Viewers of Jon Stewart's show are more likely to have completed four years of college than people who watch "The O'Reilly Factor," according to Nielsen Media
Research. - David Bauder, Associated Press
Ok. I hate it when I am asked me what's going on in the political front. Not that I am annoyed with the topic of politics but how they ask
me.
"What's going on with Dan Rather? What's the story? Obviously it's big because Jay Leno made a joke."
Ok, just because you get your political news from references made from late night talk shows warrants me not to explain/inform. I'm not saying that
I'm the most in the know. Heck, my hubby reigns in that department. He has our tv programmed to change b/w Msnbc, Fox news, NY1 and CNN throughout
the day. He then has it linked to the internet to allow viewing at our offices. I'd like to say that I'm informed but can be more informed.
But, geez. Do you not see how uninformed you look by asking me about Swift boats not because you saw the commercial or read a headline in the
newspaper but from a comment made by Conan O'Brien? At least reference Jon Stewart.
Now, I love Jon Stewart. And I'm pitching his book, America, the Book. Run out and get it and share with friends. I brought mine
into the office. At first, I was worried I'd be reprimanded for partisanship displays in the workplace but thankfully, the people I shared the
book with realized that Jon may be partisan but heck the Daily Show is not. If anything, they are equal opportunitists. Ok, maybe not for this
election but it's hard not to be.
We're hitting the first debate in two days. In my opinion, this is the time that voters should really start paying attention. Forget the flip
flopping. Everyone flips and flops on the campaign trail. [BTW, if Bush focuses all his attention on Kerry's flips and flops, I'll be starting a
drinking game for the rest of the debates. I mean, geez, not all of us can stick to our guns, regardless if we're blatantly wrong.] Now is the time
for both candidates to step up and tell America what they stand for.
[Oh, and if Bush mentions 9/11 or terrorists, it's a free-for-all for me. Seriously, can America be any more scared?]
I've heard of debate socials that are cropping up in the city. Me, I think I'll sit this one at home with a cold beer and my Replay.
Addendum:
Guess I was wrong:
Concerns that people who receive their political information from late-night comedy shows may not be adequately familiar with the issues in order to vote knowledgeably appeared to be laid to rest Monday by a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey. In a poll conducted between July 15 and Sept. 19, nearly 20,000 young adults were asked six questions about the presidential candidates' stands on various issues. Those who watched no late-night comedy shows answered 2.62 questions correctly. David Letterman's viewers answered 2.91; Jay Leno,'s 2.95; and Jon Stewart's (The Daily Show) 3.59. The results for Stewart appeared particularly striking to the pollsters, who noted that his viewers "have higher campaign knowledge than national news viewers and newspaper readers."
