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The Most Trusted Newscaster In America? A Buffoon.

By Steve_in_KC on July 26, 2009 at 11:01 AM in Current Affairs

Walter Cronkite’s died on Friday, July 17.  His memorial service was Thursday, July 23. Between those dates, while his body was not yet interred, Time.com published an online poll to see who Americans think the most trusted newscaster is today. Got your barf bag handy?

Mr. Gravitas

Mr. Gravitas

Believe it or not, the majority, 44%, voted for Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” Second place was NBC’s Brian Williams with 29%. ABC’s Charlie Gibson trailed at 19%. CBS News, the former career spot for Cronkite himself, had the current news anchor, Katie Couric, bringing up the rear with a mere 7%. CBS News: how the mighty have fallen.

To his credit, Stewart has often ridiculed the idea that so many people, in particular young liberal people, actually consider his “fake news show” their primary source of actual news. I guess the fact is that most of these people prefer fake news to real news, most likely because real news doesn’t have punch lines, hyped-up by an audience of delirious celebrity worshipers.

If their political views are any indicator, and I’m sure they are, these people don’t have a clue what reality is. Most of them are probably still living in Mom’s symbolic “womb,” her basement, with umbilical cords still attached, in the form of a TV cable.

I’m still kind of shaking my head in disbelief. Do these people really trust Jon Stewart to give them the real scoop on what’s happening in the world, more than any “real” newscaster? That’s kind of like getting psychiatric treatment from Kelsey Grammer, isn’t it? Or legal advice from William Shatner?

But then I get a chill as reality sets in (fortunately, it’s not running up my leg), when I consider that these other newscasters are getting the vote of No Confidence that they so richly deserve. These three news anchors of the Big Three major TV networks sold their journalistic souls long ago. They led the way for all other reporters in America as they abandoned impartiality in pursuit of Neilsen ratings. They whored their integrity to the highest bidder, long before they sucked down the Kool-Aid dispensed by the Obama campaign. But once the O-cult came along, they became Hopium addicts willingly and gleefully.

Back before the 2008 primaries, I used to watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Repor’, and yes, even David Letterman.  I even occasionally watched Bill Maher until he completely disgusted me with his unhinged, overt (O-vert? Good name for an Obama-convert, isn’t it?) sexism toward Hillary Clinton. You remember? This was prior to the insanely-popular blood sport of seeing who could be the sleaziest, most vicious Hillary basher.

Before the state religion of Obamanism was established, whose disciples sit in front of the television chanting “Ohhhhhhhh-bahhhhhhh-mahhhhhhh,” with their eyes rolled up in ecstasy (perhaps while ON Ecstasy), a rational person could watch political humor and have a nice laugh, even if you disagreed with the partisan slant. But nowadays, if you are looking for any kind of impartiality in political satire or news… well, good luck with that. I guess reporters fear that if they are partisan, they might piss off half the partisans, but if they tell the plain truth, they’ll alienate all of them!

And believe me, I am fully aware that No Quarter is not a source of impartial news and/or humor.  If it was, I wouldn’t be here! And neither would you!

Blogs are supposed to have a point of view. They are not intended as a source of journalistic integrity.  Again, if that was the case, most of us wouldn’t be here. Blogs are pulpits of opinion. They are expected to go beyond editorializing. Blogs like NQ are a place to get “alternative news,” heavy doses of slanted opinions, and a smorgasbord of snark.

So I don’t compare what we do here with what newscasters do, or should do. And Jon Stewart and his ilk are free to do what they do, as long as they don’t pretend to be impartial. But when it comes to network television newscasts, and even local newspapers, I do still expect at least a modicum of journalistic integrity.

I know… dream on!

So to Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and David Letterman, I hope someday you will wake up to realize that there are millions of stupid people out there who actually take you seriously. All I can ask is that you tell it like it is. That you are partisans.

And to the newscasters who got beat out by a comedian for the title of “Most Trusted Newscaster in America,” I can only say this, with my utmost sincerity:

Yes, you are all a bunch of losers!

The polls have spoken! It’s official! Now, as you sit and chant your O-Mantra, contemplate this mystical question… who’s to blame?

  • kenoshamarge

    Hey, I thought is was supposed to be all those dimwitted Republicans that watch FOX who were so stupid.

    Maybe all thos young Democrats aren’t whole lot smarter. Or so it appears.

    And I have to agree, the real losers are the supposed journalists that lost to a comic.

  • http://solara9@comcast.net Tricia Spiegel

    Wow–I think this does say a lot. But maybe it is digust with the so-called “real journalism” that is driving those poll numbers rather than truly trusting Stewart.

    I watch him occasionally, and I do like the way he pulls out the truly absurd for what it is–and it is often about leaders taking themselves seriously.

    (I don’t watch Maher anymore either, for the same reason.)

    Good post!

    • Steve_in_KC

      Thanks, Tricia!

      I’m hoping Stewart and Colbert will soon realize that there is plenty to bash and ridicule about the current administration, without feeling they would be betraying their core audience of O-cultists.

      And Letterman had a good thing going with Great Moments in Presidential speeches, based on Dubya’s bumbling, but he’s really missing the boat in not continuing that series with Uh-er-um-oh-ba-ba-bama.

  • http://firefox AnnieCollier

    Why am I not surprised? After all, they just put a joker and professional (?) comedian in the Senate. The inmates have indeed taken over the asylum.

    During the Sotomayor hearings, I couldn’t believe the innocuous, vapid Perry Mason question he asked. And, obviously no one was expecting much from him. He is truly a dunce and an even bigger embarrassment than the rest of the lefties.

    • donjo

      FYI, Franken is and has been a total policy wonk. And on top of most issues. Didn’t you ever listen to his very popular Air America radio program? He’s issue oriented more-so than almost any other senator. The Perry Mason comment was in response to something someone else asked or said,. To base your criticism on one comment is totally LIKE THE MEDIA does. Seems you’re a product of our media or else a Coleman supporter. Franken will be a better Senator than 99% of those existing.

      • to77

        donjo, Congratulations! You have just won the award for the most ridiculous post ever on noquarter!

  • christine from chicago

    To blame?

    Most obviously

    The American people who have opted to inhabit in a comfortably ensconced state of abject apathy.

    Reality offers a discomfort level they do not want to deal with.

    Critical thought, takes too much work…and is met by cries of negativism! cynicism! Ohmmmmmm!

    They actually believe that their constant state of dissatisfaction, and ennui can be cured by the purchase of any new gadget..a shopping foray of any sort, or maybe gong baths! please!

    True democracy needs an educated and actively participating electorate…
    by the time..Americans figure out which end is up…it will be too late and they will have to settle for what corrupt politicians have in store for them!

  • http://firefox AnnieCollier

    And, yes. MSN and Maher lost me as well during the campaign. I sometimes felt physically ill watching Maher and his raving misogyny. So I stopped. All better now but I have to watch my viewing diet. It’s either that or Prozac.

  • HARP

    Stupid is as Stupid does.

  • oowawa

    Good post, Steve.

    Now that Walter Cronkite has passed on, who is America’s most trusted newscaster?

    Given the 4 names on the list–Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, Jon Stewart, Brian Williams: a vote for “Jon Stewart” may also be construed as a vote that says: “Are you kidding me? If I’ve got to choose between 4 clowns, I might as well vote for the most entertaining clown.” Of course, Katie’s Cheshire Cat grin means she never has to put on clown makeup in order to amuse, but really, Jon Stewart is flat out funnier than Katie.

    The pickings for “most trusted newscaster” are slim indeed.

    I would choose Megyn or Greta over any of the 4 names in the list–at least I can take them seriously–and I have never been a Republican.

    • Steve_in_KC

      Thanks, oowawa. I can’t help thinking the other news anchors would have fared better in the survey if they had live audiences howling with laughter after every line. They should at least used a canned laugh track, like the sitcoms do. After they conclude each bit, they could pause and wait for the laughter to subside before moving on.

      “In Tehran, thousands of protesters battled police, while many sustained life-threatening injuries.”

      (laughter)

      “Unconfirmed reports claim one bystander was shot dead by police gunfire as she tried to cross the street while bringing home food for her family. One observer Tweeted, “Someone asked her what’s for dinner. She said, “Duck.” So everyone did, but her.”

      (Howls of laughter, whistling, and stamping of feet)

      • oowawa

        LOL–That’s Entertainment!

  • fif

    Not surprising that this juvenile mentality was/is the lifeblood of the O Campaign. Reading is HARD after all! What’s next? Ashton Kutcher for Vice President?

    • Chicago Joe

      Don’t laugh. He’s got the Tweep Nation.

  • http://www.sonicninjakitty.wordpress.com Sonic Ninja Kitty

    Who’s to blame? The American people, for letting it get this low.

    We could blame the anchors, but they are just tools trying to get to the top of their professions–give the boss what s/he wants. We could blame the station & network managers/owners. After all, they orchestrate the whole tenor of their organizations. But they are not in business unless we are watching. It is we* who have checked our brains at the door, plugged our eyeballs directly into the TV, and let the networks spew whatever garbage they want at us.

    (* NQ readers excepted ;) )

    • Joe Nunya

      Not entirely true. Their ratings should dictate a huge change in TV news. Afterall, if a sitcom got horrible ratings, it would be pulled.

      The reasons are complicated, but you can start by looking up Operation Mockingbird. Larry should know a little something about these criminals in action. Ask him.

      • http://www.sonicninjakitty.wordpress.com Sonic Ninja Kitty

        Are you implying the CIA has a role in today’s media? I would have no trouble believing it if there was enough evidence.

  • politicalidentitycrisis

    You do have to admit that Stweart did have it 100% when it called it clusterf$%* to the White House!

    hehe!

    I wish I could still watch Stewart and Colbert, but I still can’t stomach them. I quit watching when they didn’t jump all over the 57 states comment. I found that just incredible!

    • http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

      it was hilarious!

  • pm317

    Thank you, Steve for saying it so well. Excellent. I hope those network news anchors go down in flames one by one with their ratings. They absolutely have abandoned journalistic integrity and societal obligation for seeking truth. Shame, shame!

    • Steve_in_KC

      Hey, thanks, pm! I ‘preciate it!

      The problem with expecting much change at network newscasts is that these anchors have hefty long-term contracts. Even Dan Rather is still trying to sue over his dismissal, I think, but I’m not sure anymore about that.

      They should do what the did with other newscasters that failed, put them on some news magazine show once a week till their contracts run out.

      And you are so right about failing their societal obligations. Even astute observers sometimes forget that these “spokesmodels” represent news organizations that should, by any moral standard, owe it to the public to be impartial and to keep us informed without skewing the news to their own political views. I believe their failure to do so merits a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all Americans. It will never happen, but it damn well should!

  • Tess

    Writing at 11:32
    I absolutely fail to understand that NO ONE seems to grasp that all the folks you’re talking about here have writers. The Brits call the Stewarts, Gibsons, Courics, etc. “newsreaders”.
    These people all read what has been written for them. None of them produce original thoughts on their shows, including Stewart. They might have original thoughts, they might be shining intellectuals, but when the carefully scripted show goes on, they read what’s handed to them.
    It’s hard for me to believe that Cronkite didn’t have writers. Sometimes I think there’s (only) a possibility that Murrow did not have writers while reporting from London during the Blitz. I can’t think of many others.
    I asked someone once who had worked in the SCOTUS whether the justices wrote their own decisions, and she said, “For the most part, yes. But their clerks do all the research.”
    Maybe live interviews are different? I don’t know, but it sure looks to me as if everything is scripted.

    • Linda Anselmi

      The Brits call the Stewarts, Gibsons, Courics, etc. “newsreaders”.
      These people all read what has been written for them. None of them produce original thoughts on their shows, including Stewart. They might have original thoughts, they might be shining intellectuals, but when the carefully scripted show goes on, they read what’s handed to them.

      Excellent point Tess. They are not “journalist” they are celebrity news readers and/or color commentators like at sporting events.

  • MrMike

    Stewart is an entertainer, as is Colbert, so they give their audience what they want. They are not about to commit professional suicide by pissing off their fans.
    The few times he did go after Obama the reaction of the Daily Show audience was some what frightening.
    Bob Somerby has been documenting the sins of the corporate media and it’s major players for almost a decade and when I mention Dailyhowler it still gets a blank stare. Any of you remember Mediawhoresonline?

  • http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

    You are a riot!

    I was one who never got *mad* at Stewart during the Primary. I have always thought he was funny, even thought I didn’t always like what he said i.e. Hillary, but I am a fan.

    The poll was online, so we have to take the results for what they are. I’m sure some people were serious, but I think a lot of people chose him over the others more as a point as to how bad they suck! It was a vote against the top three not a vote FOR Stewart necessarily. I would have voted for him too, just to make that point.

    I quit watching Letterman, Maher, and SNL, but Stewart and Colbert I still like.

    • Steve_in_KC

      A riot? I dunno. Maybe a melee. ;)

      I thought about addressing the online aspect a little more, but I’m glad you brought it up. Of course that’s going to skew a poll like this because the O-cultists live online and know how to game these polls.

      I may have to start sampling Stewart and Colbert again, since you and some others here are saying they’ve gotten less biased. I’ve seen a few YouTube clips that I thought were pretty fair, so perhaps it’s time to give them another chance.

      But, damn, it’s so hard to forgive some things. When I think about how they helped skew the primaries, my blood still boils. They ridiculed Hillary every chance they got, and not a single unkind word was ever spoken about That One.

  • Masha

    Jon Stewart started making fun of Obama on the very night of the inauguration. He’s less biased than any of the “other” news anchors who have sold their souls to Obama. Stewart would also get MY vote!

    • Ani

      And had he had the guts to do it a year earlier, we might not be in this mess — given the huge young audience he has.

      Too little too late, unfortunately.

    • DAB

      I agree. Once the election was over, Stewart (and to a lesser extent Colbert) mostly went back to being the objective observer, although he did tread gingerly at first. He even called Obama’s remark that Cambridge Police acted stupidly as, well, “stupid”. That’s something that we haven’t heard before from anyone in the media. Maher also complained that Obama is on TV too much and doesn’t seem to GET the problem with his overexposure.

      It’s obvious too that increasingly, viewers are too young to know what Cronkite and his ilk were all about. Very sad to watch.

  • r2d2

    The poll is right. Stewart sticks to news that matter to Americans, even if jokingly, while serious newscasters spend their time discussing Obama’s dog.

  • tzada

    What can be expected from a America who put 0 man in office. Having only watched one of Stewarts video (on the stupidly remark,) it was funny as hell I cannot add anything to this subject.

  • Wisewoman

    Thanks for this post. The following is an example to enlighten the NQ audience about the dishonest thing that is happening in the “newsrooms”: Lack of reporting news worthy comments that are not favorable to Obama. Case in point. I do not know how many of you saw an interview conducted by Don Lemon of CNN of the 2 black officers who spoke out in strong support of Sgt Crowley. A few programs showed the comments of the male black officer. Don Lemons on his daytime showed (I’m retired and caught the program) the comments of the female black officer. I will type her statement in caps.
    THIS WOMEN OFFICER SAID THAT SHE SUPPORTED CROWLEY AND WOULD’NT SUPPORT ANY OFFICER BLACK OR WHITE THAT SHE FELT HAD BROKEN THE LAW. WHEN LEMON ASKED HER ABOUT OBAMA’S COMMENTN SHE SAID THEY WERE REGRETTABLE. SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD SUPPORTED OBAMA AND VOTED FOR HIM BUT THAT AFTER HIS COMMENTS SHE WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN.
    People I swear to you that is what she said and it was earth shaking and totally newsworthy that a black female officer who voted for him said that in the future she would not. CNN refused to show this clip on any of their later shows. They are covering up this bombshell. I deliberately watched the most popular Sunday shows (NBC, ABC, and FOX) and the comments of the black female officer did not air.
    As an AA who did not support or vote for Obama, this would be devistating and would knock another 10 points off his approval ratings. ALL OF THEM CONTINUE TO COVER FOR HIM!!! Welcome to the 21st century tactic of hiding unfavorable news about the person you support.

    • Patience

      Thank you Wisewoman for the heads up. It’s beyond disgusting that this female cop’s opinion is being buried. I hope word gets out somehow.

    • Karma

      The other day, I also heard those comments from the woman officer only from Don Lemon’s mouth. Not from her’s. He was in a small box at the top of the screen reporting it to the anchor who was doing the news at the time. I thought it was surprising it made it over the airwaves at all.

      Hoped to hear more since they recycle news but couldn’t take CNN any longer.

      Glad you posted this.

  • Patience

    I’m not a huge fan of Jon Stewart (my husband is though), but he would’ve gotten my vote too.

    BTW, the laughter on his show often sounds very canned to me. Anyone have any insight into this?

    Tess commented above that these news anchors have writers which of course is true, but they nevertheless have editorial input.

  • http://www.dcmediagirl.com DCMediagirl

    What an absurd post. If those polled say Jon Stewart is the most trusted newscaster then that means that no one believes what they read, see and hear in the MSM. This is not Jon Stewart’s fault. He has said repeatedly that his show is meant to be a spoof. So why bust on him? He’s not pretending to be something he’s not — although I have to say that his guest interviews are at times far more interesting and substantive than what I see on CNN, etc. And don’t get me started on Fox, a network that takes every opportunity to show women scampering around in lingerie.

    • Steve_in_KC

      You know what, I think you are either an imposter or have become a an enemy of NQ. Either way, the gist of your comment is that it’s not Stewart’s fault, that he doesn’t encourage it, and that the MSM deserves the diss.

      Well, guess what? THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID IN MY POST.

      Try reading before criticizing.

  • Surfered

    The intention of freedom of the press was to provide a check on government by the distribution of information to the citizenry, information that government may not have wanted known. Today, media has fewer reporters and more pundits who sacrifice truth for access to the powerful.

    I understand he’s a comdeian, but I trust Jon Stewart more with the truth than Lou Dobbs or Bill O’Reily.

  • Surfered

    The intention of freedom of the press was to provide a check on government by the distribution of information to the citizenry, information that government may not have wanted known. Today, media has fewer reporters and more pundits who sacrifice truth for access to the powerful.

    I understand he’s a comdeian, but I trust Jon Stewart more with the truth than Lou Dobbs or Bill O’Reily. He’s not pretending to be a jounalist.

  • Chiron

    Article needs proofing starting with the third word.