th, 2011
3:47 pm
P.S. Herman Cain’s “three page bill” spiel was not a “joke.” It was hyperbole. He meant it, but not to that degree. Basically he was just saying bills should be short enough so that the Congress folks WHO HAVE TO VOTE ON THEM, will actually get a chance to read them. That’s not a novel or contraversial idea. I think most would agree with that.
Cain should take this as a lesson. He needs to be more careful with his hyperbolic language, he continues to dig holes for himself. He was made a FOOL of on that last Republican debate when he tried to back out of his “I don’t feel comfortable around Muslims” statement. Instead of just saying, “I will take the war against radical Islam seriously,” he chose to by hyperbolic, thereby making himself look foolish. He needs to stop trying to grab headlines and be a serios person who THINKS before he speaks. Not that he has even an iota chance of winning, but in the process of running, he can at least be taken more seriously with less gaffes.
TG
June 29th, 2011
3:50 pm
TruthBe, Jon Stewart NEVER makes fun of Obama? Are you serious?
See, that’s why people like you lose credibility, even when you might have an important point to make. You don’t have to LIE to make your points!
Liberal in a Strange Land
June 29th, 2011
3:52 pm
I have lived in this conservative, sad state my whole life. Stewart is funny, bright, and has the wonderful ability to get under the skin of that other fake news organization, FOX news. I was curious as to how the AJC would cover the story – and I am very sad – there is no way an intelligent person could believe that Cain was not joking, he was serious and Stewart called him on it. Save your vote for Cain, he isn’t even a contender. I am praying for Michelle Bachman – and the Republicans are just dumb enough to pick her!!!
Ty
June 29th, 2011
3:53 pm
This people is why if I were China I would be asking for my money back..asap. How can a country with the problem we have spend this time on this foolishness. We have clearly had it too good for too long and only know how to be up in arms about meaningless issues. I am black and anyone black white or otherwise who calls this racist should no longer be allowed to vote because clearly you are an idiot!!!
COMEDY CENTRAL
June 29th, 2011
3:55 pm
political satire and lampooning has been far more aggressive and acrid in the 1800’s than anything Jon Stewart has ever said
Scooter
June 29th, 2011
3:55 pm
Since Stewart is not a conservative it was not racist.
Carter
June 29th, 2011
3:59 pm
When has he ever done Obama? Probably only in recent weeks since his bias and racism has been pointed out….finally.
Billy
June 29th, 2011
3:59 pm
“it is news from 9 am until 8 pm.” LOL!!
So Harris, you buy into the Fox propaganda marketing too, its called the Fox NEWS Channel.
Harris, did you watch the clip that is with this posting? Obviously not. You are good with the name calling. “dumb, liberal idiot….and moron.” Wow, good for you Mr. Conservative. What else you want to call me? You’re a great American. Try paying attention.
Mike
June 29th, 2011
3:59 pm
I’m sorry … but that wasn’t racist at all. herman cain talks just like that. I don’t think he was thinking of Amos and Andy while mocking him. He was trying to mimic his old school Hank Aaron type voice.
I’m black. Brother to the core. Born and raised in college park, GA. And I’d bet any of you $1000 bucks that Herman Cain says corch instead of coach.
tuno
June 29th, 2011
4:01 pm
Ever notice how everything that the far left kooks accuse the right of being are always flaws and traits of themselves? They project better than anyone.
O-me
June 29th, 2011
4:07 pm
MSNBC is such a joke! Best know as the hate channel.
Jon Cain
June 29th, 2011
4:08 pm
A bigger joke is that Herman Cain is running for president…that’s even funnier than his ‘three page bill’ .
Common sense
June 29th, 2011
4:09 pm
@ Mike,
Of course it wasn’t racist, that’s not the point. When 90% of the media is liberal and openly supports one form of twisted ideology to a fault by accusing any and everything a Conservative does/says as “racist,” it’s fair to point out actions and comments by the left that would far more warrant the racism charge, such as this so-called comedian and the thousands of other examples that the left have provided us with that media happily ignores. That’s the point.
Barack Hussein Obama
June 29th, 2011
4:09 pm
I am PRESIDENT of all 57 states !
fred
June 29th, 2011
4:09 pm
I’d take that bet Mike..just shows you don’t know your brother very well. Cain is one very smart man.
Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele
June 29th, 2011
4:11 pm
Bibblty there’s a lot of bibble going on in hibble. My main man Beef Stew was just making some jokes, no need to get all up in bibbles about it. Bibble?
Beef Stew lampoons everybibble on this great big bibble called Earth. He makes fun of MSNBC, CNN, and Fox Bibble. He’s made fun of Kerry-bibble, Bush-bibble, Obibble and now Herman Cain. He’s just a comedian y’all, doin what comedians do.
Fox Bibble has decided to let this little bibble get under their bobble and now we’ve got a whole bibble-ty bobble on our hands. Everybody bibble? You see, Fox Bibble gets ratings by fostering this false bibble that the mainstream media is all liberal-bibble. So then everything ever said by any poor bibble that in any way conflicts with the conservative viewpoint advanced by Fox Bibble is an attack on conservatives and evidence of liberally biased bibble. Fox Bibble is running with this bibble because they know that their viewers will get up in arms and watch more TV.
Stewart is a funny man. He makes fun of people who deserve to get made fun of. Right now he’s bibbling on Fox News because they darn well deserve it. Bibble out y’all.
Ike
June 29th, 2011
4:11 pm
Cain is an intelligent person that has actually had a real job and been successful at it. Unlike the dumbo looking Odumba that has never had a real job and only disorganized communities.
The real joke is that this moron suckered millions of people into thinking he’s accomplished and competent while having zero work history.
Gary
June 29th, 2011
4:12 pm
It really is sad how many people seem to get their news and opinions from John Stewart.
Houckster
June 29th, 2011
4:13 pm
JASON writes: … Stewart is a staunch liberal and he hides behind his comdedian label which is a joke itself.
ME: Fox is an ultra conservative news outlet hiding behind a journalistic label. The comments on Fox were purposely geared towards having the viewer draw a specific conclusion. There is no relationship between Fox and responsible journalism.
O-me
June 29th, 2011
4:13 pm
The joke is in the White House… when not flying all over the world spending tax payers money.
m
June 29th, 2011
4:14 pm
Jon Stewart’s Lieberman impression is priceless.
The thing that is so hilarious about Fox News is that they treat Stewart and Colbert like they have legitimate news shows. They are political comedians! It’s just so sad that Fox News people pick fights with comedians.
Troglodyke
June 29th, 2011
4:14 pm
Liberal (or one of the left’s sacred cows) makes inappropriate jokes or comments about minorities/women/homosexuals: “Oh, that was just a botched joke or misspoken reference. No big deal. You all read too much into it.”
Conservative makes same inappropriate joke: Racist/sexist/bigot/homophobe who should be stoned in public or just stripped his or her position. And we’ll still bring it up 6 years later.
Oh, come ON. This could EASILY be flipped, and you know it! Conservatives take complete UMBRAGE at stuff “liberals” say, and ignore their own party’s skeletons.
BOTH mainstream parties do it. It’s stupid, but it’s politics.
And yes, Stewart does poke more at Republicans than Dems. But you have to admit: the poking he does is deserved. You may not think it’s funny (I do), but it’s not inaccurate.
I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to say that left-leaning individuals have better senses of humor than right-leaning individuals.
Farley
June 29th, 2011
4:14 pm
If Stewart really wanted comedy then he would play any of the hundreds of Youtube videos showing Obama attempting to complete a setence without his beloved teleprompter in his face. Now that is hilarious!!!!
Gary
June 29th, 2011
4:15 pm
Sarcasm is not political dialog. It is also lazy humor.
Bubba
June 29th, 2011
4:15 pm
Folks, you all need to take a chill pill and stop drinking the Fox coolaid! Pl go watch his clip from last night, and see for yourself, that he has mocked everybody!!!! Pl do not make an issue when there is none. He is a COMEDIAN, for crying out loud!
I'm Shocked
June 29th, 2011
4:16 pm
Why the hell should anyone “care about” OR “what” Jon Stewart says. Nuff Said.
who are you kidding?
June 29th, 2011
4:16 pm
Trog –
Are you serious? The left have been providing comedians with a gold mind of gaffes and follies for decades!!! But since most entertainers are liberal they refuse to tap into this winning lottery ticket.
Liberals say and do the most moronic things on the planet.
Jonesin
June 29th, 2011
4:18 pm
What really has Stewart pi$$ed is that Wallace nailed him on the head. Stewart doesn’t just want to be a comedian, he wants to influence ideologies and shape the political arena into his liking. That is what has Johnny boy’s panties in a wad.
Billy
June 29th, 2011
4:18 pm
Its really sad that people get their news and opions from FNC
As Chris Wallace said, we tell the other side. Not both sides….the other side. FOX isnt fair and balanced, they skew conservative on ALL of their shows, even the so-called news shows. Stewart calls them out and then get all in a little hissy fit.
What Houckster said.
Jennifer
June 29th, 2011
4:19 pm
Herman’s a terrific guy, but unfortunately now that he’s in the spotlight his warts are showing. CNN made him look really bad during an interview last night, all he kept saying was “:I don’t have a specific answer on that, I”ll get back to you”
Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele
June 29th, 2011
4:20 pm
Why are all you bibbles getting so bent out of bibble? My brother Beef Stew did Pizza Guy a favor.
Everybibble knows Herman Cain is just running so he can make more bibble with book deals and speaking engagements. Same goes for Newt Bibble, Michelle Bachbibble, and every other bibble in the Republican primary.
And to the bibbles lashing out on Beef Stew and the bibbles that watch his bibble every weeknight, you realize that his bibbles are consistantly more informed than the average Fox viewer? That’s some major bibble right there.
Bibble out y’all.
Al Gore
June 29th, 2011
4:21 pm
What’s the big deal?
Ever hear me do my Negro preacher routine when I speak before African-American audiences?
Even Hillary Clinton does it.
Then again, we are liberals and can get away with it.
Yo, Herman. You be all wet, bro !
peachtree st.
June 29th, 2011
4:21 pm
Stewart is just yet another hypocritical, gutless, self-loving liberal d-bag that has never once practiced what he preaches.
Wanda THE MOMMA
June 29th, 2011
4:23 pm
Are you people serious!! Jon Stewart mocks everyone there wasn’t anything racist in that bit and Fox must really be bored to waste so much time on a joke. Its Comedy Central not CNN or Fox News.. please we got bigger issues than this. But of course it got everyone’s attention for a moment away from the REAL ISSUES.. the Economy, the undeclared War..etc.. I could go on and on and last I am a black American woman.
Midori
June 29th, 2011
4:23 pm
just from reading these comments, I have to conclude that your conservatives are complete and utter idiots.
I sure hope none of you live near me.
NKExperience
June 29th, 2011
4:23 pm
“i love how liberals come to the defense of a slimeball like stewart but if this was a white comedian mocking obama in 2008, they would be shunned and branded a racist and you know it.”
Like…say…Fred Armison on Saturday Night Live, Katherine? I’d say most took that in the satircal vein in which it was intended.
Slammin' Salmone
June 29th, 2011
4:24 pm
Billy,
You are either mistaken or lying, probably the latter. Wallace said they “tell the other side” compared to MSNBC. Most informed, educated, sensible people took that as meaning the TRUTH when compared to such a disgusting, obvious propaganda wing of the far-left Neo-Comm movement.
Good day
Midori
June 29th, 2011
4:25 pm
before you nickpit and pound your chests in “triumph”, I see the typo I made (”your” instead of “you”)
O-me
June 29th, 2011
4:26 pm
Billy @4:18
Change the word Conservative to liberal and everything you said would be MSNBC…wake up and smell the coffee.
hahahahaha!!!!!
June 29th, 2011
4:26 pm
Conservatives are stupid yet the since liberal way that has been forced upon us for the past 4 years (since the kooks took over Congress in 2007) has done nothing but destroy this country?
my Lord Dems are frighteningly idiotic!!!!
Alice
June 29th, 2011
4:28 pm
Stewart is a pretentious d-bag and jerk to boot. I figured that out a long time ago. Now Stephen Colbert is comic genius. I love me some Stephen Colbert.